WASHINGTON — As promised in Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ announcement last month regarding the US Department of Agriculture’s USDA) $1 billion plan to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), the agency is expanding biosecurity assessments and audits for commercial poultry processing operations.

The Wildlife Biosecurity Assessments and the Biosecurity Incentives-Focused Assessments programs, both led by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), will be available to all commercial poultry producers not affected by HPAI.

Through Wildlife Biosecurity Assessments, APHIS Wildlife Services will conduct on-farm assessments at facilities and provide recommendations for facility repairs and wildlife management techniques. The assessments will include a series of regular engagements, including wildlife hazard identification surveys, wildlife abundance surveys and wildlife management.

Meanwhile, the Biosecurity Incentives-Focused Assessments program will deploy APHIS Veterinary Services to review producers’ biosecurity plans as a preventative measure. Only facilities outside of HPAI control areas will take part in this program to prevent disease introduction.

APHIS noted it will prioritize assessments at commercial egg-laying facilities in the highest egg-producing states as part of its commitment to lowering US egg prices.

Furthermore, as outlined in the agency’s interim final rule on indemnity requirements, to be eligible for indemnity for restocked poultry, producers that had a flock positive for HPAI must pass an audit prior to restocking. Producers must pass another audit if they wish to move poultry into a designated buffer zone to be eligible for any birds that moved onto the premises.

USDA said it would share up to 75% of the costs to fix the highest-risk biosecurity concerns identified by the assessments and audits.

These biosecurity measures are a part of Rollins’ five-pronged approach to controlling HPAI. To enact these efforts, the USDA has allotted $500 million.

To provide more information about the assessment process, APHIS is holding a webinar on March 20 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. EDT. For more information and to register, click here.

Last week, APHIS announced a 30-day extension of the comment period for its interim final rule. Comments will now be accepted through April 14.