[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 208 (Tuesday, October 28, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56000-56026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28473]



[[Page 55999]]

_______________________________________________________________________

Part IV





Department of Agriculture





_______________________________________________________________________



Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service



_______________________________________________________________________



9 CFR Parts 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, and 130



Importation of Animals and Animal Products; APHIS Policy Regarding 
Importation of Animals and Animal Products; Final Rule and Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 208 / Tuesday, October 28, 1997 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 56000]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Parts 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, and 130

[Docket No. 94-106-9]
RIN 0579-AA71


Importation of Animals and Animal Products

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are establishing procedures for recognizing regions, rather 
than only countries, for the purpose of the importation of animals and 
animal products into the United States. We are also establishing 
procedures by which regions may request permission to export animals 
and animal products to the United States under specified conditions, 
based on the regions' disease status. These changes to the regulations 
are in accordance with international trade agreements entered into by 
the United States. We are also allowing, under certain conditions, the 
unloading and reloading at the port of arrival of meat and other animal 
products otherwise prohibited entry into the United States. This change 
is warranted because it removes unnecessary restrictions on the 
transiting of meat and other animal products through the United States, 
without increasing the likelihood that the meat or other products will 
introduce diseases of livestock or poultry. Additionally, we are 
removing the requirement that cattle from Canada be tested for 
brucellosis before being imported into the United States. This change 
is warranted because the risk that cattle imported from Canada will be 
infected with brucellosis is slight. We are also making other minor 
changes in our requirements for importing animals and animal products 
that will relieve some import restrictions while continuing to protect 
U.S. livestock and poultry from foreign animal diseases.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 28, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Gary Colgrove, Chief Staff 
Veterinarian, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231, (301) 734-8590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), United 
States Department of Agriculture (USDA), has promulgated regulations 
regarding the importation of animals and animal products in order to 
guard against the introduction into the United States of animal 
diseases not currently present or prevalent in this country. These 
regulations are set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 
title 9, chapter 1.
    On April 18, 1996, we published in the Federal Register (61 FR 
16978-17105, Docket No. 94-106-1) a proposed rule to revise the 
regulations in six different parts of 9 CFR, chapter I, to establish 
importation criteria for ruminants and swine, and their products, based 
on the level of disease risk in specified geographical regions.
    We solicited comments concerning our proposal for 90 days ending 
July 17, 1996. During the comment period, several commenters requested 
that we extend the period during which we would accept comments. In 
response to these requests, on July 11, 1996, we published in the 
Federal Register a notice that we would consider comments on the 
proposed rule for an additional 60 days ending September 16, 1996 (61 
FR 36520, Docket No. 94-106-4). During the comment period, we conducted 
four public hearings at which we accepted oral and written comments 
from the public. These public hearings were held in Riverdale, MD; 
Atlanta, GA; Kansas City, MO; and Denver, CO.
    We received 113 comments on the proposed rule on or before 
September 16, 1996. These comments came from representatives of State 
and foreign governments, international economic and political 
organizations, veterinary associations, State departments of 
agriculture, livestock industry associations and other agricultural 
organizations, importing and exporting associations, members of 
academia and the research community, brokerage firms, exhibitors, 
animal welfare organizations, and other members of the public.
    Based on our evaluation of the information submitted by commenters, 
we are making changes to the proposed rule in this final rule. We 
discuss below the issues raised by commenters and the changes we are 
making to the rule as proposed.

What We Proposed

    Broadly speaking, in the proposed rule, we set forth the following 
items regarding the importation of ruminants and swine, and their 
products:
     A list of restricted disease agents, including restricted 
disease vectors;
     Criteria for identifying regions;
     Criteria for classifying regions as to level of risk for 
specific disease agents;
     Procedures for applying for risk classification;
     Risk classifications for individual countries and other 
regions;
     Import conditions applicable to particular commodities 
from particular regions, based on the risk posed by specific diseases; 
and
     Changes in terminology throughout the ruminant and swine 
and ruminant and swine product import regulations to refer to 
``regions'' rather than to countries.
    We proposed to classify all countries of the world into one of six 
categories for each restricted disease agent. The six risk categories 
ranged from Risk Class RN (negligible risk), to Risk Class R1 (slight 
risk), Risk Class R2 (low risk), Risk Class R3 (moderate risk), Risk 
Class R4 (high risk), and Risk Class RU (unknown risk). We used what we 
termed ``qualitative criteria'' to assign risk categories--i.e., we 
examined certain pre-assigned criteria to determine what level of risk 
the importation of ruminants, swine, or their products from a 
particular region would present for a particular disease if no 
restrictions were placed on the importations. We also proposed, as an 
alternative to qualitative risk assessment, to allow potential 
exporting regions to demonstrate by means of a ``quantitative'' risk 
assessment that they should be assigned to a particular risk category 
because of a demonstrated quantitative risk of disease introduction due 
to unrestricted importation from that region.
    Once we proposed to classify all countries of the world for each 
restricted disease agent (although the proposal allowed for regional 
status, in all cases but one we classified only countries, pending 
future requests for specific regions), we set forth the conditions each 
region assigned to a particular risk category would have to meet in 
order to import ruminants, swine, or their products into the United 
States. Under our proposal, all regions assigned to the same risk 
category for a particular disease and commodity would have been subject 
to the same import conditions.

