Addition of Nicaragua to the List of Regions Affected With Screwworm, 4713 [2025-01000]

Download as PDF ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Notices Request for Comments AMS is soliciting comments including data, recommendations, and other information from stakeholders about potential changes to the U.S. Classes, Standards, and Grades for Poultry. Comments may include any current and/or ongoing research or industry practice that has relevance to this Poultry Standard. AMS also invites comments about how those changes would be implemented in the Federal voluntary, fee-for-service grading programs. After reviewing the recommendations and information submitted in response to this notice, AMS will consult with other relevant government agencies, academia, industry, and stakeholders, to determine how updates to the Poultry Standards should be made. When updates are made, a draft of the updated Poultry Standards with all changes will be published in the Federal Register for an additional comment period. Any comments not directly related to updates or recommendations that are not accompanied by data and other information will not be considered. AMS invites responses to the following questions: 1. How could the Poultry Standards be updated to better align with current and future advances in technology? 2. Are the current Poultry Standards and supplemental resources easily interpreted by industry employees, particularly the authorized plant graders actively applying them in facilities? If not, what updates to the Poultry Standards, additional resources, or training material are recommended? 3. Are there any defect categories that have become irrelevant or new defect categories that should be added? 4. How could the tolerances for existing defect categories be updated to better suit the needs of stakeholders? 5. Is there information in general which should be added to or removed from the current Poultry Standards? 6. How could the Poultry Standards be updated to reflect current marketing of Poultry? Could U.S. Grade B or U.S. Grade C be updated to be more useful in the marketing of poultry products, similar to how USDA Choice or USDA Select are useful marketing terms for red meat commodities? 7. How could the Poultry Standards be updated to be more useful to smaller poultry operations? 8. How could the Poultry Standards be updated to be more useful to volume food buyers and those engaged in institutional purchases? 9. How could the Poultry Standards be updated to be more meaningful to end consumers? VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:42 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 10. High quality poultry products are procured through the Federal Nutrition Assistance and Child Nutrition Programs using the Poultry Standards. How could the Poultry Standards be updated to improve the effectiveness of the purchase program in regard to value and quality? 11. Are there any other recommendations, suggestions, or ideas that would be relevant for AMS to consider? Melissa Bailey, Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. 2025–01029 Filed 1–15–25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2024–0028] Addition of Nicaragua to the List of Regions Affected With Screwworm Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: We are advising the public that we have added Nicaragua to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) list maintained on the APHIS website of regions considered affected with screwworm. We took this action because of the confirmation of screwworm in this region. DATES: Nicaragua was added to the list of regions considered affected with screwworm effective March 29, 2024. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Heather Sriranganathan, APHIS Veterinary Services, Regionalization Evaluation Services, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737; phone: (717) 818– 3582; email: AskRegionalization@ usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 9 CFR part 93 (referred to below as the regulations) prohibit or restrict the importation of certain animals into the United States to prevent the introduction of communicable diseases and pests of livestock. Subparts C, D, E, and F of the regulations govern the importation of horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs, respectively. Horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs may be imported into the United States from the regions where screwworm is considered to exist only if they are inspected and, if necessary, treated for screwworm according to the conditions outlined in the regulations for each type SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 4713 of animal. The requirements for horses are set out in § 93.308(a)(3) and include not only pre-embarkation and postarrival inspection and treatment requirements, but also quarantine in the United States for 7 days after arrival, and examination by a veterinarian before release from quarantine. The requirements for ruminants and swine are set out in §§ 93.405(a)(3) and 93.505(b) and are the same as for horses, other than the 7-day quarantine and final examination of the animal. The requirements for dogs are set out in § 93.600 and require that all dogs from affected regions be inspected and, if necessary, treated before importation. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) maintains a list of regions APHIS considers affected with screwworm on its website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-andanimal-product-import-information/ animal-health-status-of-regions/. APHIS will add a region to the list upon determining that screwworm exists in the region based on reports we receive of detections of the pest from veterinary officials of the exporting country, from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), or from other sources the Administrator determines to be reliable. On March 22, 2024, APHIS received a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs office documenting an outbreak of screwworm in cattle in Nicaragua. This detection was confirmed by the Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm on March 14, 2024. Accordingly, on March 29, 2024, APHIS added Nicaragua to the list of regions APHIS considers affected with screwworm. As a result, horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs from Nicaragua are subject to APHIS import restrictions designed to mitigate risk of screwworm introduction into the United States. This notice serves as an official record and public notification of this action. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622 and 8301– 8317; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4. Done in Washington, DC, this 13th day of January 2025. Michael Watson, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2025–01000 Filed 1–15–25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P E:\FR\FM\16JAN1.SGM 16JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 4713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01000]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2024-0028]


Addition of Nicaragua to the List of Regions Affected With 
Screwworm

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have added Nicaragua to the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) list maintained on 
the APHIS website of regions considered affected with screwworm. We 
took this action because of the confirmation of screwworm in this 
region.

DATES: Nicaragua was added to the list of regions considered affected 
with screwworm effective March 29, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Heather Sriranganathan, APHIS 
Veterinary Services, Regionalization Evaluation Services, 4700 River 
Road, Riverdale, MD 20737; phone: (717) 818-3582; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 9 CFR part 93 (referred 
to below as the regulations) prohibit or restrict the importation of 
certain animals into the United States to prevent the introduction of 
communicable diseases and pests of livestock. Subparts C, D, E, and F 
of the regulations govern the importation of horses, ruminants, swine, 
and dogs, respectively.
    Horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs may be imported into the United 
States from the regions where screwworm is considered to exist only if 
they are inspected and, if necessary, treated for screwworm according 
to the conditions outlined in the regulations for each type of animal. 
The requirements for horses are set out in Sec.  93.308(a)(3) and 
include not only pre-embarkation and post-arrival inspection and 
treatment requirements, but also quarantine in the United States for 7 
days after arrival, and examination by a veterinarian before release 
from quarantine. The requirements for ruminants and swine are set out 
in Sec. Sec.  93.405(a)(3) and 93.505(b) and are the same as for 
horses, other than the 7-day quarantine and final examination of the 
animal. The requirements for dogs are set out in Sec.  93.600 and 
require that all dogs from affected regions be inspected and, if 
necessary, treated before importation.
    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) maintains a 
list of regions APHIS considers affected with screwworm on its website 
at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-and-animal-product-import-information/animal-health-status-of-regions/. 
APHIS will add a region to the list upon determining that screwworm 
exists in the region based on reports we receive of detections of the 
pest from veterinary officials of the exporting country, from the World 
Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), or from other sources the 
Administrator determines to be reliable.
    On March 22, 2024, APHIS received a report from the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs office 
documenting an outbreak of screwworm in cattle in Nicaragua. This 
detection was confirmed by the Panama-United States Commission for the 
Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm on March 14, 2024. Accordingly, 
on March 29, 2024, APHIS added Nicaragua to the list of regions APHIS 
considers affected with screwworm. As a result, horses, ruminants, 
swine, and dogs from Nicaragua are subject to APHIS import restrictions 
designed to mitigate risk of screwworm introduction into the United 
States. This notice serves as an official record and public 
notification of this action.
    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622 and 8301-8317; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 31 
U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 13th day of January 2025.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-01000 Filed 1-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P


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