2016-16816: Importation of Sheep, Goats, and Certain Other Ruminants

Summary

We are proposing to amend the regulations that govern the importation of animals and animal products to revise the conditions for the importation of live sheep, goats, and certain other non-bovine ruminants, and products derived from sheep and goats, with regard to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and scrapie. We are proposing to remove BSE- related import restrictions on sheep and goats and most of their products, and to add import restrictions related to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies for certain wild, zoological, or other non- bovine ruminant species. The conditions we are proposing for the importation of specified commodities are based on internationally accepted scientific literature and will in general align our regulations with guidelines set out in the World Organization for Animal Health's Terrestrial Animal Health Code.

The agency’s own summary, as published.

What this changes

Amends 5 parts of the Code of Federal Regulations — the standing rules this notice rewrites.

• 9 CFR 93 Importation of Certain Animals, Birds, Fish, and Poultry, and Certain Animal, Bird, and Poultry Products; Requirements for Means of Conveyance and Shipping Containers
• 9 CFR 94 Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Newcastle Disease, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, African Swine Fever, Classical Swine Fever, Swine Vesicular Disease, and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy: Prohibited and Restricted Importations
• 9 CFR 95 Sanitary Control of Animal Byproducts (Except Casings), and Hay and Straw, Offered for Entry into the United States
• 9 CFR 96 Restriction of Importations of Foreign Animal Casings Offered for Entry into the United States
• 9 CFR 98 Importation of Certain Animal Embryos and Animal Semen