USDA Sets Quarterly Reviews for New World Screwworm Playbook
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is establishing a quarterly review cycle for its New World screwworm response playbook, creating a recurring process for state officials, producers, veterinarians and other partners to recommend changes to federal guidance.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced the roadmap on August 26, 2026. The first virtual stakeholder meeting is scheduled for September 9, followed by a comment-review period from September 21 through October 4.
The immediate change is administrative and planning-focused. It is not a new outbreak declaration, nationwide quarantine or revision to confirmed U.S. detection totals. It also does not replace USDA systems for tracking detections, reporting suspected cases or setting livestock-import restrictions.
What USDA is reviewing
APHIS said it will use quarterly meetings and comment cycles to assess the New World Screwworm Response Playbook and related supplemental guidance. The agency will synthesize stakeholder feedback and update the documents as needed; it has not specified what future revisions will contain.
APHIS describes the playbook as a living, science-based resource for responders across the United States. It addresses federal, state, tribal and local coordination; prevention of spread; treatment and management of infested animals; fly surveillance and control; continuity of business; and information sharing.
The guidance is intended to support more than federal animal-health officials. State and tribal agencies may use it when planning investigations or coordinating field operations. Producers and veterinarians may see future guidance changes involving animal movement, treatment, surveillance or reporting. Wildlife-related response planning and continuity-of-business measures are also among the areas covered by the playbook.
A living document, separate from case tracking
APHIS released an updated playbook in April after gathering input from state animal-health officials, federal partners, livestock and wildlife groups, tribal representatives and veterinary organizations. The agency said that feedback helped clarify agency roles, animal-movement requirements, terminology, treatment and prevention measures, and wildlife surveillance and management.
That planning document should be read separately from USDA’s current-status resources. The agency’s screwworm status page provides links to confirmed-detection information, suspected-case reporting procedures and animal-health rules governing imports and exports. Those tools answer different questions: where detections have been confirmed, how concerns should be reported and what movement or trade requirements apply.
USDA also reopened the Douglas, Arizona, port to cattle imports from Mexico on August 24 under overlapping safeguards and a jointly agreed import protocol. APHIS describes that reopening as the first step in a phased process. Decisions involving the Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico, ports remain contingent on risk assessments, post-opening observations and Mexico’s progress on specified action-plan milestones. Those border decisions are separate from the quarterly playbook review.
What happens next
Stakeholders may work through agriculture industry associations or submit comments directly to FAD.PReP.Comments@usda.gov. APHIS said comments received after each meeting will be reviewed and synthesized before the playbook and associated policy or guidance documents are updated as needed.
The schedule announced through fiscal year 2027 is:
- FY26, fourth quarter: virtual meeting September 9, 2026; comment review September 21–October 4, 2026.
- FY27, first quarter: meeting during the week of December 1, 2026; comment review December 14–20, 2026.
- FY27, second quarter: meeting during the week of March 8, 2027; comment review March 22–28, 2027.
- FY27, third quarter: meeting during the week of June 7, 2027; comment review June 21–27, 2027.
- FY27, fourth quarter: meeting during the week of September 6, 2027; comment review September 20–26, 2027.
For producers, veterinarians and animal-health officials, the practical takeaway is to watch for the September 9 meeting, the September 21–October 4 comment period, updated supplemental materials and any published revisions to the playbook. Suspected cases and current trade or quarantine questions should continue to be directed to USDA APHIS and state animal-health authorities.
Sources
- USDA APHIS quarterly-review roadmap
- USDA APHIS updated response playbook
- Associated Press reporting on cattle-trade reopening
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