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HPAI Response

Timeline, Eligibility, and Approval for Restocking

February 28, 2022

Please note: These procedures may be revised as the situation develops.

DOCUMENT HISTORY & RELATED DOCUMENTS

This document updates and supersedes the following documents:

♦ Timeline to Restocking & Environmental Sampling Procedures

♦ Restocking Criteria for Previously Infected Premises.

Please also see the following, related policy documents (www.aphis.usda.gov/fadprep): 

♦ Protocol for Environmental Sample Collection and Testing for AI Virus

♦ Cleaning & Disinfection Basics (Virus Elimination).

INTENDED USE

This document provides guidance to State Animal Health Officials (SAHOs), USDA Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Officials, and Incident Management Teams (IMTs) for the restocking of 

highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)-infected commercial poultry premises. This includes the timeline 

for restocking and criteria that must be met for premises to restock.

For premises to restock after HPAI infection, they must meet the minimum time requirements, all criteria

laid out in this document, AND be approved to restock. Being approved to restock indicates that in 

addition to finishing all the steps in the restocking process, the premises has met any additional criteria 

that may have been laid out by the State or APHIS, and that State and APHIS officials agreed in writing 

that the premises can be restocked.

BIOSECURITY MEASURES

All biosecurity practices currently in place on the premises (including use of personal protective equipment 

[PPE]) will be followed for activities discussed in this document, including sample collection for 

environmental testing and final inspection of the premises prior to quarantine release. The level of PPE 

needed for different activities (environmental sampling, for example) will be determined by the SAHOs 

and/or IMTs.

TIMELINE TO RESTOCKING OF PREVIOUSLY INFECTED PREMISES

The timelines provided below offer guidance on just the steps, time, and sampling it takes to reach the 

point to be eligible to begin the restocking process and, ultimately, approved to restock.

Timelines for Restocking for Premises Using Composting

Please see Figures 1 through 3 for the timelines on premises using composting. Figure 1 covers in-house 

composting, Figure 2 covers outdoor composting, and Figure 3 covers the combination of inhouse/outdoor composting.

For premises using composting, environmental sampling inside the houses/barns occurs after the compost 

pile is complete and removed from inside the barns. For outdoor composting, environmental sampling 

inside the houses/barns can occur after the houses/barns have completed virus elimination. 
HPAI Response

Timeline, Eligibility, and Approval for Restocking

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Please note: There is no requirement OR option to release compost based upon compost sample testing.

Figure 1. Timeline for Disposal & Premises Restocking:

IN-HOUSE COMPOSTING

IP Quarantined

IP Depopulated

Compost Pile Created/

Set in House 

AND

VE of Outside Areas

28 Days 14 Days

Compost Complete/

Removed from Houses 

(Stays on Premises) 

AND

VE of Inside Areas

IP Quarantine 

Release 

Compost Pile Turned Once 

at No-Sooner than 14 Days 

AND

Temp. Recorded

(Appropriate Temp. Must be 

Reached & Documented for 

Specific Period)

Environmental Sampling in 

Barns/Houses Begins 

When Disinfection 

Completed

Owner Assumes 

Responsibility for 

Compost Disposition

IP Confirmed 

Positive

Premises Restocked

(see next section on 

restocking eligibility 

and approval)

Figure 2. Timeline for Disposal & Premises Restocking:

OUTDOOR COMPOSTING

IP Quarantined

IP Depopulated

Compost Piles 

Created/Set Outside of 

House 

28 Days

IP Quarantine 

Release 

VE All Areas on 

Premises

Owner Assumes 

Responsibility for 

Compost Disposition

IP Confirmed 

Positive

Environmental Sampling 

in Barns/Houses Begins 

When Disinfection

Completed

Compost Pile Turned 

Once at No-Sooner than 

14 Days AND

Temp. Recorded

(Appropriate Temp. Must 

be Reached & 

Documented for Specific 

Period)

Premises Restocked

(see next section on 

restocking eligibility 

and approval)

Note: IP=Infected Premises

VE = Virus Elimination

Note: IP=Infected Premises

VE = Virus Elimination
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Figure 3. Timeline for Disposal & Premises Restocking:

COMBO OF IN-HOUSE/OUTDOOR COMPOSTING 

IP Quarantined

IP Depopulated

Compost Pile Created/

Set in House 

AND

VE of Outside Areas

IP Quarantine 

Release 

Compost Pile Turned 

Once at No-Sooner than 

14 Days AND

Temp. Recorded

(Appropriate Temp. Must 

be Reached & 

Documented for Specific 

Period)

Owner Assumes 

Responsibility for 

Compost Disposition

IP Confirmed 

Positive

14 Days

Compost Piles Moved 

Outside of House at 

No-Sooner than 14 

Days 

VE of Inside Areas 

on Premises

Environmental Sampling 

in Barns/Houses Begins

When Disinfection 

Completed

28 Days

Premises Restocked

(see next section on 

restocking eligibility 

and approval)

14 Days

Timeline for Restocking for Premises Using Burial

For premises using burial, environmental sampling is performed inside the houses/barns after the 

premises is cleaned and disinfected following disposal. Figure 4 provides the restocking timeline for 

premises using burial.

