The Veterinary Services division of USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has recently released its “CWD Program Standards Working Group Summary Document” for review and comment by the public.
This document was the product of a working group that included representatives from the farmed cervid industry, state animal health and wildlife officials, a prion science specialist, and USDA Veterinary Service representatives.
According to the USDA, the objectives of the 12-member working group were to identify changes that APHIS should consider for the CWD Program Standards and to describe additional options to consider for compliance with 9 CFR 55 and 81. Specific discussion topics included clarifying the purpose of the program standards, certified herd surveillance and compliance requirements, definitions, CWD susceptible species, ante-mortem testing, carcass disposal, epidemiology investigations and reporting, indemnity prioritization, and requirements for interstate transport of wild-caught cervids.
The full text of the document may be found on the USDA Cervid Health website: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/
The USDA asks that written feedback be submitted by November 15, 2016 to: vs.sprs.cervid.health@aphis.