Emergency letter for LPAI

United States
Department of
Agriculture
Marketing and
Regulatory
Programs
Animal and Plant
Health Inspection
Services
Washington, DC
20250

Subject: Request for Expedited Processing of
OMB Paperwork Reduction Act Clearance
Through: Ruth Brown
Desk Officer
APHIS is requesting emergency review, processing, and approval of an informational
collection activity that is needed in connection with the efforts of the U.S. Department of
Agriculture to facilitate the surveillance of Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI)
subtypes H5 and H7 in the United States through the voluntary participation of meat-type
chicken slaughter plants, turkey slaughter plants, and table-egg producers in the National
Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP). An interim rule that establishes a voluntary LPAI
control program and an LPAI indemnity program will proactively address the increasing
threat of mutation to HPAI posed by outbreaks of H5/H7 LPAI. Moreover, this action
will continue the improvement of the health of the U.S. poultry population, as well as the
quality of U.S. poultry products.
NPIP is a voluntary Federal-State-industry mechanism for controlling certain poultry
diseases and for improving poultry breeding flocks and products through disease control
techniques.
This interim rule will amend Title 9, Code of the Federal Regulations, Part 145, by
including meat-type chicken slaughter plants, turkey slaughter plants, and table-egg
producers to participate in the NPIP.
The regulation is needed immediately to address the increasing threat of mutation to
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) posed by outbreaks of H5/H7 LPAI; to
ensure continued surveillance of LPAI H5/H7 in the United States; and to safeguard the
health of the U.S. poultry population, as well as the quality of U.S. poultry products.
Meat-type chicken slaughter plants, turkey slaughter plants, and table-egg producers who
chose to participate in this voluntary plan would be required to complete the necessary
forms when submitting samples from flock monitoring to authorized laboratories.
APHIS is requesting approval of the paperwork clearance package by September 20,
2006.

John R. Clifford
Deputy Administrator
Veterinary Services

APHIS – Protecting American Agriculture

An Equal Opportunity Employer