USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking public comment on developing an information request from labs that test animals for COVID-19.
“To better meet its reporting requirements about emerging diseases to the OIE [World Organization for Animal Health], APHIS is interested in collecting information as to the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in animals,” APHIS said in a Federal Register notice. “To accomplish this, APHIS will distribute a request for information to U.S. laboratories engaged in the testing of animals for SARS-CoV-2, develop a questionnaire in NAHRS [National Animal Health Reporting System], and request that state animal health officials and U.S. laboratories provide SARS-CoV-2 animal testing data on a monthly basis.”
The agency said it estimates the information collection will average 1.72 hours per response or a total of 1,626 hours. APHIS said the information gathered will be included in a request to approve the effort which will be made to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).