Jacquie Keller-Potvin, Emergency Operations and Program Manager
The Livestock Exhibitions Program has updated applicable chapters of Ohio Administrative Code just in time for the start of Ohio Fair Season. The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is tasked with determining the regulatory framework for exhibitions of livestock to ensure the food safety of market livestock, health and welfare of the livestock, and provide consistent regulations for the competition. ODA distributes testing supplies and performs urine sample testing for select market livestock exhibited at county, independent, and state fairs. The testing is critical to ensuring the market livestock tested are safe for consumption.
Chapters 901:1-18 and 901-19 became effective on May 23, 2024. The Ohio Advisory Committee on Livestock Exhibitions have been working on the draft regulations since 2022 in efforts to streamline, update, and simplify the regulations for exhibition livestock. Specifically, chapter 901:1-18 pertains to the importation requirements for exhibition livestock and chapter 901-19 pertains to the practices in preparation to and at the exhibition. To read the regulations in their entirety, please click the links below. Also, take time to browse Ohio Fair Manager’s Association’s webpage to find a fair near you!
Chapter 901:1-18
Chapter 901-19
Published in the Ohio Animal Health Newsletter – July 2024