Public Involvement in the Rulemaking Process

    A number of commenters requested that we extend the comment period 
during which comments would be accepted on the proposed rule. As noted 
above, we extended the initial 90-day comment period by 60 days to 
accommodate commenter requests. In addition, we accepted public comment

[[Page 56001]]

at four public hearings held in different areas of the United States. 
Therefore, we believe the public was given adequate time to comment on 
the proposed rule.
    Some commenters recommended that the proposed rule be withdrawn, 
and a revised proposal be published following review and revision in 
consultation with groups outside the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS). Other commenters requested that APHIS hold meetings to 
explain the science that went into the proposal's development. Several 
commenter's recommended that the regulations provide for an open public 
hearing process to allow U.S. producers the opportunity to evaluate how 
APHIS will determine risk levels and the status of foreign animal 
health programs. One commenter recommended that APHIS take into account 
evaluations conducted by other countries, the International Office of 
Epizootics (OIE), and the European Union (EU). We believe that each of 
these requests for more public involvement in the process of 
regionalization and risk assessment is addressed by the changes we are 
making to the final rule, and by the policy we intend to follow 
regarding requests for regionalization. We discuss these rule changes 
and policy in this Supplementary Information below, under the heading 
``APHIS Response to General Concerns.'' General Concerns with APHIS' 
Proposed Approach to Regionalization and Risk Assessment .
    Although the proposal generated significant support from the public 
for the concepts of regionalization and levels of risk, a number of 
commenters expressed concern with the approach we proposed to take to 
implement those concepts.
    The commenters who objected to our proposed approach focused on two 
broad areas: (1) The criteria, procedures, and risk classifications we 
proposed in assigning regions to one of the six risk categories; and 
(2) the conditions regions would have to meet, based on their risk 
classification, in order to export specific commodities. We discuss 
below first the broad objections to our proposed method of classifying 
regions, then the broad objections to the system of conditions that we 
proposed to apply to importations.

Concerns Regarding Risk Classification Approach

    A number of commenters stated that the proposed rule would not be 
``transparent'' to U.S. producers and to our trading partners, and that 
its complexity would cause it to be ineffective. These commenters 
expressed concern that the proposed six categories of risk would be too 
many to administer effectively. Some commenters recommended that APHIS 
simply amend the current import requirements to allow for recognition 
of regions, without incorporating provisions for classification by risk 
level.
    A number of commenters stated that the use of scientific criteria 
is not evident in the proposed risk classifications of various 
countries/regions. Some commenters stated that the proposed regulations 
lacked transparency as to how evaluations of regions based on the 
qualitative risk criteria would be done. Other commenters stated that 
the risk categories did not take into account factors such as mode of 
transmission, economic consequences, zoonosis, and clustering of 
infected populations.
    Some commenters questioned the validity of using arbitrarily 
selected prevalence thresholds for assigning risk categories. Some 
commenters questioned how what they termed ``information uncertainty'' 
would be dealt with.
    A number of commenters stated that application for recognition of 
risk classification would demand an exhaustive process. Other 
commenters expressed concern that outbreaks of disease in restricted 
areas may not be readily regionalized.

Concerns Regarding Proposed Import Conditions Based on Risk 
Classifications

    Some commenters objected to the specificity of the proposed import 
conditions, stating that the World Trade Organization Agreement on the 
Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO-SPS) states 
that a country must accept the sanitary measures imposed by other 
members as equivalent measures, even when they differ from those in the 
importing country, if the exporting member objectively demonstrates to 
the importing member that its actions provide the health protection 
required by the importing country. The commenters stated that the 
proposed import conditions did not adhere to this requirement.
    Some commenters expressed concern that what they viewed as the 
``rigidity'' of the proposed provisions would result in unnecessary 
difficulties in access to the U.S. market for commodities from 
acceptable exporting regions.

APHIS Response to General Concerns

    When we drafted the proposed rule, our overriding goal was to 
create a mechanism for regionalized, risk-based import requirements, 
consistent with the obligations of the WTO-SPS Agreement, that would 
continue to protect livestock in the United States with the level of 
security provided by the current regulations. The principles of the 
WTO-SPS Agreement do require that SPS measures be equitably applied, 
scientifically sound, guided by international standards, transparent, 
taken in recognition that equal levels of risk mitigation can be 
achieved by applying differing sanitary measures, risk-assessment 
based, and applicable on a regional basis. If the principles of the 
WTO-SPS Agreement are fulfilled without discrimination and unjustified 
differences, nations may impose those sanitary requirements necessary 
to protect their livestock, poultry, wildlife, and human populations 
from disease.
    We developed the proposed rule with the multiple aims of providing 
for regionalization, recognizing gradations of risk, and making it 
clear that we would impose identical import restrictions on regions 
with identical risk situations. In order to give potential importers 
advance notice of the type of import conditions they would face if they 
intended to import ruminants or swine, or their products, we included 
in the proposal a tentative risk classification for each country of the 
world for each restricted disease agent. Where current regulations 
existed regarding a particular country, commodity, and disease, our 
general approach was to apply the same import conditions applicable 
under the current regulations. Where the current regulations were 
silent on a restricted disease agent, we either assigned a Risk Class 
RU (unknown risk) classification to the country, or we tentatively 
assigned the country a risk classification based on the literature and 
other information available to us. The public was invited to comment on 
the proposed risk classifications.
    There are many possible ways to categorize the varying levels of 
risk posed by different areas of the world for different diseases. 
Levels of risk can be described by a minimal number of categories, as 
under the current regulations (which recognize, generally, countries as 
``free,'' ``free with restrictions (modified free),'' and ``not 
free''), or by an expansive spectrum of levels that recognizes 
extremely slight differences in risk among areas.
    In developing the proposal, we arrived at the proposed number of 
risk classifications after a review of the continuum of possible risks, 
from negligible risk to unknown risk. One of the options we considered 
was proposing fewer than six risk

