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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>358201</law_id><section_number>3.2-6024</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>3.2-6019</reference></referred_to_by><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="2" identifier="2">Disposal of Dead Poultry</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this article unless the context requires a different meaning:</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Composting</span>&#x201D; means the natural process in which beneficial microbes reduce <span class="dictionary">dead poultry</span> into a biologically safe by-product.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Dead poultry</span>&#x201D; means poultry, exclusive of those intentionally slaughtered, that die as a result of disease, injury, or of natural causes, upon any <span class="dictionary">premises</span> in the Commonwealth.</p><p>&#x201C;Disposal&#x201D; means to put <span class="dictionary">dead poultry</span> into a <span class="dictionary">landfill</span> or the complete destruction of <span class="dictionary">dead poultry</span> in an <span class="dictionary">incinerator</span> or a <span class="dictionary">disposal pit</span>, or by <span class="dictionary">rendering</span> or <span class="dictionary">composting</span>.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Disposal pit</span>&#x201D; means an opening dug in the ground to a minimum depth of six feet, containing a minimum capacity of 150 cubic feet, covered with a minimum of 12 inches of dirt, and provided with one or more openings for the introduction of poultry therein. Openings shall be of a minimum size of eight inches square and equipped with tight lids.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Incinerator</span>&#x201D; means a device designed for treatment of waste by combustion.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Landfill</span>&#x201D; means an area permitted by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Environmental Quality allowing the disposal of <span class="dictionary">dead poultry</span>.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Person</span>&#x201D; means any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who engages in the <span class="dictionary">raising or keeping of poultry for profit</span> in the Commonwealth.</p><p>&#x201C;Poultry&#x201D; means all chickens, ducks, turkeys, or other domestic fowls being raised or kept on any <span class="dictionary">premises</span> in the Commonwealth for profit.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Premises</span>&#x201D; means the entire tract of land including the buildings thereon, owned, leased, or used by any <span class="dictionary">person</span> for the <span class="dictionary">raising or keeping of poultry for profit</span>.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Raising or keeping of poultry for profit</span>&#x201D; means the raising or keeping of 500 or more poultry at one time for the purpose of sale of such poultry or the eggs produced therefrom.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Rendering</span>&#x201D; means treating <span class="dictionary">dead poultry</span> according to the process described in 9 C.F.R. &#xA7;&#xA0;82.1.</p></section></text><history>1992, c. 101, &#xA7; 3.1-742.1; 2008, c. 860.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
