ORS 599.335: Employment of veterinarian by licensee; authority; revocation of market operator’s license for failing to correct insanitary conditions.

(1) The licensee shall employ a veterinarian to perform all tests and make all examinations of animals required to be performed, carried out or made by the provisions of this chapter or the regulations promulgated thereunder. (2) Every assistant state veterinarian shall have authority and responsibility for the direction and control of the sanitary practices at such livestock auction market. The veterinarian shall notify in writing the licensee or managing agent of the licensee of insanitary conditions or practices. If the improper conditions or practices are not corrected in the time specified, the State Department of Agriculture shall take appropriate steps to revoke the market operator’s license. (3) If in the event of an emergency situation any licensee is unable to procure the services of a veterinarian under subsection (1) of this section, the licensee may apply to the department, and the department may furnish a person the department deems qualified to make the examinations required at a livestock auction market. In the event the services of such qualified person are utilized, and the person determines any animal shows any abnormality or sign of ill health, such person at once shall contact an assistant state veterinarian or deputy state veterinarian for further examinations. The licensee shall reimburse the department for the actual expenses incurred by the qualified person and the assistant state veterinarian or deputy state veterinarian for the further examinations. All animals determined by the qualified person to require further examinations by a veterinarian shall be detained in the pens described in ORS 599.295 until released by the assistant state veterinarian or deputy state veterinarian. (4) If upon investigation the department finds that any veterinarian employed by the licensee is not discharging duties and responsibilities in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the regulations promulgated thereunder, the department may, after notice and opportunity for hearing, disqualify such veterinarian from performing any further official functions in connection with such market. [1953 c.677 §13; 1971 c.578 §15; 1975 c.573 §1; 1979 c.807 §1; 1983 c.101 §4]