[[Page 56002]]

classifications. The six classifications we did propose represented a 
series of increasing risk situations, from what we considered to be a 
negligible risk, to slight risk, low risk, moderate risk, high risk, 
and unknown risk. It would have been possible to broadly divide the 
risk categories into ``low risk'' (to include the proposed 
classifications of negligible risk, slight risk, and low risk), ``high 
risk'' (to include the proposed classifications of moderate risk and 
high risk), and ``unknown risk.'' However, we rejected a three-category 
option, for the following reasons. First, under such an option, the 
``high risk'' classification would not differentiate between a region 
affected with a high prevalence of a disease and a region that is 
affected with the disease but that has a strong control program and a 
low prevalence of infection. Grouping the classifications of moderate 
and high risk together would not have allowed for importations from 
regions that are at a low-prevalence level and are likely to remain so.
    The three proposed risk classifications that could have been 
broadly grouped under ``low risk'' are also distinguishable. Of the 
countries considered ``free'' of certain diseases under the current 
regulations, some are subject to additional restrictions because they 
either supplement their national meat supply with fresh (chilled or 
frozen) meat from countries affected diseases of concern, share a 
common border with such countries, or have trading practices less 
restrictive than what we consider acceptable to prevent the 
introduction of such animal diseases.
    Under the current regulations, APHIS does not recognize a country 
as free of certain diseases if that country carries out vaccination for 
those diseases. However, the OIE International Animal Health Code 
(Code) recognizes a category of ``free with vaccination.'' To achieve 
equivalency with the OIE Code, we proposed a ``free with vaccination'' 
(low risk) classification.
    Therefore, we considered it appropriate to propose classifications 
of regions ``free'' of specific diseases that ranged, in ascending 
order of risk, from (1) those where the disease is deemed never to have 
existed or is deemed to have been eradicated, to (2) those that have 
had a sufficient period of absence of the disease, but present some 
risk due to trade or adjacency with affected regions, to (3) those that 
are recently free of a disease, with some risk of residual infection.
    We considered the number of risk categories we proposed to be small 
enough to be manageable, but broad enough to recognize differences in 
risk discernible on a practical level.
    We continue to believe that the number of risk categories we 
proposed represent a functional approach to characterizing risk. 
However, after evaluating the practical implications of the proposed 
regulations based on information submitted by commenters, we have 
reassessed the benefits of applying the exact same pre-assigned import 
conditions to all regions grouped in the same risk classification. We 
have determined that what is gained by making it clear to a region from 
the outset what it must do to export a particular commodity to the 
United States is outweighed by a loss of flexibility in customizing 
import conditions to the particular situation of each region. Further, 
based on commenter responses to our tentative proposed classification 
of regions, we believe our characterization of the risk level of a 
region and the assigned import conditions can be most appropriately 
determined after the region itself has submitted sufficient data to 
APHIS to allow us to conduct an assessment of the risk presented by 
potential imports from the region.
    Therefore, in this document we are not making final the system we 
proposed that would have applied the same import restrictions to each 
region assigned to one of six risk categories. Instead, as proposed and 
in accordance with the trade agreements entered into by the United 
States, we are amending the current regulations to provide for 
recognition of regions, rather than only countries, for the purpose of 
importation of animals and animal products. In Sec. 92.1 of this rule, 
we provide that a region may consist of any of the following:
     A national entity (country);
     Part of a national entity (zone, county, department, 
municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.);
     Parts of several national entities combined into an area; 
or
     A group of national entities (countries) combined into a 
single area.
    In a companion document we are publishing in this issue of the 
Federal Register (APHIS Docket No. 94-106-8, ``APHIS Policy Regarding 
Importation of Animals and Animal Products''), we give notice of the 
policy we will follow in recognizing regions, assessing the risk 
presented by potential imports from a region, and determining 
appropriate import conditions. Our policy will be to determine on a 
case-by-case basis what import conditions will reduce the risk 
associated with importations from a particular region to a negligible 
level. Because levels of risk exist upon a continuum, instead of pre-
assigning import conditions based on risk classifications, we will, as 
a policy, use risk categories as benchmarks to assist regions in 
evaluating where they can expect to fall on a spectrum of risk levels 
and what general import conditions may apply.

Reformatting of Current Regulations

    In this final rule, we are setting forth the procedures for 
requesting recognition of a region and for requesting that APHIS assess 
the risk presented by a particular commodity from a recognized region 
and establish appropriate import conditions. In order to accommodate 
these procedures in 9 CFR, chapter I, we are moving the provisions of 
current part 92, ``Importation of Certain Animals, Birds, and Poultry, 
and Certain Animal, Bird, and Poultry Products; Requirements for Means 
of Conveyance and Shipping Containers,'' to part 93, and are setting 
forth the procedures for requesting regionalization and risk assessment 
in the vacated part 92. The provisions in current part 93 regarding the 
importation of elephants, hippopotami, rhinoceroses, and tapirs, are 
redesignated as Secs. 93.800 through 93.807.

