```

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4715-4716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00995]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0062]

Addition of Panama and Costa Rica to the List of Regions Affected 
With Screwworm

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have added Panama and Costa 
Rica to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) list 
maintained on the APHIS website of regions considered affected with 
screwworm. We took this action because of the confirmation of screwworm 
in these regions.

DATES: Panama was added to the list of regions considered affected with 
screwworm effective July 12, 2021. Costa Rica was added to the list of 
regions considered affected with screwworm effective August 21, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    For information on Panama, contact: Dr. Michael Ray, 
Regionalization Evaluation Services, Strategy and Policy, APHIS 
Veterinary Services, 920 Main Campus Drive, Venture II Suite 200, 
Raleigh, NC 27606; phone: (919) 855-7225; email: 
[email protected].
    For information on Costa Rica, contact: Dr. Rebecca Gordon, APHIS 
Veterinary Services, Regionalization Evaluation Services, 920 Main 
Campus Drive, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606; phone: (919) 338-4972; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 9 CFR part 93 (referred 
to below as the regulations) prohibit or restrict the importation of 
certain animals into the United States to prevent the introduction of 
communicable diseases of livestock. Subparts C, D, E, and F of the 
regulations govern the importation of horses, ruminants, swine, and 
dogs, respectively.
    Horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs may be imported into the United 
States from the regions where screwworm is considered to exist only if 
they are inspected and, if necessary, treated for screwworm according 
to the conditions outlined in the regulations for each type of animal. 
The requirements for horses are set out in Sec.  93.308(a)(3) and 
include not only pre-embarkation and post-arrival inspection and 
treatment requirements, but also quarantine in the United States for 7 
days after arrival, and examination by a veterinarian before release 
from quarantine. The requirements for ruminants and swine are set out 
in Sec. Sec.  93.405(a)(3) and 93.505(b), respectively, and are the 
same as for horses, other than the 7-day quarantine and final 
examination of the animal. The requirements for dogs are set out in 
Sec.  93.600 and require that all dogs from affected regions be 
inspected and, if necessary, treated before importation.
    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) maintains a 
list of regions APHIS considers affected with screwworm on its website 
at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-and-animal-product-import-information/animal-health-status-of-regions/. 
APHIS will add a region to the list upon determining that screwworm 
exists in the region based on reports we receive of detections of the 
pest from veterinary officials of the exporting country, from the World 
Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), or from other sources the 
Administrator determines to be reliable.
    On July 2, 2021, Panama reported a detection of New World screwworm 
(Cochliomyia hominivorax) to WOAH. After that report, and after 
confirming that the screwworm occurred in livestock, on July 12, 2021, 
APHIS added Panama to the list of regions APHIS considers affected with 
screwworm. In 2022, Panama requested that APHIS evaluate the country 
for New World screwworm. APHIS concluded the evaluation in 2022 after 
Panama reported additional detections of screwworm throughout the 
country.
    On July 17, 2023, Costa Rica reported a detection of New World 
screwworm in a dog to WOAH. On July 24, 2023, APHIS responded by adding 
Costa Rica

[[Page 4716]]

to the Temporary Restrictions list for the import of animal commodities 
imported from or transiting Costa Rica. Subsequent follow-up reports to 
WOAH, as well as epidemiological reports submitted to APHIS from Costa 
Rica's National Service for Animal Health, indicated further detections 
of screwworm in livestock, including cattle and sheep. Therefore, on 
August 21, 2023, APHIS added Costa Rica to the list of regions APHIS 
considers affected with screwworm.
    As a result, horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs from Panama and 
Costa Rica are subject to APHIS import restrictions designed to 
mitigate risk of screwworm introduction into the United States. This 
notice serves as an official record and public notification of these 
actions.
    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622 and 8301-8317; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 31 
U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 13th day of January 2025.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-00995 Filed 1-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
```