(a) As used in this Code section, the term:

(1) "Cattle" or "cow" means bovine animals, such as cows, bulls, steers, heifers, and bison.

(2) "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, or other entity.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to transport or cause to be transported into the State of Georgia any cattle:

(1) Unless each cow is accompanied by a health certificate containing such information and in such form as may be provided for by rules and regulations of the Commissioner or unless each such cow is listed on an accompanying waybill and is transported directly to a federally approved or state approved slaughtering establishment and is not allowed to come into contact with any other cattle in this state until its arrival at such establishment;

(2) Which are infected with brucellosis, unless such cattle are transported directly to a federally approved or state approved slaughtering establishment and are not allowed to come into contact with any other cattle in this state until their arrival at such establishment or unless a permit has been issued by the Commissioner allowing the importation or movement of such cattle and all conditions of such permit are complied with by the person transporting such cattle; or

(3) Which originate from a quarantined herd or a quarantined area, unless the Commissioner has issued a permit authorizing the importation or movement of such cattle and all conditions of such permit are complied with by the person transporting such cattle.

(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to move any cattle within this state in violation of any quarantine order imposed by the Commissioner or to allow any cow which such person knows or, through the use of reasonable inquiry, should know is from a quarantined herd or area to come into contact with any other cattle, except as authorized by a permit issued by the Commissioner or as authorized in rules and regulations adopted by the Commissioner.

(d)(1) Any person violating subsection (b) or (c) of this Code section for the first time on or after July 1, 1985, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $100.00 for each cow transported or moved in violation of subsection (b) or (c) of this Code section, or in lieu of prosecution such person may be issued a warning by the Commissioner.

(2) Any person violating subsection (b) or (c) of this Code section for a second time on or after July 1, 1985, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.

(3) Any person violating subsection (b) or (c) of this Code section for a third or subsequent time on or after July 1, 1985, shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.00 or imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than three years, or both.

(e) Any person who owns or has custody or control over any cattle infected with brucellosis or which are known reactor animals to an official brucellosis test shall segregate such cattle in such manner that they cannot come into contact with other cattle or spread such brucellosis infection to other cattle. Any person who fails to take such action within 30 days following an order from the Commissioner to do so shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and each day of continued failure to comply with such order shall constitute a separate offense.

(f) Any person who removes, defaces, alters, or otherwise changes any official permanent mark, brand, tattoo, tag, or other means of identification on any cow for which a health certificate or permit or official test has been issued or performed under this chapter or the rules and regulations of the Commissioner or which has a known brucellosis infection or is a known reactor animal to an official brucellosis test shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.00 or by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than three years, or both.

(g) The Commissioner is authorized to adopt rules and regulations, issue orders and permits, and impose quarantines when such actions are authorized or required by federal or state law or are appropriate to prevent the introduction or spread of brucellosis into or within this state, any area thereof, or any cattle located therein.

(h) Any person who knowingly sells any cow within this state which is infected with brucellosis or which such person knows or, through the use of reasonable inquiry, should know is from a quarantined herd or area and who sells such cow without disclosing such fact to the purchaser, prior to the consummation of the sale, shall be liable for all reasonable and foreseeable damages incurred by the purchaser as a proximate result of the purchaser mixing such cow with other cattle owned or under the control of the purchaser.