Procedures for Requesting Recognition of Regions and Risk 
Assessment

    As set forth in Sec. 92.2 of this final rule, we will, in general, 
process applications for regionalization and risk assessment according 
to the following procedures.
    The official of the national government of any country who has the 
authority in that country to request such a change may submit a request 
to the Administrator that all or part of the country be recognized as a 
region, be included within an adjacent previously recognized region, or 
be made part of a region larger than the country.
    Each request for approval to export a particular type of animal or 
animal product commodity to the United States from a foreign region 
must be made to the Administrator, and must include, in English, the 
following information about the region:
    1. The authority, organization, and infrastructure of the 
veterinary services organization in the region.
    2. Disease status--i.e., is the restricted disease agent known to 
exist in the region? If ``yes,'' at what prevalence? If ``no,'' when 
was the most recent diagnosis?
    3. The status of adjacent regions with respect to the agent.
    4. The extent of an active disease control program, if any, if the 
agent is known to exist in the region.

[[Page 56003]]

    5. The vaccination status of the region. When was the last 
vaccination? What is the extent of vaccination if it is currently used, 
and what vaccine is being used?
    6. The degree to which the region is separated from regions of 
higher risk through physical or other barriers.
    7. The extent to which movement of animals and animal products is 
controlled from regions of higher risk, and the level of biosecurity 
regarding such movements.
    8. Livestock demographics and marketing practices in the region.
    9. The type and extent of disease surveillance in the region--e.g., 
is it passive and/or active; what is the quantity and quality of 
sampling and testing?
    10. Diagnostic laboratory capabilities.
    11. Policies and infrastructure for animal disease control in the 
region--i.e., emergency response capacity.
    The above information will be made available to the public prior to 
our initiating any rulemaking action on the request.
    Once we have received from a potential exporting region the 
information necessary to conduct a risk assessment, and have evaluated 
the risk, we will determine under what conditions an importation can be 
safely allowed. If we believe the importation can be safely allowed, we 
will propose in the Federal Register to allow such importations, and 
the conditions under which the importations would be allowed, along 
with a discussion of the basis for our proposal. We will then provide a 
period of time during which the public may comment on our proposal. 
During the comment period, the public will have access, both in hard 
copy and electronically, to the information upon which we based our 
risk analysis, as well as to our methodology in conducting the 
analysis. Once we have reviewed all comments received, we will make a 
final decision about whether and under what conditions the requested 
importation may be allowed. If our decision is to allow the 
importation, we will publish the conditions for importation in a final 
rule in the Federal Register.
    Recent rulemakings have provided examples of how the regulations 
may be amended under the provisions of this final rule. On May 9, 1997, 
we published in the Federal Register a final rule (62 FR 25439-25443, 
Docket No. 94-106-6) to allow, under certain conditions, the 
importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) pork from the State of Sonora, 
Mexico. On June 26, 1997, we published in the Federal Register a final 
rule (62 FR 34385-34394, Docket No. 94-106-5), amended for 
clarification on August 11, 1997 (62 FR 42899-42900, Docket No. 94-106-
7), allowing, under specified conditions, the importation of fresh 
(chilled or frozen) beef from Argentina, where vaccination for foot-
and-mouth disease is still carried out. Although that final rule 
applied to an entire country, it exemplified the opportunity for a 
foreign region to request of APHIS an assessment of whether specific 
import conditions can bring the risk of importation of animals or 
animal products from that region to a negligible level. As noted above, 
our policy for assessing risk is outlined in a policy statement we are 
publishing elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. 
Additionally, on June 12, 1997, we published in the Federal Register a 
proposal (62 FR 32051-32053, Docket No. 97-002-1) to regionalize Italy 
by considering all of Italy except the island of Sardinia free of 
African swine fever.
    As stated above, this final rule allows for the recognition of 
regions with regard to the importation of animals and animal products. 
As defined in this final rule, a region need not be an entire, single 
national entity (country), though it can be. Until we receive requests 
for regionalization on a case-by-case basis under the provisions of 
this final rule, we will continue to apply the current regulations to 
the importation of animals and animal products from foreign countries.

Scope of This Final Rule

    In response to our proposed rule, several commenters objected to 
the fact that the proposed provisions applied only to ruminants and 
swine, and their products. The commenters recommended that the concept 
of regionalization also be applied to other animals governed by the 
regulations, including poultry and equine species.
    In the Supplementary Information section of our proposed rule, we 
stated that it was our intent to extend, in the future, the 
regionalized, risk class approach to the importation of all animals and 
animal products that are subject to the import regulations in 9 CFR, 
chapter I. We limited the scope of the proposal to ruminants and swine 
in the interests of timeliness--i.e., the fact that our proposed 
approach involved rewriting large parts of 9 CFR part 92 made it 
advisable to finalize the regionalization changes in several stages. 
However, the approach we are taking in this final rule involves 
significantly less rewriting of the current regulations than did the 
approach set forth in our proposed rule. Because the principles and 
procedures regarding regionalization and risk assessment that are 
applicable to the importation of ruminants and swine, and their 
products, are equally applicable to the importation of other animal 
species governed by the regulations, we consider it appropriate to 
extend the principles of regionalization in this final rule to all 
animals and animal products subject to the import regulations in 9 CFR, 
chapter I, including poultry, birds, and equines.

