[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 182 (Thursday, September 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 44151]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20121]


 ========================================================================
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 182 / Thursday, September 21, 2017 / 
Notices  

[[Page 44151]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0063]


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

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we are adding Uganda 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 Uganda as a result of 
the confirmation of HPAI in Uganda.

DATES: Uganda was added the list of regions under temporary 
restrictions on January 14, 2017. Uganda is added to the list of 
regions considered to be affected by HPAI as of September 21, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Rebecca Gordon, Import Risk 
Analyst, National Import Export Services, 920 Main Campus Drive, Suite 
200, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27606; phone (919) 855-7741; 
[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 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 Web site 
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 January 15, 2017, the veterinary authorities of Uganda 
reported to the OIE the confirmation on January 14, 2017, of HPAI H5 in 
domestic ducks and chickens in Bukakata (Masaka District). The report 
indicated 30,000 domestic birds were susceptible. The OIE followup 
report dated January 27, 2017, confirmed the HPAI subtype H5N8.
    In response to that outbreak, 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 
Uganda to mitigate risk of HPAI introduction into the United States. 
Those restrictions went into effect on January 14, 2017. With the 
publication of this notice, we are adding Uganda 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 15th day of September 2017.
Jere L. Dick,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-20121 Filed 9-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P