[Federal Register: September 24, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 184)]
[Notices]
[Page 48711-48712]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24se09-26]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0005]
Notice of Determination of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Subtype H5N1 Status of Hungary
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: We are advising the public of our determination regarding the
highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N1 status of Hungary
following outbreaks in 2006 and 2007. Based on our evaluation of the
animal health status of two counties (B[aacute]cs-Kiskun and
Csongr[aacute]d) in Hungary, which we made available to the public for
review and comment through a previous notice, the Administrator has
determined that the importation of live birds, poultry carcasses, parts
or products of poultry carcasses, and eggs (other than hatching eggs)
of poultry, game birds, and other birds from Hungary presents a low
risk of introducing HPAI H5N1 into the United States.
DATES: Effective Date: This determination will be effective on October
9, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Javier Vargas, Case Manager,
Regionalization Evaluation Services Staff, National Center for Import
and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1231; (301) 734-0756.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On June 15, 2009, we published in the Federal Register (74 FR
28217-28218) a notice 1A\1\ in which we announced the availability for
review and comment of an evaluation of the animal health status of two
counties (B[aacute]cs-Kiskun and Csongr[aacute]d) in Hungary relative
to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N1. In the
evaluation, titled ``APHIS' Evaluation of the Status of High
Pathogenicity Avian Influenza H5N1 Virus in Hungary'' (November 2008),
we presented the results of our evaluation of the prevalence of HPAI
H5N1 in domestic poultry in the two counties in light of the actions
taken by Hungary's Department for Food Chain Safety and Animal Health
(DFCSAH) during and since the outbreaks of HPAI
[[Page 48712]]
H5N1 that occurred in these two counties in 2006 and 2007.
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\1\ To view the notice and the evaluation, go to http://
www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/
main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2009-0005.
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Our evaluation concluded that both counties (B[aacute]cs-Kiskun and
Csongr[aacute]d) had adequate detection and control measures in place
at the time of the outbreaks, that they have been able to effectively
control and eradicate HPAI H5N1 in their domestic poultry populations
since that time, and that Hungary's DFCSAH has control measures in
place to rapidly identify, control, and eradicate the disease should it
be reintroduced into Hungary in either wild birds or domestic poultry.
In our June 2009 notice we stated that if, after the end of the
comment period, we could identify no additional risk factors that would
indicate that domestic poultry in B[aacute]cs-Kiskun and
Csongr[aacute]d Counties continue to be affected with HPAI H5N1, we
would conclude that the importation of live birds, poultry carcasses,
parts of carcasses, and eggs (other than hatching eggs) of poultry,
game birds, or other birds from Hungary presents a low risk of
introducing HPAI H5N1 into the United States.
We solicited comments on the notice for 30 days ending on July 15,
2009. We received no comments during the comment period.
Therefore, we are removing our prohibition on the importation of
these products from Hungary into the United States. Specifically:
We are no longer requiring that processed poultry products
from Hungary be accompanied by a Veterinary Services import permit and
government certification confirming that the products have been treated
according to APHIS requirements;
We are allowing unprocessed poultry products from Hungary
to enter the United States in passenger luggage; and
We are removing restrictions regarding the counties
(B[aacute]cs-Kiskun and Csongr[aacute]d) in Hungary from which
processed poultry products may originate in order to be allowed entry
into the United States in passenger luggage.
However, live birds from B[aacute]cs-Kiskun and Csongr[aacute]d
Counties in Hungary are still subject to the port-of-entry inspections
and post-importation quarantines set forth in 9 CFR part 93, unless
granted an exemption by the Administrator or destined for diagnostic
purposes and accompanied by a limited permit.
Done in Washington, DC, this 18th day of September 2009.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E9-23129 Filed 9-23-09; 8:45 am]
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