USDA Extends Rules to Battle Wasting Disease in Farmed Deer Herds
Published Date: 1/23/2026
Notice
Summary
The USDA is updating and extending its paperwork rules to help control chronic wasting disease in farmed deer and elk herds. This affects farmers and businesses that raise these animals, asking them to keep sharing important info to keep herds healthy. Comments on these changes are open until March 24, 2026, with no new fees involved—just smarter tracking to fight this disease.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
3-year extension of CWD paperwork
USDA/APHIS is requesting OMB approval to continue collecting information for the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Herd Certification Program for an additional 3 years. The collection is estimated to average 3.24 hours per response, with about 1,588 respondents, 32 responses per respondent, 50,156 total annual responses, and 162,510 total annual burden hours.
Participation requires ID, testing, movement rules
If you choose to participate in the voluntary CWD Herd Certification Program, you must follow program requirements for animal identification, testing, herd management, and movement of animals into and from herds (regulations are in 9 CFR part 55 and part 81).
No new fees; comment deadline set
APHIS states there are no new fees associated with this revised information collection, and it will accept public comments on the request through March 24, 2026.
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