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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>358191</law_id><section_number>3.2-6015</section_number><catch_line>Cooperation with U.S. Department of Agriculture to prevent contagious or infectious diseases</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="5" identifier="3.2">Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="5" identifier="V">Domestic Animals</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="2" identifier="60">Livestock and Poultry</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Contagious and Infectious Diseases</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The Governor is authorized to accept, on behalf of the state, the rules and regulations prepared by the U.S. <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Agriculture under and in pursuance of section three of an act of Congress approved May 29, 1884, entitled &#x201C;An act for the establishment of a bureau of <span class="dictionary">animal</span> industry, to prevent the exportation of diseased cattle and to provide means for the suppression and extirpation of pleuropneumonia and other contagious diseases among domestic <span class="dictionary">animals</span>,&#x201D; and to cooperate with the authorities of the United States in the enforcement of the provisions of the act.</p><p>The inspectors of the U.S. <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Agriculture shall have the right of inspection, quarantine, and condemnation of <span class="dictionary">animals</span> affected with any contagious or infectious diseases, or suspected to be so affected, or that have been exposed to any such disease, and for these purposes are authorized and empowered to enter upon any ground or premises. Such inspectors shall have the power to call on sheriffs and <span class="dictionary">peace officers</span> to assist them in the discharge of their duties in carrying out the provisions of the act of Congress aforesaid, and it is made the duty of sheriffs and <span class="dictionary">peace officers</span> to assist such inspectors when so requested, and such inspectors shall have the same powers and protection as <span class="dictionary">peace officers</span> while engaged in the discharge of their duties.</p><p>All expenses of quarantine, condemnation of <span class="dictionary">animals</span> exposed to disease, and the expenses of any and all measures that may be used to <span class="dictionary">suppress</span> and extirpate pleuropneumonia shall be paid by the United States, and in no case shall the Commonwealth be liable for any <span class="dictionary">damages</span> or expenses of any kind under the provisions of this section.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 3-16; 1966, c. 702, &#xA7; 3.1-739.1; 2008, c. 860.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
