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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 4714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00939]

[[Page 4714]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2024-0066]

Addition of Guatemala and Honduras to the List of Regions 
Affected With Screwworm

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have added Guatemala and 
Honduras 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: Guatemala was added to the list of regions considered affected 
with screwworm effective November 1, 2024. Honduras was added to the 
list of regions considered affected with screwworm effective October 
25, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Amber Kerk, APHIS Veterinary 
Services, Regionalization Evaluation Services, 920 Main Campus Drive, 
Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606; phone: (608) 662-0625; 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 and pests 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 it 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 October 29, 2024, WOAH received a report from Guatemala 
documenting an outbreak of New World screwworm (Cochliomyia 
hominivorax) in cattle with no recent import history. Accordingly, on 
November 1, 2024, APHIS added Guatemala to the list of regions APHIS 
considers affected with screwworm.
    On September 16, 2024, WOAH also received a report from Honduras 
documenting an outbreak of New World screwworm in illegally imported 
horses in that country. APHIS responded by adding Honduras to the 
Temporary Restrictions list for the import of animal commodities from 
or transiting Honduras. Soon after, Honduras reported further 
detections of screwworm in livestock, including cattle and swine, to 
WOAH on October 25, 2024. Therefore, on October 25, 2024, APHIS added 
Honduras to the list of regions APHIS considers affected with 
screwworm.
    As a result, horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs from Guatemala and 
Honduras 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 10th day of January 2025.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-00939 Filed 1-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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