Under the current rules, testing for Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae is required for all turkey hatcheries and breeding flocks. Similar rules also apply to poultry dealers, those attending community sales and exhibitions, and those importing turkeys into Minnesota. The rule amendments would restrict the Mycoplasma testing and/or Mycoplasma clean classification requirement to commercial turkey producers, consistent with the requirements for commercial egg-type chicken and commercial meat-type chicken hatcheries and breeding flocks.

With the amendment the rules will continue to focus the Mycoplasma surveillance and control programmes on high-risk, high-consequence commercial premises while allowing small backyard/exhibition turkey producers to obtain unusual or rare breeds of birds from flocks that may not be participating in similar Mycoplasma surveillance programmes. The amended rules would also better align with the testing expectations for backyard/exhibition turkeys in other states.

The proposed rules are available for viewing, along with the statement of need and reasonableness (SONAR), on the Board’s rulemaking webpage. The SONAR contains a summary of the justification for the proposed rules, including a description of who will be affected by the proposed rules and an estimate of the probable cost of the proposed rules. You may obtain copies of the SONAR for the cost of reproduction by contacting the agency contact person.

You may submit written comments on the proposed rules and may also submit a written request that a hearing be held on the rules until 4:30pm on 21 August 2019. Written and oral comments, questions and requests for more information on these possible rules should be directed to:

Dr Shauna Voss
Minnesota Board of Animal Health, Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory
622 Business Hwy 71 NE, PO Box 126
Willmar, MN 56201