Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 3673 revises Agriculture Code provisions relating to the feeding of garbage to swine. Under previous law, such feeding required registration with and a permit from the Texas Animal Health Commission, plus the heating of the garbage to a specified temperature for a specified duration. The bill instead establishes two classes of garbage. Restricted garbage includes animal refuse and waste, or commingled garbage containing animal matter. The feeding of restricted garbage to swine, or the provision of restricted garbage to another for the purpose of feeding swine, is prohibited, except that a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility may use restricted garbage that is treated according to federal requirements. Unrestricted garbage is limited to refuse and waste from food containing only vegetable matter. Registration and permitting requirements continue as before for unrestricted garbage, but the bill eliminates the heating requirement.

            The bill enhances the commission's associated regulatory powers and requires the commission to attempt to inform each supplier of restricted garbage and each feeder of garbage to swine of the new law. It further requires the commission to assist those feeding garbage to swine in identifying nonrestricted sources. The bill authorizes the commission or its executive director to issue an emergency order to suspend a registration or to quarantine and close a garbage feeding facility if a determination is made that feeding practices present a danger to public health or the livestock industry. Such an order must expire not later than the end of the second month after its effective date. The bill authorizes the commission or executive director, pursuant to a like determination, to issue an order prohibiting the feeding of restricted garbage to swine in all or part of the state.