USDA APHIS VHS Interim Rule Information
September 26, 2008 09:21 PM Filed in: VHS
Dear State Competent
Authority,
Last week, a number of fish health professionals as well as fish producers met in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to discuss the interim rule concerning viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) that will go into effect November 10. There is no doubt the interim rule will reshape the aquatic animal industry if it moves forward as written. You may have already seen the new USDA APHIS rule which modifies the Federal Order issued in October 2006. Like the Federal Order, the interim rule only applies to the interstate movement of fish from the 8 Great Lake states. However, I think this is a discussion we all would be wise to follow. There are three items in the attached interim rule that I would like to highlight for you:
1 The rule gives people 30 days to sample their fish and get their paperwork in order to move fish; however, the cell culture test takes 28 days to incubate. It is impossible to comply.
2 The fish need to be inspected by an accredited vet or competent authority within 72 hours of being shipped. APHIS doesn’t require this person to be a vet and the states need to be clear who they (the state) will recognize as an inspector. Unfortunately, there are no visual symptoms specific to VHS. Also, the cleaning of shipping containers must be monitored by an accredited vet or the competent authority.
3 Facilities that have a secure water source must test twice a year. However, the number of samples required decreases if the farm has a history of VHS free test results. For water sources that are not secure, test results are only valid for 30 days.
A factsheet is at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/faq_vhs_interim_rule.pdf.
Thanks for your help on the NASAC Aquatic Animal State Contact list that makes it possible for me to get this email to you.
Bart Hawcroft
www.nasac.net
Last week, a number of fish health professionals as well as fish producers met in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to discuss the interim rule concerning viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) that will go into effect November 10. There is no doubt the interim rule will reshape the aquatic animal industry if it moves forward as written. You may have already seen the new USDA APHIS rule which modifies the Federal Order issued in October 2006. Like the Federal Order, the interim rule only applies to the interstate movement of fish from the 8 Great Lake states. However, I think this is a discussion we all would be wise to follow. There are three items in the attached interim rule that I would like to highlight for you:
1 The rule gives people 30 days to sample their fish and get their paperwork in order to move fish; however, the cell culture test takes 28 days to incubate. It is impossible to comply.
2 The fish need to be inspected by an accredited vet or competent authority within 72 hours of being shipped. APHIS doesn’t require this person to be a vet and the states need to be clear who they (the state) will recognize as an inspector. Unfortunately, there are no visual symptoms specific to VHS. Also, the cleaning of shipping containers must be monitored by an accredited vet or the competent authority.
3 Facilities that have a secure water source must test twice a year. However, the number of samples required decreases if the farm has a history of VHS free test results. For water sources that are not secure, test results are only valid for 30 days.
A factsheet is at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/faq_vhs_interim_rule.pdf.
Thanks for your help on the NASAC Aquatic Animal State Contact list that makes it possible for me to get this email to you.
Bart Hawcroft
www.nasac.net