WASHINGTON – The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the US Dept. of Agriculture is seeking comments on a proposed plan to revamp the process for amending provisions of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) which consists of a variety of programs aimed at preventing and controlling disease in poultry flocks.

NPIP identifies states, flocks, hatcheries, dealers and processing plants that meet certain disease control standards specified in the plan’s various programs. APHIS explained. As a result, customers can buy poultry that has tested clean of certain diseases or that has been produced under disease-prevention conditions.

APHIS said that regulations become outdated due to constant changes in diagnostic science, testing technology and best practices in addition to the lengthy process of rulemaking. In July 2014, the agency published a final rule that would, among other things:

• Clarifying and amending the testing protocol for Mycoplasma;
• Amending and clarifying Salmonella isolation procedures;
• Adding a new Salmonella diagnostic test kit;
• Updating and clarifying cleaning and disinfecting procedures.

Comments on the proposed changes can be submitted via the federal eRulemaking Portal, or mailed to: Docket No. APHIS-2018-0061, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. APHIS will consider all comments received on or before May 13, 2019.