81 FR 8895 - Recognizing European Union (EU) and EU Member State Regionalization Decisions for African Swine Fever (ASF) by Updating the APHIS List of Regions Affected With ASF

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 35 (February 23, 2016)

Page Range		8895-8896
FR Document		2016-03675

We are advising the public that we added European Union (EU) and EU Member State-defined regions of the EU to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) list of regions affected with African swine fever (ASF). Going forward we will recognize as affected with ASF any region of the EU that the EU or any EU Member State has placed under restriction because of detection of ASF. These regions currently include portions of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, and all of Sardinia. APHIS will list the EU- and EU Member State-defined regions as a single entity. We also removed Sardinia as an individually listed region from the APHIS list of ASF affected regions. We took these actions because of the detection of ASF in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8895-8896]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03675]


========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2016 / 
Notices

[[Page 8895]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2015-0011]


Recognizing European Union (EU) and EU Member State 
Regionalization Decisions for African Swine Fever (ASF) by Updating the 
APHIS List of Regions Affected With ASF

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we added European Union (EU) 
and EU Member State-defined regions of the EU to the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) list of regions affected with African 
swine fever (ASF). Going forward we will recognize as affected with ASF 
any region of the EU that the EU or any EU Member State has placed 
under restriction because of detection of ASF. These regions currently 
include portions of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, and all of 
Sardinia. APHIS will list the EU- and EU Member State-defined regions 
as a single entity. We also removed Sardinia as an individually listed 
region from the APHIS list of ASF affected regions. We took these 
actions because of the detection of ASF in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, 
and Poland.

DATES: Effective Date: The addition of the EU- and EU Member State-
defined regions to the APHIS list of regions affected with ASF was 
effective August 31, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Donald Link, Import Risk Analyst, 
Regionalization Evaluation Services, National Import Export Services, 
Veterinary Services, APHIS, 920 Main Campus Drive, Suite 200, Raleigh, 
NC 27606; (919) 855-7731; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred 
to below as the regulations) govern the importation of certain animals 
and animal products into the United States to prevent the introduction 
of various animal diseases, including rinderpest, foot-and-mouth 
disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, swine vesicular disease, 
classical swine fever, and African swine fever (ASF). The regulations 
prohibit or restrict the importation of live ruminants and swine, and 
products from these animals, from regions where these diseases are 
considered to exist.
    Sections 94.8 and 94.17 of the regulations contain requirements 
governing the importation into the United States of pork and pork 
products from regions of the world where ASF exists or is reasonably 
believed to exist. A list of regions where ASF exists or is reasonably 
believed to exist is maintained on the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animals_disease_status.shtml.
    In a notice published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2015 
(80 FR 52440-52441, Docket No. APHIS-2015-0011), we amended the list of 
regions where ASF exists or is reasonably believed to exist by adding a 
new entry that reads ``Any restricted zone in the European Union (EU) 
established by the EU or any EU Member State because of detection of 
African swine fever in domestic or feral swine.'' We also removed 
Sardinia as an individually listed region because Sardinia is under ASF 
restrictions by the EU. These list changes were effective August 31, 
2015, and as a result of that action, the importation into the United 
States of pork and pork products from EU regions under restrictions for 
ASF became restricted.
    The notice also proposed that APHIS would recognize as affected 
with ASF any region of the EU that the EU or any EU Member State has 
placed under restriction because of detection of ASF. Going forward, 
the APHIS-recognized ASF status of almost any region of the EU would 
follow the EU and EU Member State restrictions based on ASF detections; 
we would not list each affected region of the EU. The only exception 
would be Malta, which we currently recognize as affected with ASF, but 
which is not under ASF restrictions by the EU.
    Comments on the notice were required to be received on or before 
October 30, 2015. We received one comment, from a domestic pork 
industry association. The commenter did not object to the recognition 
of EU and EU Member State regionalization decisions for ASF in the EU. 
The commenter expressed concern that ASF continues to spread within the 
wild boar population, and concern that the potential exists for further 
spread. The commenter urged APHIS to remain extremely vigilant 
regarding actions by the European Commission (EC) and affected Member 
States to address ASF.
    APHIS agrees with the commenter that ASF continues to spread in 
wild boar, and that the potential exists for further spread. APHIS 
agrees with the commenter that we should remain extremely vigilant 
regarding actions taken by the EC and affected Member States to address 
ASF. APHIS will continue monitor the epidemiological situation. If the 
EU or an EU Member State significantly changes or entirely removes its 
ASF restrictions or otherwise significantly alters its regulatory 
framework for ASF, APHIS will conduct an evaluation to assess the 
impact of the changes on the risk of ASF introduction into the United 
States. APHIS will present for public comment the findings of any such 
evaluation.
    Because the EU- and EU Member State-defined ASF-affected regions 
include areas not currently on the APHIS list of ASF-affected regions, 
we added the new entry to our list effective August 31, 2015, to 
prevent the introduction of ASF into the United States. The list of 
ASF-affected regions can be found at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animals_disease_status.shtml. Copies of the list 
are also available via postal mail, fax, or email upon request to the 
Regionalization Evaluation Services, National Import Export Services, 
Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 4700 
River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737.

