83 FR 2422 - Addition of the Philippines to the List of Regions Affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 11 (January 17, 2018)

Page Range		2422-2423
FR Document		2018-00696

We are advising the public that we are adding the Philippines to the list of regions that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service considers to be affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). This action follows our imposition of HPAI-related restrictions on avian commodities originating from or transiting the Philippines as a result of the confirmation of HPAI in the Philippines.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 11 (Wednesday, January 17, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2422-2423]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00696]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0090]


Addition of the Philippines to the List of Regions Affected by 
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we are adding the Philippines 
to the list of regions that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service considers to be affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza 
(HPAI). This action follows our imposition of HPAI-related restrictions 
on avian commodities originating from or transiting the Philippines as 
a result of the confirmation of HPAI in the Philippines.

DATES: The Philippines was added to the list of regions under temporary 
restrictions on August 16, 2017. The Philippines is added to the list 
of regions considered to be affected by HPAI as of January 17, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ingrid Kotowski, Regionalization 
Evaluation Services, National Import Export Services, VS, APHIS, 920 
Main Campus Drive Suite 200, Raleigh, NC, 27606; (919) 855-7732; 
[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 Newcastle disease and highly 
pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The regulations prohibit or restrict 
the importation of live poultry, poultry meat, and other poultry 
products from regions where these diseases are considered to exist.
    Section 94.6 of part 94 of the regulations contains requirements 
governing the importation into the United States of carcasses, meat, 
parts or products of carcasses, and eggs (other than hatching eggs) of 
poultry, game birds, or other birds from regions of the world where 
HPAI exists or is reasonably believed to exist. HPAI is an extremely 
infectious and potentially fatal form of avian influenza in birds and 
poultry that, once established, can spread rapidly from flock to flock. 
A list of regions that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) considers affected with HPAI of any subtype is maintained on 
the APHIS website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-and-animal-product-import-information/ct-animal-disease-status.
    APHIS receives notice of HPAI outbreaks from veterinary officials 
of the exporting country, from the World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), or from other sources the Administrator determines to be 
reliable. On August 11, 2017, the veterinary authorities of the 
Philippines reported to the OIE that

[[Page 2423]]

HPAI occurrence in that country was confirmed on August 7, 2017. 
Subsequent to that report, and after confirming that the HPAI occurred 
in commercial birds or poultry, APHIS placed restrictions on the 
importation of poultry, commercial birds, other types of birds 
(research, performing), ratites, any avian hatching eggs, unprocessed 
avian products and byproducts, and certain fresh poultry products from 
the Philippines to mitigate risk of HPAI introduction into the United 
States. Those restrictions went into effect on August 7, 2017, the 
reported date of confirmation of the HPAI occurrence in the 
Philippines. With the publication of this notice, we are adding the 
Philippines to the list of regions APHIS considers affected with HPAI 
of any subtype.

    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.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 10th day of January 2018.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-00696 Filed 1-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