Concerns that Regionalization Will Increase the Risk of Disease 
Introduction

    Some commenters expressed general concern that the provisions we 
proposed for regionalization and levels of risk would increase the risk 
of animal diseases being introduced into the United States. Other 
commenters expressed particular concern about the possibility of the 
introduction into the United States of emerging diseases, such as 
bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). We are acutely aware of the 
concern of the U.S. public that livestock in this country continue to 
be protected from disease introduction. As noted above, until APHIS 
receives a request for regionalization, the imports into the United 
States will continue to be governed by the current regulations. When 
requests for regionalization are received, APHIS will evaluate them on 
a case-by-case basis, and determine what, if any, import conditions can 
bring the disease risk presented by the imports to a negligible level. 
Throughout the process of analyzing any request for regionalization, 
APHIS will provide the public the opportunity to evaluate the 
information the region has submitted to APHIS in requesting 
regionalization. The public will then be given a formal opportunity to 
comment on the proposed action. No request for regionalization will be 
made final until APHIS has taken into consideration all comments 
submitted by the public during the comment period.
    Several commenters stated that attention needs to be paid to 
identifying diseases that do not exist in the United States, but that 
may put the livestock population at risk. The commenters stated that as 
major diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) or classical swine 
fever (hog cholera) are confined to limited areas of countries, or are 
eradicated, it will no longer be possible to rely on import 
restrictions due to the presence of these diseases to guard against the 
importation of other diseases of concern. Consequently, said the 
commenters, it will become increasingly important for APHIS to have the 
appropriate resources,

[[Page 56004]]

diagnostic capabilities, and expertise to determine what other diseases 
are potential risks. The commenters cited examples of diseases of 
potential concern. We agree with the commenters and concur that 
changing disease and trade conditions require a broad view regarding 
what diseases require regulation. We address this broadened concern in 
our notice of policy regarding regionalization and risk assessment, set 
forth elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
    Several commenters stated that the list of diseases of concern 
should include all disease subject to a control or eradication program 
in the United States. We share the commenters' view that import 
restrictions should be in place to guard against the movement into this 
country of diseases that currently exist in the United States but that 
are subject to a domestic control or eradication program. These 
diseases of concern are addressed by the current regulations and by the 
policy statement we are publishing elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register.
    Some commenters stated that a comprehensive emergency plan should 
be in place prior to implementation of the revised regulations. 
Currently, the Secretary of Agriculture has the authority to implement 
necessary measures to control and eradicate animal disease in this 
country. APHIS has had in place for a number of years resources and 
procedures for responding to disease outbreaks on an emergency basis.
    One commenter recommended that the regulations specifically state 
that APHIS has the option to restrict imports because of new or 
emerging diseases. We do not consider it necessary to include such a 
statement in the regulations. For years, APHIS has enforced import 
restrictions on new or emerging diseases, and we will continue to do 
so.
    Some commenters stated that the regulations should contain 
provisions for relaxing emergency measures when they are no longer 
warranted. Just as it does under the current regulations when a disease 
risk has been eliminated, APHIS will take action through rulemaking, 
subject to public comment, to relieve restrictions that no longer 
appear warranted.
    A number of commenters expressed concern that implementation of the 
proposed regulations would represent a huge and costly workload for 
APHIS, and that administrative problems in implementing the proposal 
would create barriers to trade. The commenters stated that APHIS lacks 
the budget and infrastructure to administer the proposal in a timely 
manner consistent with sound animal health intervention and exclusion 
strategies. Other commenters stated that the provisions of the proposed 
rule were ill-equipped to deal with developing situations, that it will 
be difficult for APHIS to maintain current information on countries' 
importing practices, and that the information regarding risk 
classification will always be months or years out of date. As an 
alternative to the ``notice-and-comment'' procedures currently followed 
by APHIS under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 551 et 
seq.), some commenters suggested that all regional disease 
classifications and decisions be made available electronically, with 
the CFR merely establishing authority to classify and methods to 
classify and make changes. According to the commenters, requests for a 
change in status could be updated by a press release available 
electronically and comments could be solicited in like manner. Several 
commenters recommended that the regulations allow the United States to 
accept on a provisional basis new risk classifications established by 
other countries, pending U.S. verification.
    We believe that a number of the concerns raised by the commenters 
are addressed by the changes we are making to the proposal in this 
final rule. As noted above, we will continue to apply the current 
regulations until we receive requests for regionalization. We are not 
making final our proposed system of assigning each foreign region to 
one of six risk classifications. Under this final rule, we will not 
attempt to assess the risk of importations from a region until the 
region itself has provided all of the information necessary for 
conducting such an assessment, although we will take into account any 
information available to us from other sources.
    Because this final rule provides options not available under the 
current regulations, APHIS recognizes that, especially initially, it 
will face an increased workload when this rule is made effective. A 
major impetus to the publication of this final regulation is the U.S. 
commitment under the North American Free Trade Agreement and the WTO-
SPS Agreement. As a signatory of these agreements, the United States 
has agreed to accept the principle of regionalization and to allow the 
importation of animals and animal products from regions of low disease 
prevalence, subject to whatever mitigating measures are necessary to 
safeguard livestock in the United States.
    We are committed to implementing, where appropriate, 
regionalization in individual cases as quickly as possible once we have 
received and reviewed sufficient valid data from and about the 
requesting region, and have conducted a risk assessment of the 
importation requested. However, because of the potentially broad 
interest regarding importations of animals and animal products, we 
consider it necessary to ensure that all members of the public are made 
aware of potential changes through rulemaking.
    Under the APA, APHIS must, in most cases, provide public notice of 
proposed changes to the regulations through publication of a proposed 
rule in the Federal Register, and provide interested persons an 
opportunity to participate in the rulemaking through submission of 
written data, views, or arguments. Within these requirements, APHIS is 
examining ways to streamline the review process, including the 
development of a data-handling mechanism to receive and store 
information related to animal health and veterinary infrastructure. 
Additionally, APHIS plans to increase its resources in the area of risk 
assessment. With regard to electronic notification of proposed 
rulemaking, APHIS currently notifies the public electronically of 
various actions taken by the Agency. However, Administrative Procedure 
Act requirements for notice and comment rulemaking are not fulfilled 
until the action is published in the Federal Register.