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 450, 7701-7772, 7781-7786, and 8301-8317; 
21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.


[[Page 8896]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 17th day of February 2016.
 Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-03675 Filed 2-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

8895

Notices Federal Register
Vol. 81, No. 35

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ASF, but which is not under ASF
contains documents other than rules or regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred to restrictions by the EU.
proposed rules that are applicable to the below as the regulations) govern the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations, Comments on the notice were
importation of certain animals and required to be received on or before
committee meetings, agency decisions and animal products into the United States
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of October 30, 2015. We received one
petitions and applications and agency
to prevent the introduction of various comment, from a domestic pork
statements of organization and functions are animal diseases, including rinderpest, industry association. The commenter
examples of documents appearing in this foot-and-mouth disease, bovine did not object to the recognition of EU
section. spongiform encephalopathy, swine
and EU Member State regionalization
vesicular disease, classical swine fever,
decisions for ASF in the EU. The
and African swine fever (ASF). The
commenter expressed concern that ASF
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE regulations prohibit or restrict the
continues to spread within the wild
importation of live ruminants and
Animal and Plant Health Inspection boar population, and concern that the
swine, and products from these animals,
Service from regions where these diseases are potential exists for further spread. The
considered to exist. commenter urged APHIS to remain
[Docket No. APHIS–2015–0011] extremely vigilant regarding actions by
Sections 94.8 and 94.17 of the
regulations contain requirements the European Commission (EC) and
Recognizing European Union (EU) and
EU Member State Regionalization governing the importation into the affected Member States to address ASF.
Decisions for African Swine Fever United States of pork and pork products APHIS agrees with the commenter
(ASF) by Updating the APHIS List of from regions of the world where ASF that ASF continues to spread in wild
Regions Affected With ASF exists or is reasonably believed to exist. boar, and that the potential exists for
A list of regions where ASF exists or is further spread. APHIS agrees with the
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health reasonably believed to exist is commenter that we should remain
Inspection Service, USDA. maintained on the Animal and Plant extremely vigilant regarding actions
ACTION: Notice. Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Web taken by the EC and affected Member
site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ States to address ASF. APHIS will
SUMMARY: We are advising the public import_export/animals/animals_ continue monitor the epidemiological
that we added European Union (EU) and disease_status.shtml. situation. If the EU or an EU Member
EU Member State-defined regions of the In a notice published in the Federal State significantly changes or entirely
EU to the Animal and Plant Health Register on August 31, 2015 (80 FR removes its ASF restrictions or
Inspection Service (APHIS) list of 52440–52441, Docket No. APHIS–2015– otherwise significantly alters its
regions affected with African swine 0011), we amended the list of regions regulatory framework for ASF, APHIS
fever (ASF). Going forward we will where ASF exists or is reasonably will conduct an evaluation to assess the
recognize as affected with ASF any believed to exist by adding a new entry impact of the changes on the risk of ASF
region of the EU that the EU or any EU that reads ‘‘Any restricted zone in the introduction into the United States.
Member State has placed under European Union (EU) established by the
restriction because of detection of ASF. APHIS will present for public comment
EU or any EU Member State because of the findings of any such evaluation.
These regions currently include detection of African swine fever in
portions of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Because the EU- and EU Member
domestic or feral swine.’’ We also
and Poland, and all of Sardinia. APHIS State-defined ASF-affected regions
removed Sardinia as an individually
will list the EU- and EU Member State- include areas not currently on the
listed region because Sardinia is under
defined regions as a single entity. We APHIS list of ASF-affected regions, we
ASF restrictions by the EU. These list
also removed Sardinia as an added the new entry to our list effective
changes were effective August 31, 2015,
individually listed region from the August 31, 2015, to prevent the
and as a result of that action, the
APHIS list of ASF affected regions. We introduction of ASF into the United
importation into the United States of
took these actions because of the pork and pork products from EU regions States. The list of ASF-affected regions
detection of ASF in Estonia, Latvia, under restrictions for ASF became can be found at: http://
Lithuania, and Poland. restricted. www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/
DATES: Effective Date: The addition of The notice also proposed that APHIS animals/animals_disease_status.shtml.
the EU- and EU Member State-defined would recognize as affected with ASF Copies of the list are also available via
regions to the APHIS list of regions any region of the EU that the EU or any postal mail, fax, or email upon request
affected with ASF was effective August EU Member State has placed under to the Regionalization Evaluation
31, 2015. restriction because of detection of ASF. Services, National Import Export
Services, Veterinary Services, Animal
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Going forward, the APHIS-recognized
Donald Link, Import Risk Analyst, ASF status of almost any region of the and Plant Health Inspection Service,
Regionalization Evaluation Services, EU would follow the EU and EU 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD
National Import Export Services, Member State restrictions based on ASF 20737.
Veterinary Services, APHIS, 920 Main detections; we would not list each Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701–7772, 7781–
Campus Drive, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC affected region of the EU. The only 7786, and 8301–8317; 21 U.S.C. 136 and
27606; (919) 855–7731; Donald.B.Link@ exception would be Malta, which we 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and
aphis.usda.gov. currently recognize as affected with 371.4.