Figure 4. Timeline for Disposal & Premises Restocking: BURIAL

IP Quarantined

IP Depopulated

Burial Occurs

14 Days

IP Quarantine 

Release 

VE All Areas on 

Premises

IP Confirmed 

Positive

Environmental 

Sampling in Barns/

Houses Begins

When Disinfection 

Completed

Premises Restocked 

(see next section on 

restocking eligibility 

and approval)

Note: IP=Infected Premises

VE = Virus Elimination

Note: IP=Infected Premises

VE = Virus Elimination
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RESTOCKING PREVIOUSLY INFECTED PREMISES

A primary goal of the HPAI response is to ensure that the response efforts and activities do not cause 

more damage and disruption than the disease outbreak itself. However, restocked premises that 

subsequently become infected with HPAI a second time place added stress on already strained 

resources and continue the risk of ongoing HPAI transmission in commercial poultry. As such, APHIS 

urges appropriate caution restocking premises in an HPAI outbreak.

Restocking Assessments

Two assessments must occur to restock previously infected premises:

1. An assessment of the previously Infected Premises being restocked. This includes the 

environmental sampling results and assessment of whether the premises has met the timeline 

requirements in Figures 1-4 (as applicable to the specific premises).

2. An assessment of the surrounding area or Control Area in which the Infected Premises is located. 

Assessment information includes the epidemiological curve (rate of new infected premises), 

geospatial risk factors, and other epidemiological risk factors for the previously infected premises.

Indemnity

APHIS will not indemnify previously Infected Premises that are restocked without written APHIS and State 

approval and subsequently become an Infected Premises a second time. For premises that meet the 

criteria specified in the sections below, including written approval by APHIS and State officials that 

restocking can occur, full indemnification will be provided by APHIS as funds are available. 

Restocking Process

When a premises finishes virus elimination, and a final inspection of the premises has been completed, 

the premises enters the restocking phase of the response.At this point, the premises can begin the 

restocking process (in other words, the premises is “eligible to begin the restocking process/pending 

restock approval”), but is not yet approved to restock. 

To restock a previously Infected Premises, all of the following criteria must be met:

1. The owner and/or grower meets, for the original Infected Premises, the requirements of the

a. State Quarantine Notice or Hold Order(s); AND

b. USDA Flock Plan.

2. An assessment that the premises meets the minimum conditions laid out in this document with 

regard to timeline to restocking, including the

a. Minimum fallow time, for the method of disposal chosen; AND

b. Environmental sampling, with no evidence of HPAI infection.

3. In consultation with State animal health officials, the owner evaluates risk factors at the start of the 

14-day fallow period (that begins upon completion of virus elimination activities).

When these three steps are completed, the premises can then seek approval to restock from APHIS and 

State officials. To restate: a premises may only seek approval to restock when the premises is 14-days 

post completion of final virus elimination, environmental sampling is complete and shows no evidence of 

HPAI, and the premises meets requirements of the State Quarantine Notice/Hold Order and the USDA 

Flock Plan. 
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Approval for Restocking

After all the above criteria are met in the “Restocking Process” section, premises become ready for State 

and APHIS officials to approve the restocking. Additional criteria, particularly further biosecurity measures,

may be required by State and/or APHIS officials in order for the premises to be restocked; State 

requirements may vary by State:

1. The owner and/or grower will complete any additional surveillance, biosecurity procedures, and 

requirements for movement as may be required by the State and APHIS upon and following 

restocking. These biosecurity requirements may include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

a. Virus elimination procedures for all movement onto the farm and all movement into and 

between barns.

b. Personnel-specific biosecurity measures, including barn specific clothing not to be worn 

outside.

c. Exclusion of wild birds and rodents from the barn structure.

d. Measures to ensure feed and water are not contaminated by wild birds or their feces.

e. Immediate mitigation of standing water, feed spills, and other environmental factors that 

may attract wild birds.

f. Elimination of visits by non-essential personnel.

After State/APHIS criteria have been met and State and APHIS officials have assessed the Control Area, 

they will approve, in writing, that the premises can be restocked. The premises is now “approved to 

restock.” This means that the premises has met all the requirements set by State and APHIS officials to be 

approved to restock, and has a signed restock agreement. In some cases, the formal Restock Approval 

Letter may be issued a few days prior to the end of the fallow period; however, the premises cannot 

restock until the date on the Letter.Any USDA Flock Plan requirements pertaining to restocking remain in 

place.

Premises that are Eligible but Not Approved for Restocking

At times, a premises may have completed the 14-day fallow period and have negative environmental 

testing, but not be approved to restock because of ongoing disease cases in the Control Area. These 

premises are “eligible to begin the restocking process/pending restock approval” until State and APHIS 

officials assess the Control Area and determine that a Restock Approval Letter can be issued to the 

premises. At this point the premises is “approved to restock.”

Premises that Do Not Plan to Restock

There may be the case in which a premises does not plan to restock immediately or in the near future and 

therefore does not seek a Restock Approval Letter (but may complete the rest of the steps outlined 

above). These premises will continue to be “Pending Restock Approval” until State and/or APHIS officials 

approve, in writing, that the premises can be restocked. The steps in the “Restocking Process” section 

must be documented in EMRS in the same manner regardless of the premises’ intention to obtain a 

Restock Approval Letter from State/APHIS officials.

Testing for Restocked Birds

Birds used for restocking must be from flocks tested for HPAI. These flocks must be tested for HPAI prior 

to movement; the minimum standard is two (2) negative rRT-PCR tests at least 24 hours apart, with one 

negative test within 24 hours of movement.