2422

Notices Federal Register
Vol. 83, No. 11

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER numbers of this issue, and the October pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). This
contains documents other than rules or 23, 2017, issue of the Federal Register. action follows our imposition of HPAI-
proposed rules that are applicable to the All comments received will be posted related restrictions on avian
public. Notices of hearings and investigations, without change, including any personal commodities originating from or
committee meetings, agency decisions and information provided, and they will be transiting the Philippines as a result of
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
made available for public inspection at the confirmation of HPAI in the
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are the above physical address during Philippines.
examples of documents appearing in this regular business hours. DATES: The Philippines was added to
section. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: the list of regions under temporary
Bucky Gwartney, International restrictions on August 16, 2017. The
Marketing Specialist, Standardization Philippines is added to the list of
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Branch, Quality Assessment Division, regions considered to be affected by
Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program, HPAI as of January 17, 2018.
Agricultural Marketing Service AMS, USDA; 1400 Independence FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
[Docket No. AMS–LPS–17–0046] Avenue SW, Room 3932–S, STOP 0258, Ingrid Kotowski, Regionalization
Washington, DC 20250–0258; phone Evaluation Services, National Import
United States Standards for Grades of (202) 720–1424; or via email at Export Services, VS, APHIS, 920 Main
Pork Carcasses Bucky.Gwartney@ams.usda.gov. Campus Drive Suite 200, Raleigh, NC,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A notice 27606; (919) 855–7732;
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA . was published in the Federal Register Ingrid.Kotowski@aphis.usda.gov.
(82 FR 48971) on October 23, 2017, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
ACTION: Notice; reopening of comment requesting comments on revisions to the regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred to
period. pork standards. The 60-day comment below as the regulations) govern the
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of period provided in the notice closed on importation of certain animals and
Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural December 22, 2017. Trade organizations animal products into the United States
Marketing Service (AMS) is reopening submitted comments requesting a 60- to prevent the introduction of various
the comment period on the notice day extension to enable industry animal diseases, including Newcastle
requesting comments on revisions to the stakeholders more time to evaluate the disease and highly pathogenic avian
United States Standards for Grades of proposed changes and to submit influenza (HPAI). The regulations
Pork Carcasses (pork standards) comments. Therefore, AMS is reopening prohibit or restrict the importation of
published in the Federal Register (82 the comment period for the notice until live poultry, poultry meat, and other
FR 48971) on October 23, 2017. The March 19, 2018. AMS is reopening the poultry products from regions where
comment period for this notice closed public comment period to ensure that these diseases are considered to exist.
on December 22, 2017. The revisions are interested persons have sufficient time Section 94.6 of part 94 of the
intended to modernize the standards to review and comment on the notice. regulations contains requirements
and meet stakeholder demands by Dated: January 10, 2018. governing the importation into the
segregating the population of United States of carcasses, meat, parts or
Bruce Summers,
commodity pork products into uniform products of carcasses, and eggs (other
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing than hatching eggs) of poultry, game
groups (of similar quality, value, etc.) Service.
birds, or other birds from regions of the
that can facilitate the production and [FR Doc. 2018–00627 Filed 1–16–18; 8:45 am]
world where HPAI exists or is
marketing of pork and deliver certain BILLING CODE 3410–02–P reasonably believed to exist. HPAI is an
eating expectations for the consumer.
extremely infectious and potentially
DATES: Comments on the notice fatal form of avian influenza in birds
published in the Federal Register (82 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE and poultry that, once established, can
FR 48971) on October 23, 2017, must be spread rapidly from flock to flock. A list
received by March 19, 2018. Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service of regions that the Animal and Plant
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
invited to submit comments [Docket No. APHIS–2017–0090] considers affected with HPAI of any
electronically at https:// subtype is maintained on the APHIS
www.regulations.gov. Written comments Addition of the Philippines to the List website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/
should be sent to: Pork Carcass of Regions Affected by Highly aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-
Revisions, Standardization Branch, Pathogenic Avian Influenza and-animal-product-import-
Quality Assessment Division; Livestock, AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health information/ct-animal-disease-status.
Poultry, and Seed Program, AMS, Inspection Service, USDA. APHIS receives notice of HPAI
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

USDA; 1400 Independence Ave. SW, ACTION: Notice. outbreaks from veterinary officials of the
Room 3932–S, STOP 0258, Washington, exporting country, from the World
DC 20250–0258. Comments may also be SUMMARY: We are advising the public Organization for Animal Health (OIE),
emailed to porkcarcassrevisions@ that we are adding the Philippines to or from other sources the Administrator
ams.usda.gov. All comments should the list of regions that the Animal and determines to be reliable. On August 11,
reference docket number AMS–LPS–17– Plant Health Inspection Service 2017, the veterinary authorities of the
0046, the date of submission, the page considers to be affected by highly Philippines reported to the OIE that