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8896 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2016 / Notices

Done in Washington, DC, this 17th day of Farm Service Agency collected from Farm Service Agency
February 2016. (FSA) Minor Program borrowers who
Title: Agricultural Foreign Investment
Kevin Shea,
Disclosure Act Report. may be individual farmers or farming
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health OMB Control Number: 0560–0097. partnerships, associations, or
Inspection Service. Summary of Collection: The corporations.
[FR Doc. 2016–03675 Filed 2–22–16; 8:45 am] Agricultural Foreign Investment Need and Use of the Information: FSA
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA) requires will collect information related to a
foreign investors to report in a timely program benefit recipient or loan
manner all held, acquired, or transferred borrower requesting action on security
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE U.S. agricultural land under penalty of they own, which was purchased with
FSA loan funds, improved with FSA
law to Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Farm Service Agency loan funds or has otherwise been
Authority for the collection of the
mortgaged to FSA to secure a
Submission for OMB Review; information was delegated by the
Government loan. The information
Comment Request Secretary of Agriculture to the Farm
collected is primarily financial data,
Service Agency (FSA). The statute of
February 17, 2016. such as borrower’s asset values, current
authority is 92 STAT (1263–1267) or 7
The Department of Agriculture has financial information and public use
U.S.C. 3501–3508 or Public Law 95–
submitted the following information and employment data. Failure to obtain
460. Foreign investors may obtain form
collection requirement(s) to OMB for this information at the time of the
FSA–153, AFIDA Report, from their
review and clearance under the request for servicing will result in
local FSA county office or from the FSA
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, rejection of the borrower’s request.
Internet site. Description of Respondents: Farms;
Public Law 104–13. Comments are Need and Use of the Information: The
Individuals or households; Business or
required regarding (1) whether the information collected from the AFIDA
other-for-profit; Not-for-profit
collection of information is necessary Reports is used to monitor the effect of
institutions; State. Local and Tribal
for the proper performance of the foreign investment upon family farms
Government.
functions of the agency, including and rural communities and in the Number of Respondents: 58.
whether the information will have preparation of a voluntary report to Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the Congress and the President. Congress On occasion; Annually.
agency’s estimate of burden including reviews the report and decides if Total Burden Hours: 37.
the validity of the methodology and regulatory action is necessary to limit
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the amount of foreign investment in Ruth Brown,
the quality, utility and clarity of the U.S. agricultural land. If this Departmental Information Collection
information to be collected; and (4) information was not collected, USDA Clearance Officer.
ways to minimize the burden of the could not effectively monitor foreign [FR Doc. 2016–03676 Filed 2–22–16; 8:45 am]
collection of information on those who investment and the impact of such BILLING CODE 3410–05–P
are to respond, including through the holdings upon family farms and rural
use of appropriate automated, communities.
electronic, mechanical, or other Description of Respondents: Business DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
technological collection techniques or or other for-profit; Individuals or
Food Safety and Inspection Service
other forms of information technology. households; Farms.
Comments regarding this information Number of Respondents: 5,525. [Docket No. FSIS–2016–0005]
