U.S. CDC AMENDS DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN QUARANTINE REGULATIONS
March 16, 2017
On January 19, 2017, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a final rule that amends its existing domestic and foreign quarantine regulations “to best protect the public health of the United States” from communicable diseases. Domestically, the amendment adds a mandatory requirement that commercial passenger flights report deaths or illnesses directly to the CDC. It also includes a provision that requires individuals traveling under a federal quarantine, isolation, or conditional release order to apply for and secure a travel permit before flying. Finally, the rule clarifies when an individual who is moving between U.S. states is “reasonably believed to be infected” with a quarantinable communicable disease in a “qualifying stage.” These determinations are made when the CDC considers the need to apprehend or examine an individual for potential infection with a quarantinable communicable disease.
On the international side, the final rule includes new regulatory authority for the CDC Director to (1) prohibit the importation of animals, articles or products from designated foreign countries that pose a threat to public health; and (2) designate the foreign countries or places and the periods of time or conditions under which the introduction of imports into the U.S. should be suspended.
The rule took effect on February 21, 2017.?A copy of the Final Rule is available at: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=CDC-2016-0068-15586
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6622) or Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6665).
Share This Post
Authors
