On October 16, 2017, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) declared Japan free of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and Newcastle disease.

APHIS maintains a list of regions where HPAI is believed to exist, and another list of regions where Newcastle disease is believed not to exist. In order to prevent the introduction of animal diseases into the US and performs risk evaluations of those regions. As of October 16, 2017, APHIS is “recognizing Japan as being free of HPAI and Newcastle disease and will add Japan to the Web-based list of regions in which Newcastle disease is not considered to exist and remove Japan from the web-based list of regions in which HPAI is considered to exist.”

The Federal Register notice may be found here:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/10/16/2017-22382/notice-of-determination-of-the-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-and-newcastle-disease-status-of

The List of APHIS-Recognized Animal Health Statuses of Regions can be found here:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-and-animal-product-import-information/ct_animal_disease_status