USDA Invites Feedback on Exporting Healthy Aquatic Animals
Published Date: 2/23/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Agriculture wants your feedback on a plan to approve labs that test aquatic animals for export health certificates. This helps keep animal diseases in check and supports U.S. businesses selling animals worldwide. Comments are open until March 25, 2026, so don’t miss your chance to weigh in!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Voluntary lab approval enables exports
If you are a U.S. aquaculture producer or exporter, APHIS offers voluntary approval for State, university, or private laboratories to run disease tests that some importing countries require. Without APHIS-approved labs, U.S. producers would be prevented from exporting aquaculture animals and products to those countries. The information collection is identified as OMB Control Number 0579-0429 and comments are due by March 25, 2026.
Paperwork and recordkeeping burden disclosed
The notice lists the information collections required to approve laboratories, including intent notifications, applications, protocol statements, diagnostic report samples, quality assurance/control plans, change notices, and recordkeeping. The agency estimates 9 respondents and a total burden of 1,806 hours for these activities.
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Key Dates
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