APHIS Final Rule Establishes Standards for Privately Owned Quarantine Facilities for Imported Ruminants
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective June 23, 2006, which amends 9 CFR Part 93 for the importation of ruminants into the U.S. in order to establish standards for privately owned quarantine facilities.
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APHIS states that its regulations currently authorize the establishment of privately operated quarantined facilities for ruminants, which are subject to approval and oversight by APHIS, but do not provide specific standards for the approval, operation, and oversight of such facilities, with the exception of privately owned quarantine facilities for sheep or goats.
Based on recent interest in establishing such facilities for cattle, APHIS is adding standards for privately owned quarantine facilities covering all ruminants to ensure that any facilities that may be approved for this purpose operate in a manner that protects the health of the U.S. livestock population.
(According to APHIS, ruminants include all animals that chew the cud, such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, deer, antelopes, camels, llamas, and giraffes.)
New Regulatory Provision Details Standard
APHIS is adding a new paragraph (d) to 9 CFR 93.412; entitled "Standards for Privately Owned Quarantine Facilities for Ruminants," which is divided into seven sections covering: APHIS approval of facilities, compliance agreement requirements, physical plant requirements, operating procedures, environmental quality, other laws, and variances to certain existing requirements.
Among other changes from the proposed rule, APHIS states that it is allowing temporary inspection facilities to be temporary metal panel structures alongside the transportation vessels, which can be assembled and disassembled as needed. (As proposed, such facilities would have been required to be permanent, etc.)
Miscellaneous, Nonsubstantive Changes
In addition, APHIS states that this final rule contains certain nonsubstantive, miscellaneous changes, including amendments to reflect that the Office of International Epizooties (OIE) is now named the World Organization for Animal Health, etc.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 09/05/03 news, 03090599 4, for BP summary of APHIS' proposed rule.)
APHIS contact: Dr. Arnaldo Vaquer (301) 734-3277
APHIS Final Rule (D/N 00-022-2, FR Pub 05/24/06) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/06-4811.pdf