APHIS' Final Rule Establishes BSE Minimal Risk Regions for Cattle, Etc. (Canada to Be Eligible to Export to U.S.)

APHIS' final rule also establishes conditions for the importation of certain live ruminants and ruminant products and byproducts from such regions.

This is Part II of a two-part summary on this final rule, and provides highlights from APHIS' Fact Sheet on this final rule. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/05/05 news, 05010535, for Part I.)

Minimal Risk Regions Include Those in Which BSE Has Been Diagnosed, Etc.

According to APHIS' Fact Sheet, a minimal-risk region could include:

a region in which BSE-infected animals have been diagnosed, but sufficient regulatory measures have been put in place that would make the introduction of BSE into the U.S. unlikely; or

a region that has taken effective regulatory measures to prevent BSE, has never detected the disease, but cannot be considered BSE free.

Commodities Eligible for Import from Canada as of March 7, 2005

The Fact Sheet states that certain live ruminants and ruminant products and byproducts are eligible for importation from Canada as of March 7, 2005 under specified conditions. The following commodities from Canada will be allowed to be imported as long as they meet applicable criteria specified in the regulations:

bovines, for feeding or immediate slaughter, as long as they are slaughtered at less than 30 months;

sheep and goats (ovines and caprines), for feeding or immediate slaughter, as long as they are slaughtered at less than 12 months of age;

meat from bovines, ovines, caprines and cervids (deer, elk, caribou, moose, and reindeer); and

certain other products and byproducts, including bovine livers and tongues, gelatin, and tallow.

APHIS specifies that there will be no import restrictions because of BSE for live cervids (e.g., deer, elk) or camelids (i.e., llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicunas) from a BSE-minimal risk region.

Additional requirements for live Canadian feeder cattle, sheep, & goats.According to the Fact Sheet, this final rule provides the following additional requirements for (i) live Canadian feeder cattle designed to ensure they are slaughtered before they reach 30 months of age, and (ii) live Canadian sheep and goats designed to ensure they are slaughtered before they reach 12 months of age:

feeder cattle, sheep, and goats must be permanently marked with a brand to identify the BSE minimal-risk region of origin before entering the U.S.

Feeder cattle exported from Canada will be branded with "C/N," and sheep and goats exported from Canada will be branded with a "C;"

cattle, sheep, and goats must be individually identified with an ear tag before entering the U.S. This ear tag allows the animal to be traced back to the premises of origin (birth herd, for cattle);

information must be included on the cattle's, sheep's, and goat's animal health certification, relating to animal identification, origin, destination, and responsible parties;

cattle, sheep, and goats must be moved to feedlots in sealed containers and cannot go to more than one feedlot; and

specified risk materials (SRMs) will be removed from Canadian cattle slaughtered in the U.S. in accordance with Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulations.

Other Countries/Regions May Be Considered in the Future

In its Fact Sheet, APHIS states that other countries or regions that meet the minimal-risk conditions will be considered in the future. The designation of any future countries as minimal-risk regions will be accomplished through rulemaking procedures following completion of an appropriate risk assessment.

APHIS final rule (D/N 03-080-3, FR Pub 01/04/05) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/04-28593.pdf

APHIS Fact Sheet (dated December 2004) available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/fsheet_faq_notice/fs_ahbse_minrisk.pdf