25 September 2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has published a proposed rule to update federal import regulations (9 CFR Parts 93 and 94) regarding Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Under the proposed amendments, the mandatory waiting period during which live birds and avian commodities must not have been exposed to HPAI or sourced from quarantined premises prior to export to the United States will be reduced from 90 days to 28 days.
This regulatory change harmonizes U.S. import standards with current epidemiological guidance from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), which established that 28 days (two flock-level incubation cycles) provides a scientifically robust safety window to confirm disease-free status. The initiative aims to alleviate unnecessary trade barriers and expedite trade resumption following an outbreak, while maintaining biosecurity safeguards against the introduction and spread of HPAI into domestic flocks.
