For those who will be regulated by USDA under the Animal Welfare Act for non-exempt facilities with birds not bred for use in research the time is ripe for you to submit comments to the proposed regulation published on Feb....more
Most of you should already be aware of concerns about the spread of foreign animal disease, African Swine Fever (ASF), into the United States. for those who need an update:
ASF has never been identified in the US, but...more
According to the USDA OIG Audit Report 33601-0003-23, previously available online, APHIS Animal Care (AC) had agreed that it would review barrier issues and may require reporting of escapes and attacks. However, Audit Report...more
In June 2021, the USDA Office of Inspector General published its report, Animal Care Program Oversight of Dog Breeders, evaluating Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (“APHIS”) controls to ensure compliance with the...more
Entities responsible for animals covered by the AWA will be required to establish and implement contingency planning for emergency response by USDA, APHIS once a proposed rule is finally adopted (see Docket No....more
For those who do not receive notifications directly from USDA APHIS, please note that the agency has just announced that it has removed its Self-Reporting Incentive Program, included in the Animal Welfare Act Inspection Guide...more
Feral swine, an invasive species, have been a problem for years if not decades, and populations have been reported in at least 35 states with a total population “estimated at over 6 million,” as noted by USDA. At least one...more
While the world is still focused on SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic, US animal health officials and poultry producers have been monitoring and taking action to prevent the spread of another highly...more
There have been two of the three scheduled listening sessions offered by APHIS seeking comments on regulations regarding the welfare of birds not bred for use in research. A specific schedule for the promulgation, proposal...more
USDA published proposed Rule 85 FR 18471 on April 2, 2020 that would,
"amend the animal disease regulations to provide for a National List of Reportable Animal Diseases, along with reporting responsibilities for animal...more
8/19/2020
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Animal Health ,
APHIS ,
Department of Agriculture ,
Farm Animals ,
Freedom of Information ,
Livestock Protocol ,
Reporting Requirements ,
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Vaccinations ,
Veterinarians ,
Zoonotic Diseases
As part of its activities Wildlife Services (WS) provides assistance to private and public entities, including tribes and other governmental agencies, when requested to develop programs in cooperation with “land and animal...more
Virulent Newcastle disease (VND), formerly known as Exotic Newcastle Disease, and African Swine Fever outbreaks continue to impact poultry in California and hogs in China, respectively. Notably, these diseases are largely...more
In a bulletin published on September 25, 2018, USDA announced “four overarching goals for advancing animal disease traceability to protect the long-term health, marketability and economic viability of the U.S. livestock...more
Typically, animal diseases have a seasonal presence. For example, avian influenza, like other influenza viruses prefer cold damp conditions. On the other hand, viruses transmitted by mosquitoes (arboviruses), including...more
The impact of USDA’s newly adopted final rule to certain exhibitors of farm animals remains unclear.
A positive result of the rule is the definition of “domesticated farm-type animals.” Farm-type animals are defined as...more
On June 4, the regulation titled “Thresholds for De Minimis Activity and Exemptions From Licensing Under the Animal Welfare Act” which purportedly implement[s] amendments to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), was published by...more