Category Archives: USDA

On May 31, 2018, the U.S. Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) published the final rule amending the Federal meat inspection regulations to eliminate the requirements for both ready-to-eat (RTE) and not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) pork and pork products to be treated to destroy trichinae (Trichinella spiralis) because the regulations are inconsistent with the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulations, and because these prescriptive regulations are no longer necessary. FSIS is ending its Trichinella Approved Laboratory Program (TALP program) for the evaluation and approval of non-Federal laboratories that use the pooled sample digestion technique to analyze samples for the presence of trichinae. FSIS is also consolidating the regulations on thermally processed, commercially sterile meat and poultry products (i.e., canned food products containing meat or poultry). [Source: FSIS Constituent Update, June 1, 2018]

USDA wants to hear from stakeholders of the U.S. pork industry to help develop objectives for the sixth national swine study to be conducted by USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) in collaboration with the National Agriculture Statistics Service. Your input is essential if we are to address specific needs and information gaps of those involved in swine production and research. NAHMS provides stakeholders in private and public sectors with valuable information on disease occurrence, exposure to disease agents, management practices, productivity, knowledge gaps, and other important topics of concern to U.S. livestock industries and trading partners.

USDA wants to hear from stakeholders of the U.S. pork industry to help develop objectives for the sixth national swine study to be conducted by USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) in collaboration with the National Agriculture Statistics Service. Your input is essential if we are to address specific needs and information gaps of those involved in swine production and research. NAHMS provides stakeholders in private and public sectors with valuable information on disease occurrence, exposure to disease agents, management practices, productivity, knowledge gaps, and other important topics of concern to U.S. livestock industries and trading partners.

USDA wants to hear from stakeholders of the U.S. pork industry to help develop objectives for the sixth national swine study to be conducted by USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) in collaboration with the National Agriculture Statistics Service. Your input is essential if we are to address specific needs and information gaps of those involved in swine production and research. NAHMS provides stakeholders in private and public sectors with valuable information on disease occurrence, exposure to disease agents, management practices, productivity, knowledge gaps, and other important topics of concern to U.S. livestock industries and trading partners.

USDA wants to hear from stakeholders of the U.S. pork industry to help develop objectives for the sixth national swine study to be conducted by USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) in collaboration with the National Agriculture Statistics Service. Your input is essential if we are to address specific needs and information gaps of those involved in swine production and research. NAHMS provides stakeholders in private and public sectors with valuable information on disease occurrence, exposure to disease agents, management practices, productivity, knowledge gaps, and other important topics of concern to U.S. livestock industries and trading partners.

USDA wants to hear from stakeholders of the U.S. pork industry to help develop objectives for the sixth national swine study to be conducted by USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) in collaboration with the National Agriculture Statistics Service. Your input is essential if we are to address specific needs and information gaps of those involved in swine production and research. NAHMS provides stakeholders in private and public sectors with valuable information on disease occurrence, exposure to disease agents, management practices, productivity, knowledge gaps, and other important topics of concern to U.S. livestock industries and trading partners.

The latest update from the National Animal Health Laboratory Network was released on March 18, 2018 and can be accessed here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/lab-info-services/nahln/ct_newsletter. This issue introduces Dr. Kimberly Dodd, Director of the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Plum Island and discusses the efforts to promote laboratory messaging capabilities among the NAHLN labs.

The FY 2018 1st quarter IAV-S report, covering October 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017, has been posted to the USDA Monitoring and Surveillance website. The report can be accessed at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animaldisspec/swine/downloads/fy2018quarter1swinereport.pdf. Some key report summary items are as follows: In FY 2018 Q1, 7,842 samples were submitted for influenza A virus in swine (IAV-S) surveillance from 2,644 accessions. H1N1 was the predominant subtype. Over the past 8 quarters, H1N2 predominated in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. When regions are recorded as “unknown,” H1N2 predominates as well (see map in regional section). Limited accessions from a region can skew data and lead to misinterpretation. Therefore, less inference can be applied to results from Regions 3, 4, and 5. All IAV-S submissions are voluntary and based on clinical case submissions to veterinary diagnostic labs. These data are not a statistically representative sampling of the U.S. swine population. Due to the voluntary nature of this surveillance, the information in this report cannot be used to determine regional and/or national incidence, prevalence, or other epidemiological measures, but it may help identify IAV-S trends.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is rescinding the Swine Enteric Coronavirus Diseases (SECD) Federal Order and will no longer require producers, veterinarians or laboratories to report cases to Federal animal health officials. SECD is now well understood by the veterinary community and producers, and tools exist to effectively respond to it. This action is effective today (March 6, 2018). [Source: USDA, March 6, 2018]

The FY 2017 4th quarter IAV-S report has been posted to the USDA Monitoring and Surveillance website. The report can be accessed at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/swine-disease-information/ctswinehealthmonitoringsurveillance. Some key report summary items are as follows: In FY 2017 Q4, 6,508 samples were submitted for IAV-S surveillance from 1,980 accessions. H1N2 was the predominant subtype. Over the past 8 quarters, H1N2 predominated in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. When Regions are recorded as “unknown,” H1N2 predominates as well (see map in regional section). Limited accessions from a region can skew data and lead to misinterpretation. Therefore, less inference can be applied to results from Regions 3, 4, and 5. All IAV-S submissions are voluntary and based on clinical case submissions to veterinary diagnostics labs. These data are not a statistically representative sampling of the U.S. swine population. Due to the voluntary nature of this surveillance, the information in this report cannot be used to determine regional and/or national incidence, prevalence, or other epidemiological measures, but it may help identify IAV-S trends.