Florida Agriculture Commissioner Enacts Emergency Rule to Combat New World Screwworm Threat
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has issued an emergency rule to address the threat posed by the New World Screwworm, a pest that can severely impact the agricultural industry. The rule imposes temporary restrictions on the importation of animals from five counties in South Texas, where recent detections of the screwworm have been reported within 125 miles of the border. These restrictions require all animals imported into Florida from these counties to undergo increased veterinary screenings and treatments. The affected Texas counties include Zapata, Jim Hogg, Starr, Hidalgo, Webb, and Brooks. The emergency rule mandates that all warm-blooded animals from these areas must have an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI), confirming they are free from screwworm larvae infestation. The OCVI is valid for only seven days from the date of inspection. 
