The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to update federal import regulations for certain live bird and avian commodities by shortening the required waiting period following a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak. Under the proposal, the current 90-day requirement would be reduced to 28 days, reflecting updated science and international trade standards.

The proposed rule aligns U.S. import requirements with 2021 guidance from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), whose Scientific Commission determined that the HPAI incubation period is shorter than previously understood. Based on available scientific evidence, the commission confirmed that a 28-day recovery window, representing two flock-level incubation periods, is sufficient to demonstrate disease-free status.

Adopting the updated standard would reduce trade disruptions and generate benefits across the poultry supply chain, helping stabilize markets and reduce costs for producers, processors and consumers, according to APHIS's economic analysis.

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