USDA proposes foot-and-mouth disease indemnity regulation

WASHINGTON – The USDA proposed to amend its regulations to give the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service authority to pay 100 percent of the costs for purchase, destruction and disposition of animals should they become affected with foot-and-mouth disease.

The amended indemnity authority would also pay for materials contaminated with the disease and cleaning and disinfection of affected premises.

The service is also proposing amendments to provisions regarding the value of animals and materials (hay, farm equipment, barns and other structures, etc.).

The United States has had no cases of foot-and-mouth disease since 1929. However, due to the outbreaks last year in the United Kingdom and other countries, USDA conducted an internal review of current regulations to determine if updates were needed. This proposal is a result of that review.