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| Issue 18, 2006 (07 September) |
| USDA to Restrict Certain Fish Imports to Prevent Introduction of Carp Disease |
The Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued an interim rule, effective 29 September, which will restrict the importation of live fish, fertilised eggs and gametes of fish species that are susceptible to spring viremia of carp, a serious contagious viral disease of carp. Affected species include common carp (including koi), grass carp, silver carp, bighead carp, Crucian carp, goldfish, tench and sheatfish. Cases of SVC were confirmed in the U.S. in 2002 and 2004 and, since eradicated, have been linked to the unregulated importation of fish infected with the virus. Comments on this interim rule are due by 30 October.
The new regulations state that live fish, fertilised eggs or gametes of SVC-susceptible species must be accompanied by an import permit issued by APHIS and imported within 30 days of the proposed arrival date stated on the permit. They must also be accompanied by a health certificate issued by a full-time salaried veterinarian of the national government of the exporting region or issued by a certifying official and endorsed by the competent authority of the exporting region. Various other conditions must also be met. Shipments of affected items may be imported through the air and ocean ports at Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Tampa, Atlanta, Honolulu, Chicago, Boston, Newark, New York, Portland, Ore., Dallas-Ft. Worth and San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the land border ports of Detroit, Buffalo-Niagara, Seattle and Sumas, Wash., and Otay Mesa, California.
This rule does not restrict the importation of products of SVC-susceptible species, such as muscle fillets (imported whole or for further processing), fresh or frozen whole uneviscerated fish or tissues intended for use as bait, or other materials. Available scientific literature indicates that there is a perceived low risk of SVC transmission associated with products of SVC-susceptible species intended for human consumption or for further processing. In addition, the importation of such products has not been linked to outbreaks of SVC in the United States. However, because fresh or frozen whole uneviscerated fish or tissues of SVC-susceptible species for use as bait may be determined to present additional risks, APHIS will continue to seek more information regarding those risks and may impose restrictions on such materials at a later date.
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