May 28, 2008

USDA issues final rule for exotic Newcastle disease quarantine regulations
 

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule that changes the domestic quarantine regulations for exotic Newcastle disease (END).

The changes include blending foreign and domestic regulations regarding the movement of dressed carcasses of fowls; adding restrictions on interstate movement of ratites out of quarantined areas; providing alternative procedures for treating manure and litter for composting; and adding additional surveillance period before lifting quarantine restrictions.

The changes are necessary based on experiences in the elimination programmes for the END outbreaks in California, Arizona, Nevada and Texas in 2002 and 2003, according to APHIS.

This final rule would ensure the elimination of the disease in future quarantine areas if an END outbreak occurs, therefore preventing the spread of the disease.