Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is making available a concept paper that describes a revised structure for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) for public review and comment. The NAHLN is a nationally coordinated network and partnership of Federal, State, and university-associated animal health laboratories working to protect animal and public health and the nation’s food supply by providing diagnostic testing aimed at detecting biological threats to the nation’s food animals. The concept paper presents a structure APHIS believes will give the NAHLN increased capacity and flexibility to detect and respond to emerging and zoonotic diseases. APHIS will consider all comments that received on or before June 24, 2013.
Participating NAHLN laboratories are currently designated as Core, Member, Contract, or Adjunct laboratories, depending on their testing capacities, geographical distribution, and degree of specialization. Oversight and administration of the NAHLN is provided by APHIS. Input and leadership is provided to the NAHLN by a Coordinating Council composed of USDA and State regulatory animal health officials and State employee representatives of NAHLN laboratories.
Since its inception in 2002, the NAHLN has expanded from 12 to over 50 current active participating laboratories, each with varying diagnostic capacities. The concept paper describes the roles and responsibilities of the NAHLN Coordinating Council and offers a revised structure for the NAHLN that would clarify opportunities for participation by State-based NAHLN laboratories. Inclusion of State-based laboratories in the NAHLN allows for greater proximity to and linkages with producers and veterinarians, which is critical to early detection of foreign animal and emerging diseases.
APHIS will consider all comments received on the concept paper in determining the appropriate structure and governance for the NAHLN. You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0105-0001.
- Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No.APHIS-2012-0105, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0105 or in our reading room, which is located in Room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.