Notice2026-00097
Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Animal Disease Traceability
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 7, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with animal disease traceability.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 4 (Wednesday, January 7, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 7, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 495-496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00097]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2025-0705]
Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an
Information Collection; Animal Disease Traceability
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Revision to and extension of approval of an information
collection; comment request.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's
intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an
information collection associated with animal disease traceability.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March
9, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Enter APHIS-2025-0705 in the Search field. Select
the Documents tab, then select the Comment button in the list of
documents.
<bullet> Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to
Docket No. APHIS-2025-0705, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, 5601
[[Page 496]]
Sunnyside Ave., #AP760, Beltsville, MD 20705.
Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may
be viewed at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> or in our reading room, which
is in Room 1620 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure
someone is there to help you, please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on animal disease
traceability, contact Dr. Wendy Lehman, Veterinary Medical Officer,
National Animal Disease Traceability and Veterinary Accreditation
Center, Strategy and Policy, VS, APHIS, 5601 Sunnyside Ave.,
Beltsville, MD 20705; (937) 999-7874. For more information on the
information collection reporting process, contact Ms. Sheniqua Harris,
APHIS' Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2528; or
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f3b2a3bbbaa0dda3a1b2b386809792dd949c85"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c485948c8d97ea94968584b1b7a0a5eaa3abb2">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Animal Disease Traceability.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0327.
Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an
information collection.
Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et
seq.), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture is authorized, among other things, to
prevent the introduction into and the dissemination within the United
States of any pest or disease of livestock or poultry.
Within APHIS, Veterinary Services (VS) safeguards U.S. animal
health through a variety of activities, including disease control. One
important part of disease control is animal disease traceability.
Animal disease traceability provides the ability to document the
movement history of an animal throughout its life. Knowing where
diseased and at-risk animals have been and are located, as well as when
they have been there, is indispensable during an emergency response and
important for ongoing disease programs.
Epidemiologists use this information to determine the potential
spread of a disease. In fact, having the ability to plot locations
within a radius of an infected premises helps to determine the
potential magnitude of a contagious disease and the resources needed to
contain it. Furthermore, as diseases are controlled or eradicated, it
is important to document areas, States, or regions of the country that
are free from disease. Traceability helps APHIS determine those
disease-free zones, thus enhancing the marketability of U.S. livestock.
The regulations for animal disease traceability are located in 9
CFR part 86. Under the regulations, unless specifically exempted,
livestock moved interstate must be officially identified and
accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection or
other documentation. The regulations specify approved forms of official
identification for each species but allow livestock to be moved between
any two States or Tribes with another form of identification as agreed
upon by animal health officials in the two jurisdictions. This
identification requirement improves APHIS' ability to trace livestock
if a disease is detected. Development and implementation of the animal
disease traceability framework continues to be a partnership involving
APHIS, States, Tribes, and industry. States and Tribes enter into
cooperative agreements with APHIS to implement their traceability
activities.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
these information collection activities, as described, for an
additional 3 years. APHIS has amended this information collection due
to the following:
<bullet> There is a decrease in the number of Respondents
reporting, the number of Responses, and Total Burden Hours reported for
the collection.
<bullet> APHIS removed the use of State figures for Approval of
Official ID Devices.
<bullet> APHIS removed the use and recordkeeping of the VS Form 1-
64 for State respondents.
The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection.
These comments will help us:
(1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including
whether the information will have practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology
and assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those
who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated,
electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies; e.g.,
permitting electronic submission of responses.
Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for this collection
of information is estimated to average 0.566 hours per response.
Respondents: State, Tribal, and territorial animal health
officials; accredited veterinarians; breed and registry associations;
producers; livestock market operators; and harvest facility employees.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 80,302.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 12.
Estimated annual number of responses: 947,082.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 536,091 hours. (Due
to averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product
of the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden
per response.)
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of
public record.
Done in Washington, DC, this 5th day of January 2026.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-00097 Filed 1-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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