[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 198 (Friday, October 11, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54834-54835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22299]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2018-0061]


Changes to the National Poultry Improvement Plan Program 
Standards

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of determination.

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SUMMARY: We are updating the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) 
Program Standards. In a previous notice, we made available to the 
public for review and comment proposed changes to the NPIP Program 
Standards. These changes will be added to the NPIP Program Standards.

DATES: Applicable December 10, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Elena Behnke, DVM, Senior 
Coordinator, National Poultry Improvement Plan, VS, APHIS, USDA, 1506 
Klondike Road, Suite 101, Conyers, GA 30094-5104; (770) 922-3496; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Poultry Improvement Plan 
(NPIP), also referred to below as ``the Plan,'' is a cooperative 
Federal-State-Industry mechanism for controlling certain poultry 
diseases. The Plan consists of a variety of programs intended to 
prevent and control poultry diseases. Participation in all Plan 
programs is voluntary, but breeding flocks, hatcheries, and dealers 
must first qualify as ``U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean'' as a condition 
for participating in the other Plan programs.
    The regulations in 9 CFR parts 56, 145, 146, and 147 (referred to 
below as the regulations) contain the provisions of the Plan. The 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) amends these provisions from time to 
time to incorporate new scientific information and technologies within 
the Plan.
    Because changes in diagnostic science, testing technology, and best 
practices for maintaining sanitation are continual, and the rulemaking 
process can be lengthy, certain provisions of the Plan are contained in 
an NPIP Program Standards document \1\ rather than in the regulations. 
The NPIP Program Standards may be updated or revised via a notice-based 
process rather than by rulemaking.
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    \1\ This document may be viewed on the NPIP website at http://www.poultryimprovement.org/documents/ProgramStandardsAugust2014.pdf, 
or by writing to the Service at National Poultry Improvement Plan, 
APHIS, USDA, 1506 Klondike Road, Suite 101, Conyers, GA 30094.
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    On April 11, 2019, we published a notice \2\ in the Federal 
Register (84 FR 14642-14643, Docket No. APHIS-2018-0061) advising the 
public that we had prepared updates to the NPIP Program Standards. We 
proposed updating the standards by:
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    \2\ To view the notice and comments we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2018-0061.
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     Adding and amending definitions of H5/H7 low pathogenicity 
avian influenza (LPAI) (exposed) and H5/H7 LPAI (infected);
     Clarifying and amending the testing protocol for 
Mycoplasma by allowing use of molecular-based examination procedures;
     Removing specific agar gel immunodiffusion Avian Influenza 
testing procedures with directions to use the current National 
Veterinary Services Laboratories protocol;
     Amending and clarifying salmonella isolation procedures;
     Updating and clarifying bacteriological examination 
procedures for cull chicks and poults for salmonella;
     Adding a new salmonella diagnostic test kit;
     Removing outdated testing procedures for the sanitation 
monitored program;
     Updating and clarifying hatching egg and hatchery 
sanitation

[[Page 54835]]

requirements, flock sanitation procedures, and cleaning and 
disinfection procedures;
     Adding new dealer sanitation requirements;
     Updating and clarifying compartmentalization language as 
well as amending and clarifying audit guidelines and checklists; and
     Adding Newcastle disease virus compartmentalization 
physical requirements for an egg depot receiving/shipping dock.
    We solicited comments for 30 days ending on May 13, 2019. We 
received three comments by that date. One commenter, who submitted two 
of the comments, expressed her dissatisfaction with the practices of 
the poultry industry and USDA's oversight, but did not offer any 
comments on the proposed updates to the standards. The other commenter 
suggested that the NPIP would be more successful if each State had to 
meet the same requirements. The commenter further indicated that the 
program needed better funding, which would reduce costs for 
participants and would increase participation.
    The NPIP program is a voluntary program, and the regulations 
governing the program are voted on by the members that participate in 
the program. All States must meet the provisions in the regulations, 
however, States have the ability to implement regulations that may go 
above and beyond provisions. Currently, 100 percent of the primary 
breeding industry participates in the NPIP as does 95 percent of the 
commercial poultry industry, so we do not believe that differences in 
State requirements or the current funding of the program presents a 
hindrance to participation in the Plan.
    Therefore, we are updating the NPIP Program Standards as described 
in our previous notice and in this document.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with section 3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the information collection activities 
included in this notice will be approved by the Office of Management 
and Budget under control number 0579-0007.

E-Government Act Compliance

    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is committed to 
compliance with the E-Government Act to promote the use of the internet 
and other information technologies, to provide increased opportunities 
for citizen access to Government information and services, and for 
other purposes. For information pertinent to E-Government Act 
compliance related to this notice, please contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, 
APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483.

Congressional Review Act

    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. 8301-8317; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 7th day of October 2019.
Kevin Shea,
 Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-22299 Filed 10-10-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P