Federal program would certify pig sites in participating states

The Agriculture Secretary would run a pig health certification program with states and the pig industry. The program would cover pig breeding, raising, sales, and slaughter sites in states that join. The Secretary could include other sites. Sites must meet disease prevention, animal tracking, and monitoring standards for African swine fever, classical swine fever, and other diseases the Secretary selects. An advisory committee would study pig health problems and recommend how to run the program.

The Agriculture Secretary would finalize the proposed pig health program rule. The rule would guide the pig health certification program. The Secretary must consider comments from the public comment period announced on February 28, 2025. The Secretary must finish the rule no later than one year after the bill becomes law.

Congress could provide $4.5 million a year for the program through later spending laws. The money could support the pig health program and its advisory committee. A later spending law would be needed to provide the money. The committee's costs would not count toward general Agriculture Department advisory committee spending caps unless a spending law names this section and includes the committee. The annual funding authority would cover fiscal years 2027 through 2031. Any money provided would remain available until spent.