Recognition of Equivalency and Foreign Regionalization

    One commenter recommended that the regulations allow the 
Administrator of APHIS to enter into an agreement with a foreign 
country to recognize the equivalency of that country's rules. We 
consider the concept of equivalency to be provided for in this rule. It 
allows the United States, based on information made available to it by 
its trading partners and other sources, to identify, along with those 
trading partners, specified risks from a region on a disease-by-disease 
and commodity-by-commodity basis, and identify mutually agreeable risk 
management measures to reduce risk to a negligible level. Equivalency 
exists when countries agree that each others' risk management measures 
are appropriate and when they identify commodities for which import 
measures that may not be identical for the same commodity are needed to 
address the differences in prevalence of restricted agents, geographic 
or demographic factors, or animal health infrastructure.
    It is the responsibility of the exporting region to demonstrate to 
the importing country that the region meets standards

[[Page 56005]]

equivalent to the importing country's standards or other acceptable 
standards. Certainly, in those cases where the United States and some 
other country have historically developed animal health standards for 
common diseases, there is no reason to expect that such interaction 
will not continue.
    Among the comments received was the recommendation that the United 
States should recognize regions that are created and maintained up-to-
date by other bodies, such as the European Community (EC). The comment 
stated that the EC has been divided into many regions for various 
diseases and, because the areas are constantly achieving results in 
disease eradication, the areas recognized by the EC as free are 
constantly expanding. Because of this, the commenters expressed concern 
that U.S. regulations would quickly become out of date. The commenters 
recommended that a region be defined as the area recognized by the EC 
as being free from a particular disease in accordance with accepted 
criteria, pending U.S. examination of the matter.
    As discussed above, our overriding goals in implementing 
regionalization are to facilitate trade in accordance with 
international agreements while maintaining the level of biosecurity 
afforded by the current regulations. We believe the provisions of this 
final rule, and our policy toward regionalization and risk assessment 
published in this issue of the Federal Register, meet these dual goals. 
As discussed above, however, APHIS rulemaking must be carried out in 
accordance with the APA, with an opportunity provided for public 
comment on changes to the regulations. At present, APHIS is developing 
a proposal to recognize regions established by the EC with regard to 
disease status, based on information submitted in a request by the EC.
    Some commenters recommended that, to make the regulations more 
transparent, procedures should be set forth for situations where there 
are no specific requirements stated. As noted above, the companion 
policy statement we are publishing in this issue of the Federal 
Register outlines the procedures we intend to take in evaluating 
requests for regionalization and importation of animals and animal 
products. As we discussed, we will conduct such evaluations in a 
transparent manner open to public review and comment.
    Several commenters recommended that APHIS review what the 
commenters referred to as internationally accepted guidelines for 
regionalization, risk analysis, and risk assessment. The commenters 
specifically referred to the following documents: (1) Cane, B.G., ``The 
Concept of Regionalization in Establishing Disease-Free Areas,'' OIE 
comprehensive reports on technical items presented to the international 
committee or to regional commissions, 1994; (2) Kellar, J.A., ``The 
Application of Risk Analysis to International Trade in Animals and 
Animal Products,'' OIE comprehensive reports on technical items 
presented to the international committee or to regional commissions, 
1992; (3) Morley, R.S., Acree, J., Williams, S., ``Animal Import Risk 
Analysis (AIRA): Harmonizing our Approach,'' OIE comprehensive reports 
on technical items presented to the international committee or to 
regional commissions, 1990-1991; and (4) ``OIE International Health 
Code,'' Section 1.4, chapters 1.4.1-1.4.5, 1994 updates. In the process 
of developing the proposed rule, APHIS reviewed all of the sources 
cited. Wherever possible, concepts from these references were 
incorporated into the proposal. We have also incorporated concepts from 
these references into the policy on regionalization and risk assessment 
we are giving notice of in this issue of the Federal Register.

