[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 184 (Monday, September 23, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49708-49709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20520]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2019-0047]


Addition of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the List 
of Regions Affected With 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 the Democratic 
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the list of regions that the 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service considers to be affected 
with African swine fever (ASF). We have taken this action because of 
the confirmation of ASF in the DPRK.

DATES: The DPRK was added to the APHIS list of regions considered 
affected with ASF on June 5, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ingrid Kotowski, Regionalization 
Evaluation Services, Veterinary Services, APHIS, 920 Main Campus Drive, 
Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606; (919) 855-7732; 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 the list referenced in Sec.  94.8(a)(2) 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

[[Page 49709]]

region. Section 94.8(a)(1) of the regulations specifies the criteria on 
which the Administrator bases the reason to believe ASF exists in a 
region. Section 94.8(b) prohibits the importation of pork and pork 
products from regions listed in accordance with Sec.  94.8 except if 
processed and treated in accordance with the provisions specified in 
that section or consigned to an APHIS-approved establishment for 
further processing. Section 96.2 restricts the importation of swine 
casings that originated in or were processed in a region where ASF 
exists, as listed under Sec.  94.8(a).
    On May 30, 2019, the veterinary authorities of the Democratic 
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) reported to the OIE the occurrence of 
ASF in that country. Therefore, in response to this outbreak, on June 
5, 2019, APHIS added the DPRK to the list of regions where ASF exists 
or is reasonably believed to exist. This notice serves as official 
record and public notification of that action.
    As a result of that action, pork and pork products from the DPRK, 
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).

    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 17th day of September 2019.
Kevin Shea,
 Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-20520 Filed 9-20-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P