Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 2/9/16


USDA has announced amended regulations to cover indemnity payments to the poultry industry in the event of another outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

The agency and its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are providing what they describe as a formula that allows such payments covering losses to be split between poultry and egg owners and parties that contract poultry growers.

(The latter group would include poultry processors like Tyson Foods Inc. and Perdue Farms Inc.) The new interim rule is designed to implement lessons learned during last year’s avian influenza outbreak that resulted in the culling of a total of about 50 million birds nationwide.

USDA is also requiring owners and contractors to provide proof their facilities were following specific biosecurity programs aimed at preventing avian influenza from spreading to commercial operations in order to participate in the payment program. The action also includes payment for losses of eggs that are destroyed because of HPAI, clarifying the existing policy, APHIS noted.

The agency also is seeking comments on the interim rule for the next 60 days after it appears in the Federal Register, which is scheduled to be included in the publication on Feb. 9. Additional information on the proposal and methodologies for commenting on the new rule is available here.

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