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 17, 2018 / Notices 2423

HPAI occurrence in that country was APHIS–2017–0106, Regulatory Analysis routinely used whenever specimens
confirmed on August 7, 2017. and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station (such as blood, milk, tissue, or urine)
Subsequent to that report, and after 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, from any animal (such as cattle, swine,
confirming that the HPAI occurred in Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. sheep, goats, horses, and poultry) are
commercial birds or poultry, APHIS Supporting documents and any submitted to the National Veterinary
placed restrictions on the importation of comments we receive on this docket Services Laboratories for disease testing.
poultry, commercial birds, other types may be viewed at http:// If the information was not collected or
of birds (research, performing), ratites, www.regulations.gov/#! collected less frequently, APHIS would
any avian hatching eggs, unprocessed docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0106 or in not have the critical information
avian products and byproducts, and our reading room, which is located in necessary to effectively operate a
certain fresh poultry products from the Room 1141 of the USDA South disease surveillance program and
Philippines to mitigate risk of HPAI Building, 14th Street and Independence identify the animals and herds from
introduction into the United States. Avenue SW, Washington, DC. Normal which the specimens were taken,
Those restrictions went into effect on reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 allowing effective disease prevention
August 7, 2017, the reported date of p.m., Monday through Friday, except and eradication.
confirmation of the HPAI occurrence in holidays. To be sure someone is there to An additional form that APHIS uses is
the Philippines. With the publication of help you, please call (202) 7997039 the Parasite Submission form. This form
this notice, we are adding the before coming. is used by the Cattle Fever Tick
Philippines to the list of regions APHIS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Eradication Program and the National
considers affected with HPAI of any information regarding livestock disease Tick Surveillance Program to identify
subtype. surveillance programs, contact Ms. Lori the individuals submitting tick samples
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701–7772, 7781– Anderson, Chief of Staff, STAS, VS, and the animal sources of those
7786, and 8301–8317; 21 U.S.C. 136 and APHIS, 1920 Dayton Ave., Ames, IA samples.
136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 50010; (515) 337–7405. For copies of We are asking the Office of
371.4. more detailed information on the Management and Budget (OMB) to
Done in Washington, DC, this 10th day of information collection, contact Ms. approve our use of these information
January 2018. Kimberly Hardy, APHIS’ Information collection activities, as described, for an
Kevin Shea, Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851– additional 3 years.
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health 2483. The purpose of this notice is to solicit
Inspection Service. comments from the public (as well as
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: affected agencies) concerning our
[FR Doc. 2018–00696 Filed 1–16–18; 8:45 am]
Title: Specimen Submission. information collection. APHIS needs
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P OMB Control Number: 0579–0090. this outside input to help accomplish
Type of Request: Revision to and the following:
extension of approval of an information (1) Evaluate whether the collection of
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE collection. information is necessary for the proper
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Abstract: The Animal Health performance of the functions of the
Service Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.) Agency, including whether the
provides the Secretary of Agriculture information will have practical utility;
[Docket No. APHIS–2017–0106] broad authority to prohibit or restrict, (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our
through orders and regulations, the estimate of the burden of the collection
Notice of Request for Revision to and importation or entry and interstate
Extension of Approval of an of information, including the validity of
movement of any animal, article, or the methodology and assumptions used;
Information Collection; Specimen means of conveyance if the U.S.
Submission (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
Department of Agriculture (USDA) clarity of the information to be
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health determines that the prohibition or collected; and
Inspection Service, USDA. restriction is necessary to prevent the (4) Minimize the burden of the
ACTION: Revision to and extension of introduction or spread of any pest or collection of information on those who
approval of an information collection; disease of livestock within the United are to respond, (such as through the use
comment request. States. of appropriate automated, electronic,
Disease prevention is the most mechanical, or other technological
SUMMARY: In accordance with the effective method for maintaining a collection techniques, e.g., permitting
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this healthy animal population and for electronic submission of responses.)
notice announces the Animal and Plant enhancing the United States’ ability to Estimate of Burden: The public
Health Inspection Service’s intention to globally compete in the trade of animals burden for this collection of information
request a revision to and extension of and animal products. However, animal is estimated to average 0.31 hours per
approval of an information collection disease prevention cannot be response.
associated with livestock disease accomplished without the existence of Respondents: State veterinarians and
surveillance programs. an effective disease surveillance other State personnel who are qualified
DATES: We will consider all comments program, which is conducted by the and authorized to collect and submit
that we receive on or before March 19, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health specimens for laboratory analysis,
2018. Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary accredited veterinarians, private
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments Services (VS). veterinarians, animal health
by either of the following methods: The animal disease surveillance technicians, herd owners, private
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to program is based on information laboratories, and research institutions.
http://www.regulations.gov/#! submitted on the Specimen Submission Estimated Annual Number of
docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0106. form and the continuation sheets, as Respondents: 1,773.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: well as equivalent sources. VS forms are Estimated Annual Number of
Send your comment to Docket No. critical to VS’ mission. They are Responses per Respondent: 15.

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Document Created: 2018-10-26 09:57:11
Document Modified: 2018-10-26 09:57:11

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		The Philippines was added to the list of regions under temporary restrictions on August 16, 2017. The Philippines is added to the list of regions considered to be affected by HPAI as of January 17, 2018.
Contact		Dr. Ingrid Kotowski, Regionalization Evaluation Services, National Import Export Services, VS, APHIS, 920 Main Campus Drive Suite 200, Raleigh, NC, 27606; (919) 855-7732; [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 2422

83 FR 2422 - Addition of the Philippines to the List of Regions Affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 11 (January 17, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service