Federal Scrutiny on Poultry Imports: APHIS Seeks Public Input on Disease Prevention Data Collection

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has initiated a public comment period regarding the extension and revision of a critical information collection instrumental in preventing the introduction of foreign poultry diseases into the United States. Published in the Federal Register on May 14, 2026, this notice signals the agency's ongoing commitment to safeguarding domestic livestock and the agricultural sector against pathogens such as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and Newcastle disease (ND).

The Mandate to Protect: Legal and Biological Foundations

APHIS's regulatory authority stems from the Animal Health Protection Act, codified at 7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq. This legislation grants the agency broad powers to prohibit or restrict the importation and interstate movement of animals and animal products. The overarching goal is to prevent the introduction and spread of livestock diseases and pests within the United States. In this context, APHIS's Veterinary Services (VS) program administers regulations, detailed in 9 CFR parts 93 through 94, specifically targeting the import of live poultry, poultry meat, and other poultry products from designated regions.

The focus on diseases like HPAI and ND is not arbitrary. Both are highly contagious viral diseases that can cause severe illness and high mortality rates in poultry flocks, leading to devastating economic losses for the agricultural industry. HPAI, in particular, has prompted widespread culling events in various countries, impacting food supply chains and international trade. By preventing the entry of such pathogens, APHIS aims to maintain a healthy animal population, protect agricultural commerce, and enhance the United States' competitive position in the global market.

Anatomy of an Information Collection: What APHIS Gathers

To effectively implement these protective regulations, APHIS relies on a comprehensive set of information collection activities. These activities are designed to provide the necessary data points to assess risk and ensure compliance. They include:

• Reports of poultry offered for importation: This initial step allows APHIS to track potential imports and initiate screening processes.
• Health certificates: Issued by veterinary authorities in exporting countries, these documents attest to the health status of animals and products, serving as a primary defense line.
• Certificates of origin: These confirm the geographic source of the poultry or products, crucial for assessing disease risk based on regional prevalence.
• Recordkeeping: Detailed records maintained by importers and other entities facilitate traceability and rapid response in the event of a disease concern.
• Cooperative service agreements: These outline understandings with other governmental or private entities that assist in the regulatory process.
• Certificates for shipment back to the United States: Required for items that may have temporarily left the country and are re-entering, ensuring their health status upon return.

Collectively, these data points form an essential regulatory framework. They allow APHIS to evaluate risks, verify compliance with health standards, and make informed decisions regarding import permissions, thereby safeguarding the nation's biosecurity.

Revisions and Administrative Realities: Adapting to Evolving Needs

The current notice specifies a revision to and extension of approval for this information collection for an additional three years. This is not merely a bureaucratic renewal; it reflects APHIS's ongoing assessment of the program's administrative burden and effectiveness. The agency has amended the collection by increasing the estimated number of respondents to 4,272, annual responses to 74,650, and total annual burden hours to 74,653. These adjustments suggest that APHIS anticipates either an increase in relevant import activities, a more comprehensive reporting requirement, or a more precise accounting of existing activities.

Significantly, APHIS has also moved two specific forms, VS Form 17-129 and VS Form 17-29, which are applications for import or in-transit permits for various live animals, including poultry, to a new, separate