2025-01000. Addition of Nicaragua to the List of Regions Affected With Screwworm

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Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

1. [Docket No. APHIS-2024-0028]

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

We are advising the public that we have added Nicaragua to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) list maintained on the APHIS website of regions considered affected with screwworm. We took this action because of the confirmation of screwworm in this region.

DATES:

Nicaragua was added to the list of regions considered affected with screwworm effective March 29, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Heather Sriranganathan, APHIS Veterinary Services, Regionalization Evaluation Services, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737; phone: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The regulations in 9 CFR part 93 (referred to below as the regulations) prohibit or restrict the importation of certain animals into the United States to prevent the introduction of communicable diseases and pests of livestock. Subparts C, D, E, and F of the regulations govern the importation of horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs, respectively.

Horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs may be imported into the United States from the regions where screwworm is considered to exist only if they are inspected and, if necessary, treated for screwworm according to the conditions outlined in the regulations for each type of animal. The requirements for horses are set out in § 93.308(a)(3) and include not only pre-embarkation and post-arrival inspection and treatment requirements, but also quarantine in the United States for 7 days after arrival, and examination by a veterinarian before release from quarantine. The requirements for ruminants and swine are set out in §§ 93.405(a)(3) and 93.505(b) and are the same as for horses, other than the 7-day quarantine and final examination of the animal. The requirements for dogs are set out in § 93.600 and require that all dogs from affected regions be inspected and, if necessary, treated before importation.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) maintains a list of regions APHIS considers affected with screwworm on its website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/​aphis/​ourfocus/​animalhealth/​animal-and-animal-product-import-information/​animal-health-status-of-regions/​. APHIS will add a region to the list upon determining that screwworm exists in the region based on reports we receive of detections of the pest from veterinary officials of the exporting country, from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), or from other sources the Administrator determines to be reliable.

On March 22, 2024, APHIS received a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs office documenting an outbreak of screwworm in cattle in Nicaragua. This detection was confirmed by the Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm on March 14, 2024. Accordingly, on March 29, 2024, APHIS added Nicaragua to the list of regions APHIS considers affected with screwworm. As a result, horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs from Nicaragua are subject to APHIS import restrictions designed to mitigate risk of screwworm introduction into the United States. This notice serves as an official record and public notification of this action.

Authority:7 U.S.C. 1622 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 13th day of January 2025.

Michael Watson,

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.