[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 6, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 35459]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14255]


 ========================================================================
 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. 86, No. 126 / Tuesday, July 6, 2021 / 
Notices  

[[Page 35459]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2021-0023]


Addition of Malaysia to the List of Regions Affected With African 
Swine Fever

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have added Malaysia 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 confirmation of ASF in Malaysia.

DATES: Malaysia was added to the APHIS list of regions considered 
affected with ASF on March 2, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. John Grabau, Regionalization 
Evaluation Services, Veterinary Services, APHIS, 920 Main Campus Drive, 
Venture II, Raleigh, NC 27606; Phone: (919) 855-7738; 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 introduction into the United 
States of various animal diseases, including African swine fever (ASF). 
ASF is a highly contagious animal disease of wild and domestic swine. 
It 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 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 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 February 19, 2021, the veterinary authorities of Malaysia 
reported to the OIE the occurrence of ASF in that country. Therefore, 
in response to this outbreak, on March 2, 2021, APHIS added Malaysia to 
the list of regions where ASF exists or is reasonably believed to 
exist. This notice serves as an official record and public notification 
of that action.
    As a result, pork and pork products from Malaysia, including 
casings, are subject to APHIS import restrictions designed to mitigate 
the risk of ASF introduction into the United States.

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. 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 16th day of June 2021.
Jack Shere,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-14255 Filed 7-2-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P