[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40384-40385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17471]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2019-0020]


Addition of Vietnam to the List of Regions Affected by African 
Swine Fever

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have added Vietnam to the 
list of regions that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
considers to be affected with African swine fever (ASF). We are taking 
this action because of the confirmation of ASF in Vietnam.

DATES: Vietnam was added to the APHIS list of regions considered 
affected with ASF on February 18, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Hatim Gubara, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, Regionalization Evaluation Services, Strategy and Policy, 
Veterinary Services, 4700 River Road, Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 220737; 
phone: (301) 851-3310; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred 
to below as the regulations) govern the importation of specified 
animals and animal products to prevent the introduction into the United 
States of various animal diseases, including African swine fever (ASF). 
ASF is a highly contagious disease of wild and domestic swine that can 
spread rapidly in swine populations with extremely high rates of 
morbidity and mortality. A list of regions where ASF exists or is 
reasonably believed to exist is maintained on the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-and-animal-product-import-information/animal-health-status-of-regions/. This list 
is referenced in Sec.  94.8(a)(2) of the regulations.
    Section 94.8(a)(3) of the regulations states that APHIS will add a 
region to that list upon determining ASF exists in the region, based on 
reports APHIS receives of outbreaks of the disease 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, or upon determining that there is reason to believe the 
disease exists in the region.
    On February 20, 2019, the veterinary authorities of Vietnam 
reported to the OIE confirmation of an ASF outbreak on February 18, 
2019. In response to this outbreak, APHIS has added Vietnam to the list 
of regions where ASF exists or is reasonably believed to exist. As a 
result, pork and pork products from Vietnam, including casings, are 
subject to APHIS import restrictions designed to mitigate the risk of 
ASF introduction into the United States.
    Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this action 
as not a major rule, as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).


[[Page 40385]]


    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1633, 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 8th day of August 2019.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-17471 Filed 8-13-19; 8:45 am]
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