Importation of Beef From Uruguay

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 9 CFR Part 94 [Docket No. 02-109-3] AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: We are amending the regulations governing the importation of certain animals, meat, and other animal products to allow, under certain conditions, the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from Uruguay. Based on the evidence presented in a recent risk assessment, we believe that fresh (chilled or frozen) beef can be safely imported from Uruguay provided certain conditions are met. This action will provide for the importation of beef from Uruguay into the United States while continuing to protect the United States against the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease. EFFECTIVE DATE: May 29, 2003. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Hatim Gubara, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Regionalization Evaluation Services Staff, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit ( printed page 31941) 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-4356. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred to below as the regulations) prohibit or restrict the importation of certain animals and animal products into the United States to prevent the introduction of various animal diseases, including rinderpest, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), African swine fever, hog cholera, and swine vesicular disease. These are dangerous and destructive communicable diseases of ruminants and swine. Section 94.1 of t…