WHEREAS, based on the official final report submitted to the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) by Dr. Stan Bruntz, National Surveillance Unit Epidemiologist, the United States has successfully eradicated the H7N3 low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) incident in Polk County, Missouri;

WHEREAS, the H7N3 case was an isolated incident which was detected through routine preslaughter surveillance;

WHEREAS, effective cleaning and disinfection of the affected premises was completed on May 25, 2011 and quarantine was officially lifted on May 26, 2011;

WHEREAS, in compliance with Article 10.4.3.2, Chapter 10.4 (avian influeza) of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Polk County Missouri is now free of the H7N3 LPAI;

WHEREAS, based on the evaluation of the Bureau of Animal Industy (BAI), the risk of contamination from importing poultry and poultry products from Polk County, Missouri is negligible;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, PROCESO J. ALCALA, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, by the powers vested in me by law, do hereby lift the temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen originating from Polk County, Missouri.

All import transactions of the above products shall be in accordance with the existing rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry and National Meat Inspection Service (DA-BAI-NMIS).

All orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this order, are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

This ORDER shall take effect immediately.


Adopted: 25 August 2011


(SGD.) PROCESO J. ALCALA
Secretary