A new webpage for veterinary professionals will now be a one-stop for information on reportable diseases, health certificates and ordering supplies, among other topics. The site will always be evolving; however, the current pages include disease maps, health certificate resources and an archive of all of our past Michigan Animal Health Updates! 

Additionally, for a number of years, veterinary staff have ordered supplies from the Animal Industry Division by phone through our AID Supply Line (517-373-9794). With the launch of the new Veterinary Resources webpage, veterinary staff ordering forms and supplies will now have the option to order electronically. 

To use this new process, veterinary staff should:

1. Visit www.michigan.gov/dvmresources
2. Click on the “Ordering Forms and Supplies” button
3.  Download the supply order form PDF
4. Once the form is completed with the requested supplies, email the form to MDARD-aidforms@michigan.gov

Whether veterinary staff are ordering by phone or online, please allow one to three business days for the supply request to be processed and three to five business days for shipping. 

For any questions regarding supply ordering, contact Torri Nighbert at 800-292-3939 or MDARD-aidforms@michigan.gov.

The Animal Industry Division has worked to create a new all-species interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (also known as a health certificate). This new paper CVI was developed to be user-friendly and versatile and can be used for any species. 

Starting January 1, 2018, the new all-species CVI will be the only Michigan paper form accepted. Previous versions of paper CVIs may be used until that date or can be destroyed and replaced with the new version. To ensure veterinarians are prepared for the form switch-over, AID encourages veterinary staff to order the new all-species paper CVIs prior to January 1, 2018. The all-species CVI can be ordered either through email, as detailed above, or using the AID Supply Line (517-373-9794).

This new CVI can not be used for international travel. For international travel, contact the USDA Veterinary Services Michigan office at 517-337-4700 or visit the USDA pet travel website for the proper form and additional requirements.

Additionally, AID accepts and encourages the use of electronic CVIs. To learn more about electronic CVIs, contact Colleen Phillipich at 800-292-3939.

Remember, to issue any type of CVI, veterinarians must be USDA-accredited, and accreditation must be renewed every three years by completing training modules and submitting a new application. If accreditation expires, CVIs and other accredited duties may not be completed until their accreditation is reinstated.

For questions regarding USDA accreditation, veterinarians should contact the local USDA Accreditation Coordinator, Valencia Watts, at 517-337-4701 or Valencia.T.Watts@aphis.usda.gov.  

For more information, see our Veterinarian Resources webpage at www.michigan.gov/dvmresources.

As the world population continues to grow, it is estimated by the year 2050 the world’s protein demands will quadruple. Currently, the United States produces only 10 percent of its seafood needs, importing nearly $12 billion of seafood each year, primarily from China and Southeast Asia. With nearly 75 percent of the world’s wild fisheries currently being fished at or above sustainable capacity, the estimated 150 billion pounds of increased demand for fish over the next 25-30 years will need to be met by commercial aquaculture. 

Surrounded on three sides by the Great Lakes, which account for 20 percent of the entire world’s fresh surface water, Michigan is uniquely positioned to become a leader in the aquaculture industry. The role of AID’s Aquaculture Program is to protect animal health while we continue to support the responsible development and growth of the aquaculture industry in Michigan.

This is done by managing new aquaculture registrations while helping to make the regulatory process transparent and understandable. In addition, animal welfare and environmental protection is ensured by annual inspections of all aquaculture facilities for compliance with regulatory requirements. AID also helps safeguard trade of aquaculture by collaborating with other state agencies on the Aquatic Invasive Species Core Team, by supporting Aquatic Invasive Species-Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Programs and requiring a prior-entry permit for aquaculture species. In addition, AID responds to all reportable disease outbreaks, and works to educate aquaculturists on preventive measures and biosecurity practices to limit disease. Along with other government agencies, the program actively engages industry stakeholders and works to increase communication and dialog amongst industry, university and regulatory experts with the goal of growing an aquaculture sector that can safely meet the growing food needs of the world.