Via E-Mail
July 20, 2023
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural
Development (Legal Affairs)
525 W. Allegan Street
P.O. Box 30017
Lansing, MI 48909
Re: Administrative Rules for Bodies of Dead Animals
Rule Set 2003-4 AC
To Whom It May Concern:
On behalf of the Michigan Allied Poultry Industries and our members, please accept
these comments into the record for the above-referenced administrative rule amendments.
The spread of avian flu remains a serious threat to the poultry industry and to the public
health of our state. Therefore, our comments are directed at ensuring affected farms have the
ability to swiftly and effectively to depopulate infected flocks.
Overall, our industry is supportive of the proposed changes. However, it is important for
the Director to retain authority to protect public health under emergency situations.
We recommend the following changes to the proposed rule (proposed additions in bold,
italics and underlined):
(13)(g) Pieces of hide remaining at the completion of curing shall must
be removed and added to a new active compost batch or shall be disposed of
under section 21 of 1982 PA 239, MCL 287.671, before the compost may be sold,
or transferred, or applied to crop land. In emergency composting situations, the
Director may authorize the removal of unfinished compost to a new site.
(16) Unless otherwise authorized by the Director, Composting dead
animals shall must not be removed from the composting site, except as finished
compost, unless the dead animal is disposed of in accordance with section 21 of
1982 PA 239, MCL 287.671.
48781248.1