[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 203 (Tuesday, October 21, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54574-54575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27812]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
9 CFR Part 94
[Docket No. 97-040-2]
Change in Disease Status of Spain Because of Hog Cholera
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Affirmation of interim rule as final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim
rule that amended the regulations by removing Spain from the list of
countries considered to be free from hog cholera. We took this action
based on reports we received from Spain's Ministry of Agriculture that
an outbreak of hog cholera had occurred in Spain. As a result of this
action, there are additional restrictions on the importation of pork
and pork products into the United States from Spain, and the
importation of swine from Spain is prohibited.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The interim rule was effective on April 18, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. John Cougill, Staff Veterinarian,
Products Program, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS,
suite 3B05, 4700 River Road Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231, (301)
734-3399; or e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In an interim rule effective on April 18, 1997, and published in
the Federal Register on May 27, 1997 (62 FR 28619-28620, Docket No. 97-
040-1), we amended the regulations in Secs. 94.9(a) and 94.10(a) by
removing Spain from the list of countries considered to be free from
hog cholera.
Comments on the interim rule were required to be received on or
before July 28, 1997. We did not receive any comments. The facts
presented in the interim rule still provide a basis for the rule.
This action also affirms the information contained in the interim
rule concerning Executive Orders 12866 and 12988, and the Paperwork
Reduction Act.
Further, for this action, the Office of Management and Budget has
waived the review process required by Executive Order 12866.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
This rule affirms an interim rule that amended the regulations by
removing Spain from the list of countries that are considered to be
free of hog cholera. We took this action based on reports we received
from Spain's Ministry of Agriculture that an outbreak of hog cholera
had occurred in Spain. As a result of this action, there are additional
restrictions on the importation of pork and pork products into the
United States from Spain, and the importation of swine from Spain is
prohibited.
The United States produced 17,697 million pounds of pork with a
gross income of $10 billion in 1995. Pork imports in 1995 were
approximately 593 million pounds, while exports were 582 million
pounds. Prior to the interim rule, the United States did not import any
live swine from Spain. In 1995, the United States imported 57,320
pounds of pork from Spain and exported 37,480 pounds to Spain. This is
equivalent to 0.01 percent and 0.006 percent of the total U.S. imports
and exports of pork, respectively. As these proportions show,
[[Page 54575]]
U.S. pork trade with Spain has been very small. The interim rule could
result in less pork being imported into the United States from Spain.
Among the potential entities that may be affected by the interim
rule are U.S. producers, consumers, and importers. Since the amount of
pork imported from Spain has been so small compared to the amount
produced domestically and total pork imports, no impact on consumer and
producer prices is expected. Also, there should be little or no impact
on importers. Because the amount of pork imported from Spain has been
so small, importers should easily find replacements from other approved
sources.
Further, if pork imports from Spain were not restricted and hog
cholera was introduced into the United States from Spain, the economic
impact on consumers, tax payers, and exporters could be great.
Consumers would be affected by increased costs and reduced availability
of pork. The cost to tax payers to eradicate or contain the disease
would be considerable. Exporters would likely face restrictions on
exporting pork to traditional foreign markets. Affected producers would
face increased production costs. The benefits of avoiding the potential
cost of a disease outbreak outweighs by far the minimal impact of this
rule on consumers, producers, and importers of pork products.
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.
List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 94
Animal diseases, Imports, Livestock, Meat and meat products, Milk,
Poultry and poultry products, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
PART 94--RINDERPEST, FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE, FOWL PEST (FOWL
PLAQUE), EXOTIC NEWCASTLE DISEASE, AFRICAN SWINE FEVER, HOG
CHOLERA, AND BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY: PROHIBITED AND
RESTRICTED IMPORTATIONS
Accordingly, we are adopting as a final rule, without change, the
interim rule that amended 9 CFR 94 and that was published at 62 FR
28619-28620 on May 27, 1997.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 147a, 150ee, 161, 162, and 450; 19 U.S.C.
1306; 21 U.S.C. 111, 114a, 134a, 134b, 134c, 134f, 136, and 136a; 31
U.S.C. 9701; 42 U.S.C. 4331 and 4332; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and
371.2(d).
Done in Washington, DC, this 15th day of October 1997.
Craig A. Reed,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 97-27812 Filed 10-20-97; 8:45 am]
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