The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a proposed rule to “amend and republish the list of select agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products.” The rule is proposed pursuant to the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002. The proposed rule includes an April 1, 2024, deadline for public comments.
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APHIS Adds Singapore to List of Regions Affected by African Swine Fever
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced its addition of Singapore to the list of regions it considers affected with African swine fever. The addition of Singapore was effective February 16, 2023.
APHIS Adds Bolivia to List of Regions Affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced its addition of Bolivia to its list of regions it considers affected with highly pathogenic avian influenza. The addition of Bolivia was effective February 2, 2023.
USDA Announces Regulatory Change to Allow Import of Fresh Beef from Paraguay
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced a final rule that will allow the importation of fresh beef from Paraguay. The new rule will be effective December 14, 2023.
APHIS Announces Withdrawal of Final Horse Protection Act Rule in Conjunction with New Proposed Rule
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced its withdrawal of a final Horse Protection Act (HPA) rule that would disallow third-party training to inspect for horse soring. APHIS filed the final rule for public inspection with the Office of the Federal Register on January 19, 2017, but withdrew it from publication on January 23, 2017, to comply with a memorandum from then-President Trump’s Chief of Staff. In place of the final rule, the withdrawal of which will be effective November 30, 2023, APHIS proposed a new HPA rule on August 21, 2023. The proposed rule would require APHIS screening, training, and authorization of qualified inspectors at horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and auctions, and is intended to protect horses from soring and end unfair competition practices.
USDA Added Nepal to List of Regions Affected by African Swine Fever in 2022
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it added the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service list of regions considered to be affected with African swine fever (ASF) on May 23, 2022.
USDA Terminates AWA License for Montana Animal Exhibitor with History of Legal Violations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) terminated the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) license for Troy Hyde, dba Animals of Montana (AOM), after the State of Montana revoked the wild animal exhibitor’s menagerie permit. USDA found that the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks had determined that AOM committed 22 violations of Montana’s rules and regulations related to animal welfare, care, and transportation. In 2005, Troy Hyde was convicted of violating the Endangered Species Act and the Lacey Act and, in 2009, a previous AWA license issued to AOM was terminated, with a two-year license disqualification period imposed.
USDA Confirms New Cases of Bird Flu in Commercial Poultry Flocks
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service updated its online database of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to reflect the most recent HPAI detections in commercial poultry. New confirmed cases include commercial turkey flocks in Jerauld County, South Dakota (47,300 birds), Sanpete County, Utah (141,800 birds), and Meeker County, Minnesota (186,000 birds), among others. The number of confirmed cases in October is significantly higher than in the preceding months of 2023. The uptick in cases may be related to fall bird migration patterns.
APHIS Announces Restrictions on Poultry Imports from Certain European Countries to Mitigate Bird Flu Risks
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that it is imposing restrictions on the import of poultry from France based on APHIS’s determination that France’s vaccination of commercial meat ducks against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) creates a risk of introducing HPAI into the U.S. The U.S. prohibits the import of poultry from countries that are either affected by HPAI or that are vaccinating poultry flocks against HPAI. APHIS is also restricting the import of live ducks, duck eggs, and untreated duck products from the European Poultry Trade Region (excluding Great Britain), Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
APHIS Finalizes Changes to Equine Import Regulations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) finalized regulations related to the import of equines under the Animal Health Protection Act. The final rule amends requirements related to the transit of horses through certain regions and adds requirements for horse health certifications and shipping containers used for horse transport, along with other changes. The final rule is effective October 16, 2023.