4-H

The Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) requires all Arizona residents who exhibit livestock at shows or the fair to possess a Seasonal Pass. This allows the AZDA to monitor and document the movement of all exhibition livestock in case of a disease outbreak. The Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) requires all Arizona residents who exhibit livestock at shows or the fair to possess a Seasonal Pass. This allows the AZDA to monitor and document the movement of all exhibition livestock in case of a disease outbreak.

Length of time passes are valid

A seasonal pass is valid for one year from the date of issue or until all listed animals have been sold or slaughtered, whichever comes first.

Why passes are needed

Arizona State Law: (ARS) 3-1346 and Arizona Administrative Code: R3-2-703, require all exhibition livestock owners to have a Seasonal Pass (also referred to as a Seasonal Inspection Certificate) for their livestock for any purpose other than slaughter, sale, or trade.

Using a Seasonal Pass

You are required to have your seasonal pass each time you move an animal off-property. On your seasonal pass, you must fill out the following details for each animal:

• Date
• Name of exhibition
• Location
• Date of return

When an animal is sold, record the buyer’s name, address, and phone number in the designated space. In accordance with law R3-2-703, a copy of your pass must be submitted to the Arizona Department of Agriculture within two weeks of the sale or slaughter of an animal. If only some of your animals have been sold, this must be documented on your pass, and a copy of the updated pass must be submitted within the two-week timeframe.

Finally, if your pass expires, the original copy must be returned to the Arizona Department of Agriculture. Be sure to keep the original pass until all animals have been sold or slaughtered, or until the pass expires.

How to obtain a pass

To be issued a Seasonal Pass, each exhibitor must submit an application through the AZDA, Animal Services Division. Passes are available as mail-in and online applications. To obtain a pass, you will need:

• Credit card, check or money order
• Your information
• Proof of ownership/Bill of Sale for your animal
• Information about your animal including any permanent identification numbers
  • Species
  • Breed
  • Sex
  • Color
  • Permanent ID (ear tag, brand, tattoo, microchip, etc.)
    • If you are exhibiting sheep, goats, or swine, you will need to list the AZ Flock ID, Premise ID, or Scrapie ID number.
    • Any dairy cattle or sexually intact cattle over 18 months of age that are purchased out-of-state are required to have an ear tag.
  • An Arizona Self-Inspection Certification or an Arizona Livestock Inspection Certification Number
  • If any animals are purchased out-of-state, they will need a Health Certification Number, an Entry Permit Number (also referred to as an Import Permit Number), and a Livestock Inspection Certificate from the state of purchase or a Bill of Sale from the previous owner.

Pass costs

The Seasonal Pass costs $5.00 per exhibitor for up to 10 animals. Each additional animal is $0.50 per head. If submitting your application by mail, you will also need to add in a check or money order that is made payable to the AZ Dept. of Agriculture or ADA.

Timeline to get a pass

You can receive your seasonal pass in one of three ways: mail, online, or in person.

• Online: Create an account, if needed, and submit your online application. Once the application is submitted it will be reviewed by someone at the AZDA. They check to make sure the inspections match the exhibitor’s name, and all other information is correctly provided. If any information is left blank the application will not be accepted. If you need help with making your account or completing your application there is a walkthrough with screenshots on the website.
• Mail: To obtain a Seasonal Pass, mail in your completed application and payment (see above) to the Arizona Department of Agriculture, Attention Self-Inspection. Once your seasonal pass application is received, it will be processed and your pass will be mailed back to you in approximately three to four weeks. If you need your pass sooner, you can include a note to have the pass sent to you electronically, which takes approximately two weeks.
• In-person: To receive your pass the same day, make an appointment and bring your application and payment in person to the Arizona Department of Agriculture office in Phoenix. During your appointment your application will be reviewed and your seasonal pass will be issued to you.

Adding a new animal to a current Seasonal Pass

Any new animals may not be added to an existing seasonal pass. You must submit another application for your new animal(s) with payment, and, after review, a second pass will be issued.

Missing Bill of Sale or other proof of ownership

If proof of ownership cannot be obtained, then a livestock officer or inspector is required to come out and inspect each of the animals. To schedule an appointment call 623-445-0281.

The AZ Premise ID number or AZ Flock ID is required for swine, sheep, and goats. This number is permanently marked on swine (found on the breeder’s ear tag or tattoo) and is found on the scrapie tags for sheep and goats. This method of permanent identification is a way of tracing animals back to their place of origin in the event of a disease outbreak. It is unlawful to remove this tag from your animal.

AZ Flock IDs are only used in the swine industry. Producers and breeders are required to tag each individual swine with either a tamper-proof tag or tattoo them with their AZ Flock ID number.

Sheep and goats are each tagged with their own Scrapie ID tag, which ties the animal to their original flock location. If you breed your own sheep or goats, your AZ Flock ID will allow you to order unique scrapies tags for your operation directly from the USDA. Scrapies tags are a nationwide requirement.

When you purchase an animal from an Arizona livestock producer, you should receive either an Arizona Self- Inspection Certificate or an Arizona Livestock Inspection Certificate at the time of the sale. These numbers will need to be recorded on your Seasonal Pass application and retained for your personal records. If you breed your own exhibition animals, then an Arizona Livestock Services field staff will need to inspect each animal, or a Self-Inspection Certificate from the Department of Agriculture must be filled. The Arizona Department of Agriculture has instructions on the self-instruction program.

All purchases of out-of-state animals require a Health Certificate, Entry Permit Number (also known as the Import Permit Number), and a Livestock Inspection Certificate from the state of origin, or a Bill of Sale from the previous owner.

• Health Certificate: Must be issued by a licensed veterinarian and is valid for 30 days.
• Entry Permit Number: Obtainable by calling the Arizona State Veterinarian’s Office at (602) 542- 4293. This permit is valid for 15 days. Please note that disease testing or other conditions may need to be fulfilled before an Entry Permit Number can be issued.

Keep all these documents for your records, as you will need to provide the Health Certificate and Entry Permit Number when applying for your Seasonal Pass.

It is important to contact the Arizona State Veterinarian’s Office in advance to confirm the specific requirements and determine any additional information you may need. We recommend reaching out several weeks before your animal’s arrival to verify if any additional disease testing or other conditions are necessary before you are allowed to bring your animal into Arizona.