Comments on Information Considered in Assessing Risk

    Among the requirements set forth in the proposal for applying for 
recognition of risk classification for a region was the requirement 
that the Chief Veterinary Officer of the region submit to APHIS a 
completed questionnaire relating to the specific disease in question. 
Several commenters requested that this questionnaire be published in 
the regulations. Several commenters asked for clarification of how the 
United States would expect regions to demonstrate freedom from 
restricted disease agents. One commenter requested that APHIS publish 
the procedures it will use to communicate with nations so that 
countries will have the opportunity to document their animal disease 
situation in order to gain the appropriate classification. As stated 
above, we are not making final our proposed system of risk 
classification, but we are setting forth in Sec. 92.1 of the 
regulations procedures for applying for regionalization, for assessment 
of the risk presented by imports from a region, and for determination 
of appropriate import conditions.
    Some commenters stated that the proposed rule placed undue emphasis 
on the influence that neighboring regions have on each other's disease 
status. According to the commenters, although border controls are often 
necessary, they are not as important in cases where the epidemiology of 
disease agents, combined with differing husbandry factors, effectively 
prevents establishment of a disease in a neighboring region. Although 
we consider proximity between regions generally of importance with 
regard to contagious diseases, we agree that in some cases the 
proximity of one region to another is irrelevant because of varying 
climatic or other ecological factors. This is true in the United States 
with a disease such as bluetongue, which has never become established 
in the northeastern part of the country due to ecological factors, 
despite a lack of interstate movement controls. Given equivalent 
factors, however, vector-borne diseases might readily move across 
regional boundaries in spite of border controls. For this reason, 
proximity to affected regions must be considered a factor in 
determining disease risk, and is included in the information we are 
requesting under this rule in applications for regionalization. Under 
the approach we have adopted in this final rule and our policy toward 
regionalization, proximity will be considered as a factor in assessing 
the risk of disease introduction, but will not be given a predetermined 
weight in the assessment process.
    In related comments, some commenters stated that, because many 
diseases listed on the OIE ``List B'' can easily be contained within a 
herd or flock, the status of a contiguous region is not relevant for 
many List B diseases in determining the risk class of the region under 
consideration, particularly when effective border control barriers are 
in place. As we stated above with regard to the issue of proximity, the 
status of a contiguous region will be considered as a factor in 
assessing the risk of disease introduction, but will not be given a 
predetermined weight in the assessment process. As implied by the 
commenters, the concern about contiguous regions is not necessarily 
about the ability of the disease agent itself to be transmitted across 
the border, but more so about the possibility of undeclared illegal 
movements of infected animals or products, or the straying of loose 
animals or carrier wildlife across the border. While effective border 
controls are a crucial consideration in assessing the risk posed by 
importations from a region, we do not consider them alone to be a 
guarantee that the movement of disease from a contiguous region will be 
eliminated.
    One commenter expressed concern about what the commenter considered 
a lack of specific criteria for how we

[[Page 56006]]

would evaluate the veterinary infrastructure in the exporting region. 
We believe this issue relates to the information, discussed above, that 
will be required regarding the authority, organization, and 
infrastructure of the veterinary services in a region. We consider the 
evaluation of infrastructure in any region to necessarily be somewhat 
subjective. Until the OIE or some other organization develops an 
objective measure of infrastructure, we believe the best way to 
evaluate infrastructure is on a case-by-case basis, by means that, in 
some cases, will include on-site visits.

Concerns Regarding the Effect of Regionalization on Wildlife

    One commenter expressed concern about the potential effect of the 
proposed risk classification system on wildlife. The commenter was 
concerned that some countries might contain or eliminate wild animals 
in order to ensure that there are no pockets of disease that might 
prevent the countries from attaining a particular risk classification. 
We consider the commenter's concerns to be addressed in large measure 
by our decision not to make final the system of establishing a risk 
classification system based on pre-defined criteria. However, each 
country must make its own decisions concerning such matters. APHIS will 
prepare an environmental assessment specific to the region in question 
prior to promulgating a final rule to create a region.

