APHIS Reopening Comment Period for the National List of Reportable Animal Diseases Revised Proposed Rule

August 28, 2023 — 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is reopening the proposed rule comment period that would amend disease regulations to provide a National List of Reportable Animal Diseases (NLRAD). APHIS is proposing to no longer require suspect or animal disease incident reporting to States under NLRAD. Other existing Federal, State, and local disease reporting requirements would be unaffected.

The initial proposed rule would have required animal health professionals to immediately report suspect or animal disease incidents classified as "notifiable" to both State and Federal officials. Commenters raised confidentiality concerns that disease information reported to States could not be protected. Consequently, APHIS has updated its proposed rule, removing the State notification requirement and is re-issuing a revised proposed rule.

APHIS is seeking public comment on this revised proposed rule, https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2023-18379/national-list-of-reportable-animal-diseases, for 30 days following publication in the Federal Register. All comments will be considered before moving forward.

[Source: USDA 25 August 2023]