collection received by March 24, 2016 Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
will be considered. Written comments On occasion; Annually. National Advisory Committee on Meat
should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Total Burden Hours: 2,631. and Poultry Inspection
Agriculture, Office of Information and Title: Servicing Minor Program Loans. AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection
Regulatory Affairs, Office of OMB Control Number: 0560–0230. Service, USDA.
Management and Budget (OMB), New Summary of Collection: Farm Loan ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
Executive Office Building, 725—17th Program staff provides supervised credit
Street NW., Washington, DC 20502. in the form of loans to family farmers SUMMARY: The Food Safety and
Commenters are encouraged to submit and ranchers to purchase land and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing
their comments to OMB via email to: finance agricultural production. that the National Advisory Committee
OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or Regulations are promulgated to on Meat and Poultry Inspection
fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental implement selected provisions of (NACMPI) is sponsoring a public
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail sections 331 and 335 of the meeting on March 29–30, 2016. The
Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250– Consolidated Farm and Rural objective of the public meeting is to
7602. Copies of the submission(s) may Development Act. Section 331 review and determine the steps FSIS
be obtained by calling (202) 720–8958. authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture should take to ensure better Listeria
An agency may not conduct or to grant releases from personal liability monocytogenes (Lm) control at retail.
sponsor a collection of information where security property is transferred to FSIS is seeking input on whether FSIS
unless the collection of information approve applicants who, under should require certain actions by retail
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

displays a currently valid OMB control agreement, assume the outstanding stores. FSIS will ask the Committee to
number and the agency informs secured indebtedness. Section 335 consider the following: (1) Should FSIS
potential persons who are to respond to provides servicing authority for real rely on regulation, the Food Code, or
the collection of information that such estate security; operation or lease of some other means to effect these
persons are not required to respond to realty, disposition of surplus property; actions? (2) Are there sources of
the collection of information unless it conveyance of complete interest of the information that FSIS should consider
displays a currently valid OMB control United States; easements; and when deciding on what steps to take
number. condemnations. The information is that the Agency has not identified?

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Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:33:22
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:33:22

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		Effective Date: The addition of the EU- and EU Member State- defined regions to the APHIS list of regions affected with ASF was effective August 31, 2015.
Contact		Mr. Donald Link, Import Risk Analyst, Regionalization Evaluation Services, National Import Export Services, Veterinary Services, APHIS, 920 Main Campus Drive, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606; (919) 855-7731; [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 8895

81 FR 8895 - Recognizing European Union (EU) and EU Member State Regionalization Decisions for African Swine Fever (ASF) by Updating the APHIS List of Regions Affected With ASF

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 35 (February 23, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service