APHIS Reopens Comment Period for Proposed Rule to Create a BSE Minimal Risk Category for Canada, Etc
The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has reopened until April 7, 2004, the comment period for a proposed rule to amend its regulations regarding the importation of animals and animal products to recognize, and add Canada to, a category of regions that present a minimal risk of introducing bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) into the U.S. via live ruminants and ruminant products.
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This proposed rule would allow the importation of certain live ruminants and ruminant products and byproducts from such BSE minimal risk regions under certain conditions. (See ITT's Online Archives or 11/07/04 news, 03110725, for Part II of BP's summary of this proposed rule.)
Comment Period Reopened In Light of Recent BSE Case
APHIS explains that it is reopening the comment period in order to give interested persons an opportunity to comment on this proposed rule in light of the December 2003 detection of a case of BSE in a cow that had been imported from Canada.
APHIS has prepared an explanatory document that addresses the effect of the detection of an imported BSE-infected cow on the analysis of risk it conducted for this proposed rule. This document concludes that it is highly unlikely that BSE would be introduced from Canada under the requirements contained in the proposed rule. In addition, a BSE case in a second cow from Canada would not alter this risk estimate.
APHIS Invites Comments on Importation of Beef from Cattle 30 Months or Older
In its proposed rule, APHIS would have required beef imported from BSE minimal risk regions to be derived from cattle less than 30 months of age. However, the U.S. does not restrict the slaughter of cattle in the U.S. based on age, but rather has established certain Specified Risk Materials (SRMs) for cattle 30 months of age or older that are banned from the human food supply (in addition to SRMs for cattle of all ages).
APHIS believes it is not necessary to require that beef imported from BSE minimal risk regions be derived only from cattle less than 30 months of age, provided measures equivalent to those in the U.S. are in place, etc. With regard to Canada, APHIS believes such measures are currently being taken.
Therefore, APHIS is seeking comments on changing the proposed rule to allow the importation of such meat from cattle 30 months of age or older.
(With regard to the importation of live animals from BSE minimal-risk regions. APHIS is currently evaluating the appropriate approach regarding such animals and intends to address this issue in a supplemental rulemaking proposal in the Federal Register.)
- written comments must be submitted on or before April 7, 2004.
APHIS Contact - Karen James-Preston (301) 734-4356
APHIS Explanatory Note on Risk Analysis (February 2004) available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse/bse_explannote.pdf
APHIS Press Release on Comment Period Reopening (dated 03/04/04) available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/news/2004/03/commentbse_vs.html
APHIS Notice on Comment Period Reopening (D/N 03-080-2, FR Pub 03/08/04) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-5265.pdf
APHIS Proposed Rule (D/N 03-080-1, FR Pub 11/04/03) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/pdf/03-27611.pdf