🌱APHIS Withdraws EIS Notices for Genetically Engineered Organisms
This notice advises the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is withdrawing notices of intent to prepare environmental impact statements for two petitions seeking determinations of nonregulated status for organisms developed using genetic engineering. APHIS' decision to withdraw the notices of intent is consistent with APHIS' July 9, 2025 Program Update that as of that date, APHIS will no longer prepare an analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act to accompany its review of petitions seeking a determination of nonregulated status. This document provides public notice of this withdrawal.
Learn More🍗Notice Requesting Revision on Poultry Import Regulations Impacting Businesses
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with the regulations for the importation of poultry meat and other poultry products from Sinaloa and Sonora and for pork and poultry products transiting the United States.
Learn More🦆USDA Finalizes Environmental Impact Statement on HPAI Outbreaks
We are advising the public that the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services has prepared a record of decision (ROD) for the final programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) titled "Outbreak Response Activities for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreaks in Poultry in the United States and U.S. Territories".
Learn More🍍Notice Authorizing Importation of Fresh Pineapple from Indonesia
We are advising the public of our decision to authorize the importation of fresh pineapple fruit (Ananas comosus) for consumption from Indonesia into the United States. Based on findings of a pest risk analysis, which we made available to the public for review and comment through a previous notice, we have determined that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh pineapple fruit (Ananas comosus) for consumption from Indonesia into the United States.
Learn More🐄Survey of Livestock Producer Perspectives on Predator Management
The Department of Agriculture seeks comments on an information collection involving livestock producers’ perceptions regarding predators and damage management methods. This survey aims to gather data that will inform policy and management strategies in wildlife damage control, with a focus on nonlethal initiatives and their effectiveness.
Learn More💵APHIS User Fee System Modification and Business Implications
Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 and Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-108, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) gives notice that an agency component, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), proposes to modify an existing system of records notice titled, APHIS Veterinary Services User Fee System, USDA/APHIS-18. The system will be renamed the APHIS User Fee System, USDA/APHIS-18. This system, among other things, helps APHIS track, collect, and process fees associated with services APHIS provides.
Learn More✈️Delay on User Fees for Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Services
On May 7, 2024, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service published in the Federal Register a final rule amending the user fee regulations associated with the agricultural quarantine and inspection program. The final rule went into effect on October 1, 2024, with the exception of the removal of an exemption to the commercial aircraft user fee for small commercial passenger aircraft, which was scheduled to go into effect on April 1, 2025. In this document, we are issuing a postponement of the effective date of the removal of the exemption to the commercial aircraft user fee for small commercial passenger aircraft for 60 days, from April 1, 2025, to June 2, 2025.
Learn More📄USDA Information Collection Requirements for Employment Fitness
The USDA has submitted information collection requirements to the OMB regarding the Self Certification Medical Statement. This requirement aims to ensure employees in commodity grading and inspection meet essential health standards for their roles. The document requests comments on the collection's necessity and effectiveness, emphasizing the impact on applicants' physical fitness evaluation and the agency's operational efficiency.
Learn More📋Delay in USDA Privacy Act System of Records Effective Date
This document delays the effective date of the January 10, 2025, modified system of records notice, titled "Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance (SITC) National Information Communication Activity System (SNICAS), USDA/APHIS-21," in accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2025, from the President titled, "Regulatory Freeze Pending Review". The effective date of the exemptions in the notice are delayed until April 11, 2025. The notice modified the system to exempt it from certain provisions of the Privacy Act.
Learn More🐎Analysis of Postponed Horse Protection Amendments and Business Impact
On May 8, 2024, we published a final rule amending the horse protection regulations to provide, among other provisions, that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will screen, train, and authorize qualified persons for appointment by the management of any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or auction to detect and diagnose soring at such events for the purposes of enforcing the Horse Protection Act. With the exception of Sec. 11.19, which went into effect on June 7, 2024, the remainder of the rule was scheduled to go into effect on February 1, 2025. In this document, we are issuing a temporary postponement of the effective date of those regulations for 60 days, from February 1, 2025 to April 2, 2025.
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