What are the EPA roles in poultry facility and equipment decontamination?

Answer:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has several primary roles and responsibilities in the decontamination of poultry facilities and related farm equipment.

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs is responsible for registering (licensing) disinfectants and other pesticides for distribution, sale, and use in the United States. With regard to avian influenza, EPA has registered approximately 100 disinfectant products for poultry farmers to use to kill avian influenza A virus (the virus that includes highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus and other highly pathogenic strains) in poultry houses, on farm premises, on farm equipment, and in Federally-inspected meat and poultry processing plants. Where certain emergency conditions exist, EPA also can authorize the use of additional disinfectants that have not been through the FIFRA registration process. EPA also provides technical information about the use of these disinfectants to help other government entities (U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Department of the Interior, States, and Tribes), industry, and poultry producers make informed decisions about disinfection.

EPA’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM), which is responsible for reacting to national emergencies in accordance with the National Response Plan, is responsible for coordinating any technical/logistical support as needed to assist in responses to a highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza outbreak. For example, if USDA requests EPA assistance, OEM’s On–Scene Coordinators may be deployed to assist USDA in support of the decontamination of facilities and carcass disposal effort.

EPA’s National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC) is responsible for conducting research on issues related to the characteristics of avian influenza viruses (including highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza) and decontamination of surfaces. The NHSRC also conducts research on disposal issues related to avian influenza.

Related Federal Planning Roles Questions

• What is the role of the Defense Department in dealing with avian influenza?
• What is the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) responsibility in investigating and handling avian influenza issues?
• Which bureaus in the Department of the Interior (DOI) have roles in efforts related to avian influenza?
• What is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s role in granting permits for research and control activities, and for sampling for the virus in wild birds?
• What are EPA roles in a pandemic?
• Is EPA working with other government agencies to address pandemic issues?
• What Federal agencies have a role in poultry carcass disposal?
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Last Updated: 05/23/2007