On August 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a call for public comments on two pivotal information collection requests. These requests, submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, are central to the agency's mission of safeguarding the nation's animal health and ensuring the integrity of agricultural trade. The notices, published in the Federal Register, invite stakeholders to provide feedback on the necessity, accuracy, and efficiency of data collection practices related to broad animal disease surveillance and the specific, pressing threat of African Swine Fever.
Modernizing Disease Surveillance Data Collection
One of the significant initiatives under review concerns the "Specimen Submission" forms, identified by OMB Control Number 0579-0090. This proposal represents a strategic consolidation of several existing forms, including 0579-0040, 0579-0090, 0579-0101, 0579-0146, and 0579-0189, into a single, streamlined process. The core instruments are VS Forms 10-4 and 10-4A, the Specimen Submission forms, which are critical for APHIS's extensive disease surveillance operations.
These forms are routinely used when specimens such as blood, milk, tissue, or urine from various animals like cattle, swine, sheep, goats, horses, and poultry are sent to APHIS's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) for diagnostic testing. The information collected documents the individual animal, its herd or flock, the type of specimen, and the reason for submission. This data is indispensable for the agency's ability to detect, control, or eradicate pests and diseases of livestock and poultry, a mandate derived from the Animal Health Protection Act of 2002. Furthermore, accurate and timely surveillance is paramount for maintaining a healthy animal population, which in turn enhances the United States' competitiveness in global animal and animal product trade.
The notice also highlights the Parasite Submission Form, VS Form 5-38, which is integral to programs like the National Tick Surveillance Program and the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program. This form collects information from a wide array of respondents, including State veterinarians, accredited veterinarians, private laboratories, research institutions, and even individual owners or producers. The scope of this data collection is substantial, involving an estimated 14,860 respondents and accounting for a total burden of 30,930 hours. The notice acknowledges practical challenges, such as the need for "Nonconforming Submissions" during disease outbreaks when standard forms are not readily available. This demonstrates an awareness within the agency of the real-world conditions under which these critical data points are gathered.
Bolstering Defenses Against African Swine Fever
The second information collection request focuses on the "Control of African Swine Fever" (ASF), designated OMB Control Number 0579-0480. This addresses the significant threat posed by ASF, a highly contagious and deadly viral disease impacting domestic and feral pigs worldwide. APHIS Veterinary Services is at the forefront of preventing such foreign animal disease outbreaks in the United States and managing them should they occur.
The specific context for this collection involves restrictions on the interstate movement of swine products and byproducts from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These measures are designed to prevent the introduction and spread of ASF into the mainland United States. Commercial producers operating in these territories are required either to comply with existing Federal Order guidelines or to complete VS Form 16-3, an application for a permit to import or transport controlled material or organisms or vectors. The collection of this information is vital to certifying compliance and ultimately preventing unhealthy swine products and byproducts from entering the U.S. food supply and animal population.
While critically important, the burden associated with this particular collection is comparatively minimal, with only 11 estimated respondents and a total of 30 burden hours. This reflects a highly targeted regulatory intervention, focused on a specific geographic area and industry segment, designed to mitigate a severe and immediate animal health threat. The precision of this regulatory approach is crucial given the devastating economic and ecological impact ASF could have if it were to establish itself within the contiguous United States.
The Public's Role in Regulatory Oversight
Both notices underscore the principles of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, which aims to minimize the burden of federal information collection on the public and maximize the practical utility of the information gathered. The USDA is specifically soliciting comments on several key aspects: whether the collection is truly necessary for agency functions, the accuracy of the agency's burden estimates and underlying assumptions, methods to improve the quality and clarity of the information, and strategies to minimize the burden on respondents, including through technological advancements.
The opportunity for public comment is a foundational element of transparent governance, allowing affected parties and the broader public to influence federal regulations. Input received by September 8, 2026, will directly inform OMB's review process. This mechanism ensures that federal agencies balance their critical data needs with the practical realities faced by those who must provide the information.
Conclusion
The USDA's call for comments on these two distinct yet equally vital information collection requests highlights the ongoing, dynamic challenge of protecting animal health and supporting agricultural commerce in the United States. From the comprehensive, broad-spectrum surveillance efforts epitomized by the consolidated specimen submission forms to the targeted, urgent controls against emerging threats like African Swine Fever, federal agencies continuously adapt their strategies. The public comment period offers a critical avenue for stakeholders to contribute to the efficacy and fairness of these regulatory tools, shaping policies that safeguard both the nation's animal populations and its economic interests in an interconnected global environment. As animal diseases evolve and global trade patterns shift, the ability of agencies like APHIS to collect relevant, accurate, and efficient data remains paramount for proactive and effective response.
