[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 184 (Thursday, September 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48711-48712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23129]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0005]


Notice of Determination of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza 
Subtype H5N1 Status of Hungary

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public of our determination regarding the 
highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N1 status of Hungary 
following outbreaks in 2006 and 2007. Based on our evaluation of the 
animal health status of two counties (B[aacute]cs-Kiskun and 
Csongr[aacute]d) in Hungary, which we made available to the public for 
review and comment through a previous notice, the Administrator has 
determined that the importation of live birds, poultry carcasses, parts 
or products of poultry carcasses, and eggs (other than hatching eggs) 
of poultry, game birds, and other birds from Hungary presents a low 
risk of introducing HPAI H5N1 into the United States.

DATES: Effective Date: This determination will be effective on October 
9, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Javier Vargas, Case Manager, 
Regionalization Evaluation Services Staff, National Center for Import 
and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1231; (301) 734-0756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On June 15, 2009, we published in the Federal Register (74 FR 
28217-28218) a notice 1A\1\ in which we announced the availability for 
review and comment of an evaluation of the animal health status of two 
counties (B[aacute]cs-Kiskun and Csongr[aacute]d) in Hungary relative 
to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N1. In the 
evaluation, titled ``APHIS' Evaluation of the Status of High 
Pathogenicity Avian Influenza H5N1 Virus in Hungary'' (November 2008), 
we presented the results of our evaluation of the prevalence of HPAI 
H5N1 in domestic poultry in the two counties in light of the actions 
taken by Hungary's Department for Food Chain Safety and Animal Health 
(DFCSAH) during and since the outbreaks of HPAI

[[Page 48712]]

H5N1 that occurred in these two counties in 2006 and 2007.
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    \1\ To view the notice and the evaluation, go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2009-0005.
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    Our evaluation concluded that both counties (B[aacute]cs-Kiskun and 
Csongr[aacute]d) had adequate detection and control measures in place 
at the time of the outbreaks, that they have been able to effectively 
control and eradicate HPAI H5N1 in their domestic poultry populations 
since that time, and that Hungary's DFCSAH has control measures in 
place to rapidly identify, control, and eradicate the disease should it 
be reintroduced into Hungary in either wild birds or domestic poultry.
    In our June 2009 notice we stated that if, after the end of the 
comment period, we could identify no additional risk factors that would 
indicate that domestic poultry in B[aacute]cs-Kiskun and 
Csongr[aacute]d Counties continue to be affected with HPAI H5N1, we 
would conclude that the importation of live birds, poultry carcasses, 
parts of carcasses, and eggs (other than hatching eggs) of poultry, 
game birds, or other birds from Hungary presents a low risk of 
introducing HPAI H5N1 into the United States.
    We solicited comments on the notice for 30 days ending on July 15, 
2009. We received no comments during the comment period.
    Therefore, we are removing our prohibition on the importation of 
these products from Hungary into the United States. Specifically:
     We are no longer requiring that processed poultry products 
from Hungary be accompanied by a Veterinary Services import permit and 
government certification confirming that the products have been treated 
according to APHIS requirements;
     We are allowing unprocessed poultry products from Hungary 
to enter the United States in passenger luggage; and
     We are removing restrictions regarding the counties 
(B[aacute]cs-Kiskun and Csongr[aacute]d) in Hungary from which 
processed poultry products may originate in order to be allowed entry 
into the United States in passenger luggage.
    However, live birds from B[aacute]cs-Kiskun and Csongr[aacute]d 
Counties in Hungary are still subject to the port-of-entry inspections 
and post-importation quarantines set forth in 9 CFR part 93, unless 
granted an exemption by the Administrator or destined for diagnostic 
purposes and accompanied by a limited permit.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 18th day of September 2009.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-23129 Filed 9-23-09; 8:45 am]
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