USDA reopens comment period on Zoetis plan to make FMD vaccine in the U.S.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is reopening a comment period to evaluate a petition from Zoetis to manufacture foot-and-mouth disease vaccine in the United States.

It’s illegal to introduce live FMD virus into the country, but Zoetis argues that since the strain in this vaccine is non-infectious, non-transmissible and incapable of causing FMD, it shouldn’t be considered live.

The agency is reopening the comment period now that additional scientific information is available to support the determination that the strain Zoetis plans to use poses no risk to animals.

FMD is a severe and highly contagious viral disease that affects cows, pigs, sheep, goats, deer and other animals with divided hooves. It was eradicated from the United States in 1929, but if it were to infect the U.S. livestock industry, it would cause devastating economic effects.

Public comments on Zoetis’ proposal can be submitted online to APHIS through January 4.