Federal Register: October 5, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 191)
DOCID: fr05oc09-19 FR Doc E9-23947
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Docket ID: [Docket No. APHIS-2009-0006]
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr05oc09-19
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Notice of Availability of a Bovine Brucellosis Program Concept Paper
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before December 4, 2009.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is making a concept paper describing a new direction for the bovine brucellosis program available for public review and comment. The cooperative FederalStateindustry effort to eradicate bovine brucellosis from cattle in the United States has made significant progress since the program's inception in 1934. However, unique challenges impede eradication. The concept paper we are making available presents our current thinking about changes we are planning to address these challenges.
SUMMARY:
Bovine Brucellosis Program Concept Paper; Availability
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Background
Brucellosis is a contagious disease affecting animals and humans, caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella.
The brucellosis regulations, contained in 9 CFR part 78, currently provide a system for classifying States or portions of States according to the rate of Brucella infection present and the general effectiveness of a brucellosis control and eradication program. The current State classifications are Class Free, Class A, Class B, and Class C. States or areas that do not meet the minimum standards for Class C are required to be placed under Federal quarantine.
This document announces the availability of a concept paper for a
new direction for the bovine brucellosis program. Bovine brucellosis
has significant animal health, public health, and international trade
consequences. The cooperative FederalStateindustry effort to
eradicate this disease from cattle in the United States has made
significant progress since the program's inception in 1934. However,
unique challenges impede eradication. This concept paper presents the
current thinking of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's
Veterinary Services (VS) program about changes we are planning to address these challenges.
The concept paper provides an action plan that:
1. Effectively demonstrates the diseasefree status of the United States through a national statusbased program supported by a national surveillance strategy;
2. Enhances efforts to mitigate disease transmission from wildlife;
3. Enhances disease response and control measures;
4. Modernizes the regulatory framework to allow VS to address risks quickly and sensibly; and
5. Implements a riskbased disease management area concept.
The bovine brucellosis concept paper may be viewed on the Internet
at the Regulations.gov Web site (see ADDRESSES above for instructions
on accessing Regulations.gov). You may request paper copies of the
document by calling or writing to the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the title of the document when
requesting copies. The document is also available for review in our
reading room (information on the location and hours of the reading room [[Page 51116]]
is listed under the heading ADDRESSES at the beginning of this notice).
Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of September 2009. Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. E923947 Filed 10209; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 341034P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Dr. Lee Ann Thomas, Director, Ruminant Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 207371231; (301) 7346954.