Written by M. Sean High
In an effort to more efficiently respond to possible outbreaks
of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), the United States Department of
Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has recently
issued updates to many of the department’s foreign animal disease preparedness
and response plan materials (FAD PReP). Of
particular interest to poultry owners will likely be the newly streamlined
procedures regarding appraisal and indemnity.
According to the document titled Appraisal & Indemnity Procedures and dated August 19, 2015, “[t]he
best practices to contain and eradicate [HPAI] by ‘stamping-out’ within 24
hours of detection will require rapid depopulation, appraisal, and indemnity
procedures.” To accomplish these goals, state animal health officials and APHIS
are no longer required to wait for a positive HPAI test result prior to
authorizing depopulation. Instead, these
officials may now approve depopulation when HPAI is suspected.
Additionally, poultry owners are no longer required to have
a signed flock plan prior to receiving indemnity payments. A flock plan, however, will still be required
if a poultry owner will is seeking APHIS disposal assistance or APHIS cleaning
and disinfection assistance.
It is important to note that all APHIS FAD PReP materials
are subject to change. As a result,
interested individuals should always consult the FAD PReP Materials andReferences webpage for the latest department revisions.
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