[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 12 (Friday, January 17, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2550-2551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1224]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 78

[Docket No. 96-033-2]


Official Brucellosis Tests

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are amending the brucellosis regulations to add the rapid 
automated presumptive test to the list of official tests for 
determining the brucellosis disease status of test-eligible cattle, 
bison, and swine. We are taking this action because the rapid automated 
presumptive test has been shown to provide an accurate, automated, and 
cost-effective means of determining the brucellosis status of test 
eligible cattle, bison, and swine. Adding the rapid automated 
presumptive test to the list of official tests for brucellosis in 
cattle, bison, and swine will help to prevent the spread of brucellosis 
by making available an additional tool for its diagnosis in those 
animals.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 18, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. M.J. Gilsdorf, National 
Brucellosis Epidemiologist, Brucellosis Eradication Staff, VS, APHIS, 
4700 River Road Unit 36, Riverdale, MD 20737-1228, (301) 734-7708; or 
E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Brucellosis is a contagious disease affecting animals and humans, 
caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. In its principal animal 
hosts--cattle, bison, and swine--brucellosis is characterized by 
abortion and impaired fertility. The regulations in 9 CFR part 78 
(referred to below as the regulations) govern the interstate movement 
of cattle, bison, and swine in order to help prevent the spread of 
brucellosis.
    Official brucellosis tests are used to determine the brucellosis 
disease status of cattle, bison, and swine. The regulations stipulate 
that certain cattle, bison, and swine must, among other requirements, 
test negative to an official brucellosis test prior to interstate 
movement. Official brucellosis tests are also used to determine 
eligibility for

[[Page 2551]]

indemnity payments for animals destroyed because of brucellosis. In 
Sec. 78.1 of the regulations, the definition of official test lists 
those tests that have been designated as official tests for determining 
the brucellosis disease status of cattle, bison, and swine.
    In a proposed rule published in the Federal Register on September 
13, 1996 (61 FR 48430-48431, Docket No. 96-033-1), we proposed to amend 
Sec. 78.1 of the regulations to add the rapid automated presumptive 
(RAP) test as an official test.
    We solicited comments concerning our proposed rule for 60 days 
ending November 12, 1996. We received one comment by that date. The 
comment we received was from a State cattlemen's association and 
supported the proposed rule change.
    Therefore, based on the rationale set forth in the proposed rule, 
we are adopting the provisions of the proposal as a final rule without 
change.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866. For this 
action, the Office of Management and Budget has waived its review 
process required by Executive Order 12866.
    This rule amends the brucellosis regulations by adding the RAP test 
to the list of official tests for determining the brucellosis disease 
status of test-eligible cattle, bison, and swine. The RAP test has been 
shown to provide an accurate, automated, and cost-effective means of 
determining the brucellosis status of test eligible cattle, bison, and 
swine. We believe that adding the RAP test to the list of official 
tests for brucellosis in cattle, bison, and swine will help to prevent 
the spread of brucellosis by making available a highly efficient tool 
for its diagnosis in those animals.
    Adding the RAP test as an official test is not expected to affect 
the market price of the animals tested. Although more rapid testing 
will likely allow faster marketing, the effect on owners of cattle, 
bison, and swine will not be significant. Use of the RAP test is 
optional, and other presumptive official tests remain available for use 
by State and Federal animal health officials. The cost of the RAP test 
is equal to or lower than other presumptive official tests in use. 
Therefore, if those States currently using higher-cost presumptive 
tests switch over to the RAP test, the total testing costs for the 
Cooperative State/Federal Brucellosis Eradication Program will be 
reduced.
    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 12372

    This program/activity is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance under No. 10.025 and is subject to Executive Order 12372, 
which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local 
officials. (See 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V.)

Executive Order 12988

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State and local laws and 
regulations that are in conflict 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

    This rule contains no new information collection or recordkeeping 
requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.).

List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 78

    Animal diseases, Bison, Cattle, Hogs, Quarantine, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

    Accordingly, 9 CFR part 78 is amended as follows:

PART 78--BRUCELLOSIS

    1. The authority citation for part 78 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 111-114a-1, 114g, 115, 117, 120, 121, 123-
126, 134b, and 134f; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(d).

    2. In Sec. 78.1, in the definition of official test, paragraph 
(a)(12) is redesignated as paragraph (a)(13) and new paragraphs (a)(12) 
and (b)(4) are added to read as set forth below.


Sec. 78.1  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Official test.
    (a) * * *
    (12) Rapid Automated Presumptive (RAP) test. An automated serologic 
test to detect the presence of Brucella antibodies in test-eligible 
cattle and bison. RAP test results are interpreted as either positive 
or negative; the results are interpreted and reported by a scanning 
autoreader that measures alterations in light transmission through each 
test well and the degree of agglutination present. Cattle and bison 
negative to the RAP test are classified as brucellosis negative; cattle 
and bison positive to the RAP test shall be subjected to other official 
tests to determine their brucellosis disease classification.
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (4) Rapid Automated Presumptive (RAP) test. An automated serologic 
test to detect the presence of Brucella antibodies in test-eligible 
swine. RAP test results are interpreted as either positive or negative; 
the results are interpreted and reported by a scanning autoreader that 
measures agglutination based on alterations in light transmission 
through each test well. Swine negative to the RAP test are classified 
as brucellosis negative; swine positive to the RAP test shall be 
subjected to other official tests to determine their brucellosis 
disease classification.
* * * * *
    Done in Washington, DC, this 13th day of January 1997.
Terry L. Medley,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 97-1224 Filed 1-16-97; 8:45 am]
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