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USDA SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITS EVALUATION OF THE ANIMAL HEALTH STATUS FOR TWO COUNTIES IN ENGLAND
May 6, 2009
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has evaluated the animal health status of Suffolk and Norfolk counties in England following outbreaks of the H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in 2007. APHIS is seeking public comment on its evaluation. If, at the end of the comment period, no additional risks are identified that would indicate that domestic poultry in the two counties are still affected with HPAI, then APHIS will allow the importation of live birds, carcasses and eggs (other than hatching eggs) into the United States because they would present a low risk of introducing the H5N1 virus here.
The notice of availability and request for comments is scheduled for publication in the May 7 Federal Register.
Consideration will be given to comments received on or before June 8. You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/
main? main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2009-0015 to submit or view comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. - Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2009-0015, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2009-0015.
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Note to Reporters: Public notices and other APHIS information are available on the Internet. Go to the APHIS news release page at http://www.aphis.usda.gov and click on the “Newsroom” button. For additional information about this topic, contact Madelaine Fletcher at (301) 734-6125 or by e-mail at madelaine.fletcher@aphis.usda.gov.