[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 92 (Tuesday, May 13, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27277-27278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-10998]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 92 / Tuesday, May 13, 2014 / 
Notices  

[[Page 27277]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2013-0097]


Notice of Availability of a Draft Framework for Implementing the 
United States-Canada Foreign Animal Disease Zoning Arrangement

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is making 
available for public comment a draft framework for implementing and 
maintaining a foreign animal disease zoning arrangement between the 
United States and Canada. The draft framework provides an operational 
plan for the two countries to recognize each other's decisions to 
control a highly contagious foreign animal disease outbreak through 
zoning. The draft framework also establishes a structure for 
maintaining the arrangement over time and strategies for engaging 
governmental and non-governmental stakeholders in any actions taken 
under the arrangement, including planning and preparedness. This zoning 
arrangement will facilitate continued trade between disease-free areas 
of the United States and Canada while safeguarding animal health in 
both countries.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
14, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0097-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2013-0097, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-
0097 or in our reading room, which is located in room 1141 of the USDA 
South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, 
DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, 
please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Kelly Rhodes, Regionalization 
Evaluation Services, National Import Export Services, VS, APHIS, USDA, 
4700 River Road, Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; 
[email protected]; (301) 851-3315.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In October 2012, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) jointly agreed to 
establish a foreign animal disease (FAD) zoning arrangement under the 
U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council. The arrangement lays out 
the basic parameters by which the two countries intend to recognize 
each other's decisions to control highly contagious FAD outbreaks 
through zoning, that is, determining and specifying a particular area 
in a portion of the country wherein a quarantine should be established 
to control a contagious FAD outbreak. The arrangement is based on 
reciprocal evaluations of veterinary infrastructure and emergency 
response capacity which concluded that each country can effectively use 
zoning to control an FAD outbreak. This notice makes available for 
public comment a draft framework that provides guidance for the USDA's 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and CFIA to 
implement and maintain the zoning arrangement.
    The United States and Canada both have response plans for highly 
contagious FAD outbreaks in place that are based on internationally 
accepted zoning principles. The plans call for establishing an area of 
control that consists of a central infected zone surrounded by one or 
more additional zones. The infected zone is the focus of disease 
eradication efforts, while the entire area of control is subject to 
surveillance for the disease agent and movement restrictions on animals 
and other commodities that could transmit the agent. The affected 
country may choose to modify or redefine the boundaries of an area of 
control during the course of an outbreak following procedures outlined 
in the draft framework.
    The territory outside of an area of control is considered free of 
the disease. The claim to freedom is largely substantiated by 
demonstrating, through epidemiological investigation, movement tracing, 
and surveillance that the outbreak is contained within the area of 
control. The affected country may also choose to increase active or 
passive surveillance for the disease agent in the disease-free zone.
    Under the draft framework, each country would notify the other of a 
confirmed FAD detection in domestic livestock within its territory 
while in the process of establishing an area of control. The unaffected 
(partner) country may initially restrict the importation of commodities 
that could transmit the disease from the affected country. The extent 
of the restrictions would depend on the disease, the magnitude of the 
outbreak, and other epidemiological factors.
    The affected country would apply to the partner country for 
recognition of an established area of control, following procedures 
outlined in the draft framework. Once this recognition occurs, trade 
between disease-free zones could resume as normal, with few 
restrictions. The partner country may impose additional import 
restrictions if the disease is detected outside of an area of control 
during the response period.
    The draft framework outlines procedures for a representative of the 
partner country to embed in and monitor the progress of the outbreak 
response. It also contains contingencies to address the rare instances 
when a widespread, multi-focal, or rapidly progressing outbreak may 
temporarily overwhelm the resources of the affected country and 
negatively impact its ability to contain the disease agent through 
zoning.
    The draft framework further establishes a Federal-level governance 
structure designed to preserve the concept and intent of the zoning

[[Page 27278]]

arrangement and promote the engagement and active participation of 
stakeholders in its implementation. It also outlines a strategy for 
APHIS and CFIA to work with other Federal, State, provincial, and non-
governmental stakeholders to develop the means necessary to facilitate 
zoning recognition during an outbreak and minimize cross-border trade 
disruptions.
    The draft framework may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site 
or in our reading room (see ADDRESSES above for a link to 
Regulations.gov and information on the location and hours of the 
reading room). You may request paper copies of the document by calling 
or writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 
Please refer to the title of this document when requesting copies.
    APHIS will consider all comments we receive on the FAD zoning 
arrangement draft framework. Comments on the framework that address 
disease risk, import restrictions, establishment of areas of control, 
operational procedures, and communications with affected stakeholders 
would be particularly useful as we continue to develop the framework.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 7th day of May 2014.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-10998 Filed 5-12-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P