APHIS Proposes Determination That Costa Rica Is Free of Classical Swine Fever
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is planning to recognize Costa Rica as being free of classical swine fever (CSF). APHIS conducted a risk evaluation that will be available for public review and seeks public comments on this proposed decision through Sept. 6, it said in a notice.
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The Costa Rican government had asked APHIS in September 2020 to evaluate the status of CSF in the country. U.S. officials determined that CSF was not known to exist in Costa Rica. However, because Costa Rica shares a border with a region where CSF exists, APHIS determined that the requirements of Section 94.32, the code governing health inspection statuses, should be operative for the CSF-free status of Costa Rica to be in effect, including any required mitigations for CSF because of the proximity to regions with declared CSF infections, the notice said.
“Our determination supports adding Costa Rica to the web-based list of regions that APHIS considers free of CSF. Therefore, in accordance with the regulations in § 92.2, we are announcing the availability of our evaluation of the CSF status of Costa Rica for public review and comment,” the agency said. An environmental assessment also will be available for public review, APHIS said.