[Federal Register: August 20, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 161)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 50053-50054]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20au03-3]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
9 CFR Part 92
[Docket No. 01-036-2]
Requirements for Recognizing the Animal Health Status of Foreign
Regions
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are amending the regulations that set out our procedures
for recognizing the animal health status of regions. Specifically, we
are requiring regions that have been granted status
[[Page 50054]]
under the regulations to provide information, or allow us to access
information, to confirm the regions' animal health status when we
request it. This action is necessary to help prevent the introduction
of foreign animal diseases into the United States.
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 19, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Gary Colgrove, Director, Sanitary
Trade Issues Team, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS,
4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734 -4356.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The regulations in 9 CFR part 92, ``Importation of Animals and
Animal Products: Procedures for Requesting Recognition of Regions''
(referred to below as the regulations), set out the process by which a
foreign government may request recognition of the animal health status
of a region or approval to export animals or animal products to the
United States based on the risk associated with animals or animal
products from that region. As provided in Sec. 92.2, each request must
include information about the region, including information on the
authority, organization, and infrastructure of the veterinary services
organization of the region; the extent to which movement of animals and
animal products is controlled from regions of higher risk, and the
level of biosecurity for such movements; livestock demographics and
marketing practices in the region; diagnostic laboratory capabilities
in the region; and the region's policies and infrastructure for animal
disease control, i.e., the region's emergency response capacity.
On March 6, 2003, we published a proposed rule in the Federal
Register (68 FR 10667-10668, Docket No. 01-036-1) in which we proposed
to amend the regulations to require regions that have been granted
status under the regulations to provide information, or allow us to
access information, to confirm the regions' animal health status when
we request it.
We solicited comments concerning our proposal for 60 days ending
May 5, 2003. We received four comments by that date. They were from
representatives of domestic livestock producers and a State animal
health agency. All of the commenters supported the proposed rule.
Therefore, for the reasons given in the proposed rule, we are adopting
the proposed rule as a final rule, without change.
Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act
This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866. The rule
has been determined to be not significant for the purposes of Executive
Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been reviewed by the Office of
Management and Budget.
We are amending the regulations that set out our procedures for
recognizing the animal health status of regions. Specifically, we are
requiring regions that have been granted status under the regulations
to provide information, or allow us to access information, to confirm
the regions' animal health status when we request to do so. This action
is necessary to help prevent the introduction of foreign animal
diseases into the United States. We do not expect that this action will
result in any economic effects, positive or negative.
Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action will
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities.
Executive Order 12988
This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988,
Civil Justice Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State and local laws
and regulations that are inconsistent with this rule; (2) has no
retroactive effect; and (3) does not require administrative proceedings
before parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3501 et seq.), the information collection or recordkeeping requirements
included in this rule have been approved by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) under OMB control number 0579-0219.
Government Paperwork Elimination Act Compliance
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is committed to
compliance with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), which
requires Government agencies in general to provide the public the
option of submitting information or transacting business electronically
to the maximum extent possible. For information pertinent to GPEA
compliance related to this rule, please contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles,
APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.
List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 92
Animal diseases, Imports, Livestock, Poultry and poultry products,
Region, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
0
Accordingly, we are amending 9 CFR part 92 as follows:
PART 92--IMPORTATION OF ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS: PROCEDURES FOR
REQUESTING RECOGNITION OF REGIONS
0
1. The authority citation for part 92 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622 and 8301-8317; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a;
31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.
0
2. Sec. 92.2 is amended by redesignating paragraph (a)(1) as paragraph
(a) and adding a new paragraph (g) and an OMB citation at the end of
the section to read as follows:
Sec. 92.2 Application for recognition of the animal health status of
a region.
* * * * *
(g) If a region is granted animal health status under the
provisions of this section, that region may be required to submit
additional information pertaining to animal health status or allow
APHIS to conduct additional information collection activities in order
for that region to maintain its animal health status.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 0579-0219)
Done in Washington, DC this 15th day of August 2003.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-21305 Filed 8-19-03; 8:45 am]
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