FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2021-0003

December 2, 2021

Subject: Revision of Federal Order DA-2021-0002 to Authorize the Movement of Certain 

Swine Products and Swine Byproducts Under Specified Conditions from Puerto 

Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands 

To: State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

(APHIS) is revising Federal Order DA-2021-0002, which was issued on September 17, 2021 to 

prevent the possible introduction of African swine fever virus (ASF) into and spread of ASF 

within the continental United States. Federal Order DA-2021-0002 suspended interstate 

movement of all live swine, swine germplasm, swine products, and swine byproducts from 

Puerto Rico (PR) and U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). APHIS took this action because of the 

proximity of these territories to the Dominican Republic (DR), which is currently reporting a 

significant outbreak of ASF, as well as the frequency of passenger travel and international mail 

shipments between the DR and PR and the USVI and the frequency of small-scale commercial 

agricultural trade between the DR and PR and the USVI, all of which increase the risk of spread 

of ASF to PR and the USVI. This revision authorizes interstate movement of certain swine 

products and swine byproducts from PR and USVI under specified conditions which alleviate 

concerns over possible spread of the ASF virus.

APHIS is taking this action because APHIS has established sufficient mitigations to allow such 

movement for certain swine products and swine byproducts under specified conditions which 

mitigate the risk of spreading ASF through interstate commerce. This revision is effective 

immediately.

For more information regarding this Federal Order you may contact Dr. Dawn Hunter 

(Dawn.K.Hunter@usda.gov).

Rosemary Sifford

Deputy Administrator

Veterinary Services

Attachment: Federal Order
FEDERAL ORDER

Revision of Federal Order DA-2021-0002 to Authorize the Movement of Certain Swine Products 

and Swine Byproducts Under Specified Conditions from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

DA-2021-0003

December 2, 2021

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), United States Department of 

Agriculture (USDA), is issuing this Federal Order to revise Federal Order DA-2021-0002, which 

was issued on September 17, 2021 to prevent the possible introduction of African swine fever 

virus (ASF) into the continental United States. The Order suspended interstate movement of all 

live swine, swine germplasm, swine products, and swine byproducts from Puerto Rico (PR) and 

U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). APHIS took this action because of the proximity of these territories

to the Dominican Republic (DR), which is currently reporting a significant outbreak of ASF, as 

well as the frequency of passenger travel and international mail shipments between the DR and 

PR and the USVI and the frequency of small-scale commercial agricultural trade between the DR 

and PR and the USVI, all of which increase the risk of spread of ASF to PR and the USVI. This 

revision authorizes interstate movement for certain swine products and swine byproducts from 

PR and the USVI under specified conditions which alleviate concerns over possible spread of the 

ASF virus. 

This Federal Order is issued in accordance with the regulatory authority provided by the Animal 

Health Protection Act, as amended, 7 U.S.C. § 8301 et seq. Section 8305 authorizes the 

Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict the movement in interstate commerce of any 

animal, article, or means of conveyance if the Secretary determines that the prohibition or 

restriction is necessary to prevent the introduction of any pest or disease of livestock into the 

United States or the dissemination of any pest or disease of livestock within the United States. 

The September 17, 2021, Federal Order suspended the interstate movement of all live swine, 

swine germplasm, swine products, and swine byproducts from PR and the USVI. Since that time, 

APHIS has reviewed mitigations modeled in title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR) part 

94 for imported processed swine products and byproducts from ASF-affected regions. These 

existing mitigations address the ASF risk associated with trade of certain swine products without 

adversely affecting trade. In considering mitigation options, APHIS considered time/temperature 

processes which render the ASF virus harmless and the authority and capacity of APHIS to issue 

transport permits. Accordingly, effective immediately, this revision to Federal Order DA-2021-

0002 will allow the interstate movement of certain swine products and swine byproducts, from 

PR and the USVI under the following specified conditions.

Movement of live swine and swine germplasm remain suspended.

Processed swine products and byproducts from PR and the USVI as cargo must:

• Be accompanied by a VS transport permit and/or supporting documentation or both 

confirming that the products were treated according to APHIS requirements below:
The products or byproducts were fully cooked by a commercial method in a container 

hermetically sealed promptly after filling but before such cooking, so that such cooking 

and sealing produced a fully-sterilized product which is shelf-stable without refrigeration; 

or

The products or byproducts were heated by other than a flash-heating method to an 

internal temperature of at least 69 °C. (156 °F.) throughout after the bones had been 

removed.

For pork rind pellets (pork skins) that were cooked in one of the following ways in an 

establishment that meets the requirements:

(i) One-step process. The pork skins must be cooked in oil for at least 80 minutes 

when oil temperature is consistently maintained at a minimum of 114 °C.

(ii) Two-step process. The pork skins must be dry-cooked at a minimum of 260 °C 

for approximately 210 minutes after which they must be cooked in hot oil (deepfried) at a minimum of 104 °C for an additional 150 minutes.

Processed swine products and byproducts from PR and the USVI in passenger baggage must:

• Be shelf stable as a result of APHIS-approved packaging and cooking (i.e., packed in 

hermetically sealed containers and cooked by a commercial method after such packing to 

produce articles that are shelf stable without refrigeration or commercially packaged 

shelf-stable baked goods).

Unprocessed swine products and byproducts from PR and the USVI in passenger baggage will 

not be allowed to enter any other States or territories.

Swine hunting trophies from PR and the USVI will be allowed only if fully taxidermy finished

(requiring no further processing or treatment). 

For more information regarding this Federal Order you may contact Dr. Dawn Hunter 

(Dawn.K.Hunter@usda.gov).