The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has initiated a critical step in its ongoing efforts to safeguard American agriculture, submitting a new information collection requirement to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. This action, detailed in a recent Federal Register notice, concerns a proposed collection of data related to new restrictions on the importation of live dogs for resale from regions where African Swine Fever (ASF) exists or is reasonably believed to exist. The move underscores federal vigilance against transboundary animal diseases and signals a potential shift in regulations for commercial dog importers.
The Imperative of African Swine Fever Prevention
African Swine Fever is a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. It poses a severe threat to the swine industry, capable of causing significant economic damage and disruption to agricultural supply chains. There is currently no vaccine or treatment for ASF, making robust biosecurity and prevention the primary defense mechanisms. APHIS, through its Veterinary Services (VS) business unit, bears the critical responsibility of preventing foreign animal disease outbreaks in the United States, as well as monitoring, controlling, and eradicating them should they occur.
The agency has identified a previously unaddressed pathway for ASF introduction: live dogs imported for resale from ASF-affected countries, along with their associated bedding and transport materials. While dogs themselves are not susceptible to ASF, they can act as mechanical vectors, carrying the virus on their fur or in contaminated materials. This recognition has prompted APHIS to issue a Federal Order imposing several new restrictions to mitigate this risk.
Legal Framework and APHIS Authority
APHIS's authority for these actions stems from the Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA) of 2002. This seminal federal law empowers the Secretary of Agriculture with broad authority to detect, control, or eradicate pests or diseases impacting livestock or poultry. Critically, the AHPA also allows the Secretary to prohibit or restrict the import or export of any animal or related material when necessary to prevent the spread of livestock or poultry diseases. The AHPA is codified in Title X, Subtitle E, Sections 10401-18 of Public Law 107-171, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, found at 7 U.S.C. 8301, et seq.
Under this legislative mandate, APHIS's Federal Order on dog imports is a proactive measure designed to close a perceived vulnerability in the nation's biosecurity defenses. The current information collection request is a procedural step under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ensuring that the burden on respondents is justified and that the collected information is useful for agency functions.
The New Information Collection Requirement
To ensure compliance with the new Federal Order, APHIS is requiring importers of dogs for resale from ASF-affected regions to complete and submit a specific form: the 'Dog Import Record form, ASF VSDIR 1.' This form is designed to gather essential information that will allow APHIS to assess and manage the risk associated with each imported shipment. Both parts of this record must be completed for every shipment containing one or more dogs intended for resale.
The information collected on the form is comprehensive, focusing on the origin and destination of the dogs, as well as the specific measures taken to prevent ASF transmission. Key data points include:
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Dog origin: To assess potential exposure risk.
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Dog destination: For traceability in case of a biosecurity event.
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Prevention measures: Details on how the dogs and their accompanying items have been handled to prevent ASF spread.
Perhaps the most detailed requirement is the confirmation of bathing for each individual dog. The form includes space to list the dogs' microchip numbers, name, age, gender, breed, color and markings, and the exact date of bathing. Furthermore, both the person who bathed the dog or dogs and the importer must sign the form, attesting to the completion of these critical biosecurity steps.
This data collection is intended to ensure that APHIS can determine that the dogs are coming from appropriate locations, are going to known destinations, and have undergone necessary sanitary procedures. The agency estimates a total burden of 962 hours for 72 respondents, indicating a moderate but significant impact on the commercial dog import industry.
Implications and Public Comment Opportunity
The implementation of these new requirements will primarily affect businesses and other for-profit entities involved in the importation of live dogs for resale. While the new procedures introduce additional administrative and operational burdens, they are framed by APHIS as essential to protecting the nation's swine population from a devastating disease. For importers, this means integrating the completion of the ASF VSDIR 1 form and ensuring bathing protocols into their standard operating procedures.
For policymakers and the public, this action highlights the interconnectedness of global trade and animal health. The identification of dogs as potential vectors for ASF, a disease primarily associated with pigs, underscores the complex challenges in managing zoonotic and transboundary diseases.
Crucially, the Federal Register notice opens a 30-day public comment period. Interested parties, including dog importers, animal welfare organizations, veterinary professionals, and agricultural stakeholders, have until September 28, 2026, to submit feedback. Comments can address the necessity of the information collection, the accuracy of APHIS's burden estimates, ways to enhance the quality and clarity of the information, and methods to minimize the burden on respondents. This period provides a vital opportunity for stakeholders to influence the final shape and implementation of these regulations.
