Notice2026-10349
Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, All Subtypes, and Newcastle Disease; Additional Restrictions (Pet, Performing, and Research Birds; Bird Carcasses)
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Published
May 26, 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 the regulations to prevent the introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza, all subtypes, and Newcastle disease into the United States through the importation of pet, performing, and research birds and poultry, and unprocessed bird and poultry products, mainly bird carcasses.
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 100 (Tuesday, May 26, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 26, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30610-30611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10349]
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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
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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 100 / Tuesday, May 26, 2026 /
Notices
[[Page 30610]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2026-0529]
Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an
Information Collection; Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, All
Subtypes, and Newcastle Disease; Additional Restrictions (Pet,
Performing, and Research Birds; Bird Carcasses)
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 the regulations to prevent the
introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza, all subtypes, and
Newcastle disease into the United States through the importation of
pet, performing, and research birds and poultry, and unprocessed bird
and poultry products, mainly bird carcasses.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July
27, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
Enter APHIS-2026-0529 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-2026-0529, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., #AP760, Beltsville, MD 20705.
Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may
be viewed at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> or in our reading room, which is located
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 about the restrictions
on importation of live poultry from specified regions, contact Dr.
Nestor Montiel, Senior Staff Veterinary Medical Officer, Veterinary
Services, Strategy and Policy, Live Animal Imports, 210 Walnut St.,
Room 891, Des Moines, IA 50309; (301) 851-4028;
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c3ada6b0b7acb1eda2edaeacadb7aaa6af83b6b0a7a2eda4acb5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bed0dbcdcad1cc90df90d3d1d0cad7dbd2fecbcddadf90d9d1c8">[email protected]</span></a>. For information about the restrictions on
imports of poultry meat, and other poultry products from specified
regions, contact Dr. Lynett Bryant, Senior Staff Veterinary Medical
Officer, Veterinary Services, Strategy and Policy, Animal Product
Imports, 920 Main Campus Dr., Venture II, Raleigh, NC 27606; (301) 851-
3300; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b0dcc9ded5c4c4d59ed49ec7d9dcdcd9d1ddc3f0c5c3d4d19ed7dfc6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dfb3a6b1baababbaf1bbf1a8b6b3b3b6beb2ac9faaacbbbef1b8b0a9">[email protected]</span></a>. 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#9cddccd4d5cfb2cccedddce9eff8fdb2fbf3ea"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1455445c5d473a44465554616770753a737b62">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, All Subtypes, and
Newcastle Disease; Additional Restrictions (Pet, Performing, and
Research Birds; Bird Carcasses).
OMB Control Number: 0579-0245.
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
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is authorized, among
other things, to prohibit or restrict the importation and interstate
movement of animals and animal products to prevent the introduction
into and dissemination within the United States of livestock diseases
and pests. To carry out this mission, APHIS regulates the importation
of animals and animal products into the United States. The regulations
for the importation of animals and animal products are contained in 9
CFR parts 92 through 98.
The regulations in 9 CFR parts 93, 94, and 95 govern the
importation of specified animals and animal products and byproducts to
prevent the introduction of various animal diseases, including highly
pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), all subtypes, and Newcastle disease.
HPAI, as defined in Sec. 94.0, is an infectious and fatal disease
of poultry. HPAI can strike poultry quickly without any warning signs
of infection and, once established, can spread rapidly from flock to
flock. HPAI viruses can be spread by manure, equipment, vehicles, egg
flats, crates, and people whose clothing or shoes have come in contact
with the viruses. In addition, HPAI viruses can remain viable at
moderate temperatures for long periods in the environment and can
survive indefinitely in frozen material. One gram of contaminated
manure can contain enough virus to infect 1 million poultry.
Newcastle disease is a contagious disease of birds and poultry
caused by a paramyxovirus. Newcastle disease, as defined in Sec. 94.0,
is one of most infectious diseases of poultry in the world. A death
rate of almost 100 percent can occur in unvaccinated poultry flocks.
Newcastle disease can also infect and cause death even in vaccinated
birds and poultry.
APHIS' regulations prohibit or restrict the importation of
unprocessed bird and poultry products and byproducts from regions that
have reported the presence of HPAI or Newcastle disease and contain
permit and quarantine requirements for U.S. origin pet birds and
performing or theatrical birds and poultry returning to the United
States. In addition, there are also restrictions concerning importation
of live poultry and birds that have been vaccinated for certain types
of avian influenza, or that have moved through or originate from
regions where HPAI or Newcastle disease is considered to exist. These
regulations require the use of several information collection
activities, including various APHIS forms, application of seals,
agreements, notarized declarations or affirmations, notification of
signs of disease in a
[[Page 30611]]
recently imported bird, cooperative service agreements, and
recordkeeping by processing establishments.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve
our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3
years. APHIS has amended this information collection by increasing the
number of Respondents, Responses and Total Burden Hours reported. In
addition, APHIS has moved the following forms to the New VS Permit
Common Forms information collection:
<bullet> VS Form 16-3: Application for Permit to Import Controlled
Material; Import or Transport Organisms or Vectors (specifically, bird
carcasses or parts of carcasses).
<bullet> VS Form 16-6A: Application for Permit to Import Controlled
Material; Import or Transport Organisms or Vectors (specifically, bird
carcasses or parts of carcasses).
<bullet> VS Form 17-129: Application for Import or In-Transit
Permit (for Live Animals, Animal Semen, Animal Embryos, Birds, Poultry,
and Hatching Eggs).
Lastly, APHIS has moved the following forms to information
collection 0579-0015 ``Restricted, Prohibited, and Controlled
Importation of Animal and Poultry Products and Byproducts into the
United States,'' so that all byproduct collection activities can be
included in one information collection package:
<bullet> VS Form 16-28: Approved Warehouse Request and Agreement to
Handle Restricted Animal Byproducts (Hunting Trophies and Museum
Specimens).
<bullet> VS Form 16-29: Agreement for Handling Restricted Imports
of Animal Byproducts and Controlled Materials.
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 0.69 hours per response.
Respondents: Foreign federal government officials and owners of
U.S.-origin pet birds and performing or theatrical birds or poultry
returning to the United States, and U.S. importers of bird and poultry
carcasses, parts, products and byproducts of birds and poultry and eggs
(other than hatching eggs) from certain regions.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 5,100.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.
Estimated annual number of responses: 9,174.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 6,334 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 18th day of May 2026.
Kelly Moore,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-10349 Filed 5-22-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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