Bill > SB312

This bill establishes new requirements for importing dogs into California for resale or ownership transfer, mandating that anyone selling, transporting, or importing a dog must obtain a comprehensive health certificate from a licensed veterinarian dated within 10 days of the dog's entry into the state. The health certificate must include detailed information such as the examination date, a statement confirming the dog is free from infectious diseases, vaccination records, rabies immunization status (with exceptions for very young or elderly dogs), the number of dogs in the shipment, individual dog descriptions, microchip numbers, physical addresses of origin and destination, veterinarian details, and contact information for both the sender and buyer. The bill requires these health certificates to be electronically submitted to both the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the buyer, and designates these certificates as public records that must be retained by the department for five years. By moving these regulations from the Health and Safety Code to the Food and Agricultural Code, the bill updates and standardizes the process for dog importation, with violations potentially treated as misdemeanors, and includes provisions to ensure the health and traceability of imported dogs.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB312