Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service December 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are amending the regulations pertaining to conditions for payment of indemnity for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Specifically, we are requiring commercial poultry premises to successfully pass a biosecurity audit prior to restocking if they were previously HPAI-infected and wish to be eligible for indemnity for the restocked poultry. We are also requiring a biosecurity audit for commercial poultry premises in the buffer zone prior to movement of poultry onto the premises, if the premises wishes to be eligible for indemnity for the poultry moved onto the premises. We are also revising the regulations to preclude indemnity payments for poultry moved onto premises in infected zones if the poultry become infected with HPAI within 14 days following the dissolution of the control area in which the infected zone is located. This action is necessary on an immediate basis in order to ensure that commercial poultry producers who receive indemnity payments for HPAI are taking measures to preclude the introduction and spread of HPAI, and avoiding actions that contribute to its spread. This action amends the regulations to condition indemnity for HPAI accordingly.

Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 and Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-108, the U.S. Department of Agriculture gives notice that a component agency, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposes to add a new system of records to its inventory of records. The system of records being proposed is the APHIS Student Outreach Programs System, USDA/APHIS-26. The purpose of this system is to facilitate the submission and review of information submitted by students and their parents or guardians as part of the application process for student outreach programs.

We are advising the public of our decision to authorize the importation of fresh leaves and stems of rosemary and fresh leaves and stems of tarragon from Ethiopia into the continental United States. Based on findings of pest risk analyses, which we made available to the public for review and comment through a previous notice, we have determined that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of rosemary and tarragon from Ethiopia.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request the reinstatement of an information collection associated with conducting the National Animal Health Monitoring System's small enterprise poultry study in 2025.

In accordance with Title II, Subtitle B of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (which is cited as the "Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002" and referred to as the Act), we are amending and republishing 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 Act requires the biennial review and republication of the list of select agents and toxins (the list) and the revision of the list as necessary. This action implements the findings from the biennial review of the list. The biennial review was initiated within 2 years of the completion of the previous biennial review. This final rule will focus solely on removing from the select agent list the following pathogens: Peronosclerospora philippinensis (Peronosclerospora sacchari) (Plant Protection and Quarantine select agent), African horse sickness virus (Veterinary Services select agent), and Brucella abortus, Brucella suis, and Brucella melitensis (overlap select agents).