[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 150 (Monday, August 9, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43518-43519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16941]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2021-0011]


Addition of the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Senegal, and 
the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to the List of Regions 
Affected With Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we added the Republic of 
Croatia, the Republic of Senegal, and the People's Democratic Republic 
of Algeria to the list of regions that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service considers to be affected by highly pathogenic avian 
influenza (HPAI). These actions follow our imposition of HPAI-related 
restrictions on avian commodities originating from or transiting the 
Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Senegal, and the People's 
Democratic Republic of Algeria, as a result of the confirmation of HPAI 
in the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Senegal, and the People's 
Democratic Republic of Algeria.

DATES: The Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Senegal, and the 
People's Democratic Republic of Algeria were added to the list of 
regions APHIS considers to be affected with HPAI, effective 
respectively on November 25, 2020; January 12, 2021; and February 10, 
2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding HPAI 
in the Republic of Croatia, contact Dr. Michael T. Ray, Regionalization 
Evaluation Services, Strategy and Policy, APHIS Veterinary Services, 
920 Main Campus Drive, Venture II, Raleigh, NC 27606; phone: (919) 855-
7225; email: [email protected]. For further information 
regarding HPAI in the Republic of Senegal or the People's Democratic 
Republic of Algeria, contact Dr. John Grabau, Regionalization 
Evaluation Services, APHIS Veterinary Services, 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

[[Page 43519]]

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 of the regulations 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. The Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) maintains a restrictions 
list of regions it considers affected with HPAI of any subtype on the 
APHIS website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-and-animal-product-import-information/animal-health-status-of-regions.
    APHIS receives notice of HPAI outbreaks from veterinary officials 
of the exporting country, from the World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE),\1\ or from other sources the Administrator determines to be 
reliable.
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    \1\ The World Organization for Animal Health internationally 
follows a British English spelling of ``organisation'' in its name; 
also, it was formerly the Office International des Epizooties, or 
OIE, an acronym still in usage.
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    On November 18, 2020, the veterinary authorities of the Republic of 
Croatia reported to the OIE an HPAI occurrence in that country. On 
November 25, 2020, after confirming that HPAI occurred in commercial 
birds or poultry, APHIS added the Republic of Croatia to the list of 
regions where HPAI exists. On that same date, APHIS issued an import 
alert notifying stakeholders that effective November 21, 2020, APHIS 
imposed 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 the Republic of Croatia to mitigate risk of 
HPAI introduction into the United States.
    On January 7, 2021, the veterinary authorities of the Republic of 
Senegal reported to the OIE an HPAI occurrence in that country. On 
January 12, 2021, after confirming that the HPAI occurred in commercial 
birds or poultry, APHIS added the Republic of Senegal to the list of 
regions where HPAI exists. On that same date, APHIS issued an import 
alert notifying stakeholders that effective December 30, 2020, APHIS 
imposed 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 the Republic of Senegal to mitigate risk of 
HPAI introduction into the United States.
    On February 8, 2021, the veterinary authorities of the People's 
Democratic Republic of Algeria reported to the OIE an HPAI occurrence 
in that country. On February 10, 2021, after confirming that the HPAI 
occurred in commercial birds or poultry, APHIS added the People's 
Democratic Republic of Algeria to the list of regions where HPAI 
exists. On that same date, APHIS issued an import alert notifying 
stakeholders that effective January 26, 2021, APHIS imposed 
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 the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to 
mitigate risk of HPAI introduction into the United States.
    With the publication of this notice, we are informing the public 
that we added: The Republic of Croatia to the list of regions APHIS 
considers affected with HPAI of any subtype, effective November 25, 
2020; the Republic of Senegal to the list of regions APHIS considers 
affected with HPAI of any subtype, effective January 12, 2021; and the 
People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to the list of regions APHIS 
considers affected with HPAI of any subtype, effective February 10, 
2021. This notice serves as an official record and public notification 
of these actions.

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 23rd day of July 2021.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-16941 Filed 8-6-21; 8:45 am]
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