APHIS seeks input on quarantine rules for exotic Newcastle disease

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The Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service proposes changing domestic quarantine regulations for exotic Newcastle disease, including adding an option for the movement of pet birds.

The changes would also add restrictions on the interstate movement of live ratites, such as emus and ostriches, out of quarantined areas; harmonize domestic and foreign regulations regarding movement of dressed carcasses of dead birds, including one change to the importation regulations; provide for the use of alternative procedures for treating manure and litter and for composting; and institute an additional surveillance period prior to removing quarantine restrictions.

The agency has concluded that these changes are necessary because of experiences during eradication programs for recent outbreaks of END in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Texas.

The proposal for these rule changes appears in the March 27 Federal Register. The deadline for comments is May 26. By mail, parties should send comments along with three copies to Docket No. APHIS-2006-0036 Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Parties can comment online through the Federal eRulemaking portal at www.regulations.gov.