Change in Disease Status of Italy, Except the Island of Sardinia, Because of African Swine Fever

We are proposing to declare Italy, with the exception of the island of Sardinia, free of African swine fever. This proposed action appears to be appropriate because there have been no confirmed outbreaks of African swine fever in Italy, except on the island Sardinia, since 1983. This proposed action would relieve certain restrictions on the importation into the United States of pork and pork products from all regions of Italy except Sardinia. However, because hog cholera and swine vesicular disease exist in Italy, and because Italy, as a member state of the European Union, has certain trade practices regarding live swine and pork and pork products that are less restrictive than are acceptable to the United States, the importation into the United States of live swine and pork and pork products from Italy would continue to be subject to certain restrictions.