Notice2023-26865
Addition of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo to the List of Regions Affected by African Swine Fever
Primary source
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Published
December 7, 2023
Effective
June 26, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Abstract
We are advising the public that we have added Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) list maintained on the APHIS website of regions considered to be affected with African swine fever (ASF). We have taken this action because of the confirmation of ASF in those countries.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 234 (Thursday, December 7, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 234 (Thursday, December 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 85207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26865]
[[Page 85207]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0071]
Addition of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo to the List of
Regions Affected by 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 Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Kosovo to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) list maintained on the APHIS website of regions
considered to be affected with African swine fever (ASF). We have taken
this action because of the confirmation of ASF in those countries.
DATES: Bosnia and Herzegovina was added to the APHIS list of regions
considered affected with ASF effective June 26, 2023. Kosovo was added
to the APHIS list of regions considered affected with ASF effective
August 7, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Heather Sriranganathan, APHIS
Veterinary Services, Regionalization Evaluation Services, 4700 River
Road, Riverdale, MD, 20747; phone: (717) 818-3582; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7736041c2512101e1819161b1e0d16031e1819370204131659101801"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="afeedcc4fdcac8c6c0c1cec3c6d5cedbc6c0c1efdadccbce81c8c0d9">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 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 <a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-and-animal-product-import-information/animal-health-status-of-regions/">https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-and-animal-product-import-information/animal-health-status-of-regions/</a>. 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 or having reason to believe the disease 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 (WOAH),\1\ 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 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).
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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, but on May 28, 2022, the Organization announced that the
acronym was changed from OIE to WOAH.
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On June 22, 2023, the veterinary authorities of Bosnia and
Herzegovina reported to WOAH the occurrence of ASF in that country. In
response to that report, on June 26, 2023, APHIS added Bosnia and
Herzegovina to the list of regions where ASF exists or the
Administrator has reason to believe that ASF exists, in compliance with
Sec. 94.8(a)(3). This notice serves as an official record and public
notification of that action.
On July 17, 2023, the veterinary authorities of Kosovo reported to
the European Commission the confirmation of ASF in that country. In
response to the European Union's Animal Diseases Information System
report, on August 7, 2023, APHIS added Kosovo to the list of regions
where ASF exists or the Administrator has reason to believe that ASF
exists, in compliance with Sec. 94.8(a)(3). This notice serves as an
official record and public notification of that action.
As a result, pork and pork products from Bosnia and Herzegovina and
Kosovo, including casings, are subject to APHIS import restrictions
designed to mitigate the risk of ASF introduction into the United
States.
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 1st day of December 2023.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-26865 Filed 12-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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