Comments Addressing Specific Conditions for the Importation of Animals

    Some commenters stated that, under the proposed regulations, cases 
would arise where animals would be required to undergo quarantine 
simply to eliminate the presence of a bacterial disease. According to 
the commenters, in these cases, the full quarantine regimen should not 
be necessary, and the regulations should allow for equivalent 
alternative mitigating measures. The commenters suggested as 
possibilities the conduct of additional tests in the country of origin, 
followed by isolation and testing in the United States. It is not clear 
to us from the comments whether the commenters are recommending 
elimination of certain of the quarantine requirements in place under 
the current regulations. Historically, we have found the post-
importation period of quarantine in the United States necessary as a 
period for observing the imported animals for disease, and we do not 
consider it advisable to eliminate these requirements at this time.
    Several commenters stated that the proposed 15-day importation 
quarantine period was insufficient to allow for incubation of diseases 
of concern. It is not clear to us from the comments exactly which 
proposed importation requirements the commenters are referring to in 
each case. Under the current regulations, except for cattle from 
Central America and the West Indies, which may be quarantined for 7 
days under certain conditions, and except for cattle and certain other 
ruminants from Canada and Mexico, all ruminants imported into the 
United States must be quarantined for not less than 30 days from the 
date of arrival at the port of entry. Under the current regulations, 
swine must be quarantined for not less than 15 days from the date of 
arrival at the port of entry. Based on our experience enforcing the 
regulations, we consider these quarantine requirements adequate and are 
retaining them in this final rule.
    Several commenters expressed concern that transhipments of animals 
and animal products through high risk areas could cause contamination 
of the products or animals. Some commenters stated that developing 
countries have insufficient resources to monitor many of the most 
serious foreign animal diseases of concern. The commenters expressed 
concern that, in many countries, the illegal movement of livestock from 
higher-risk to lower-risk regions would be hard to detect, control, and 
prevent. Each of these concerns focuses on two of the key factors on 
which we will request information under the procedures for applying for 
regionalization--border controls and the infrastructure necessary to 
monitor and enforce the movement of animals and products from, into, or 
through the region. We will be obliged to characterize a requesting 
region a high risk or an unknown risk if the country in question lacks 
the infrastructure, or does not have access to the resources necessary, 
to enforce sanitary provisions that would support regionalization or to 
monitor for animal diseases of concern to the United States.
    A number of commenters expressed concern that imported animals may 
serve as a source for emerging diseases or those of long incubation. To 
facilitate tracking of animals, commenters recommended that a permanent 
identification be placed on imported animals. We do not consider the 
risk of disease introduction to be any greater under this final rule 
than under the existing regulations. Under the current regulations, in 
most cases we do not require either permanent identification of 
imported animals or a permanent record of their final destination. The 
feasibility of heightening identification and tracking of imported 
animals is under review by APHIS. In the meantime, we support the 
efforts of the livestock industry to develop a system of identification 
that meets its needs.
    Commenters argued both for and against including destination 
factors in determining import conditions. Some commenters stated that 
considering destination risk is required by the WTO-SPS agreement, and 
that failure to consider destination risk makes it illogical for the 
United States to impose post-importation conditions on animals and 
animal products if those conditions do not also apply to native U.S. 
animals. Commenters cited the need to assess the risk of animal 
importations in which vector-borne disease agents represent hazards, 
and, in particular, the duration of viraemia and competence of vectors. 
The commenters also stated that factors to be considered should include 
the exposure of domestic animals to infected products, modes of 
transmission, and the amount of infectious agent present that is 
sufficient to cause infection. Conversely, some commenters supported 
the premise that any importation of a restricted agent is undesirable. 
The general policy we have followed under the current regulations is to 
require import conditions to reduce any risk of introduction of a 
disease of concern at importation to a negligible level. We are 
retaining this policy under this final rule.
    Some commenters recommended that diagnostic tests approved by the 
OIE automatically be approved, under the regulations, for use on 
animals being imported. The commenters also stated that, to ensure 
openness and consistency, any other tests that would be accepted be 
published in the rule. Tests approved by the OIE would generally meet 
the scientific validity requirements for an equivalent approved test. 
However, we consider it necessary for the APHIS Administrator to have 
the flexibility to not use any test if evidence shows that it is not 
valid, even though it might currently be included in the OIE list of 
approved tests. Also, the Administrator must have the flexibility to 
use new tests when deemed appropriate, even if they have not been added 
to the approved list for OIE. Therefore, we have decided not to publish 
in the regulations a list of tests approved for use on animals imported 
or to be imported into the United States.
    Several commenters recommended that the maximum time allowed for 
imported animals to be moved to

[[Page 56007]]

slaughter be reduced from 2 weeks to as little as 48 hours. The policy 
of allowing up to 2 weeks for movement to slaughter is not new to the 
proposed rule. It exists in and has been followed under the existing 
regulations. Although we are making no changes based on these comments 
at this time, we will further examine the commenters' recommendation 
and take whatever action we deem appropriate.
    Several commenters questioned the need for import permits as a 
requirement for importation. The commenters stated that such permits 
serve no purpose. Some commenters stated that if import permits can be 
withdrawn without notice or explanation, such practice would be 
contrary to SPS Article 7. As we explained in the Supplementary 
Information section of our proposed rule, the primary purpose of import 
permits is to assure that there is space at a quarantine center for 
imported animals that must be transported by air or sea to the United 
States. Such import permits are necessary to avoid problems, both 
economically and with regard to the humane treatment of animals, in 
refusing entry to a shipload of animals that have arrived at a port 
without prior notice and without a reservation for space.
    One commenter asked for clarification of the term ``restricted use 
and movement,'' as used in the Supplementary Information section of the 
proposed rule when discussing risk mitigation measures. In general, 
restricted use and movement is used primarily to reduce potential 
losses should a disease agent be introduced. By restricting the 
distribution of potentially infected animals, the number and 
distribution of native animals that could be exposed is limited. An 
example of how we have used, and continue to use, this mitigation 
measure is in the importation of amimals from a country where a 
particular disease exists, solely for residence at approved zoos where 
their movement is restricted.
    One commenter stated that opportunities for electronic 
certification should be considered. We are not certain what the 
commenter meant by ``electronic certification.'' We assume the 
commenter was referring to electronic transmission of health 
certificates. Although to date we have not received a request to accept 
electronic health certification for imports into the United States, we 
are receptive to suggestions we might receive from the public regarding 
the use of such certification.
    One commenter stated that the capacity and costs of quarantine 
centers, particularly the Harry S Truman Animal Import Center (HSTAIC), 
should not become a trade barrier. Importation though HSTAIC is a 
method of allowing the importation of animals from certain high-risk 
situations that would otherwise require total prohibition of the 
importation. APHIS recommends that importers consider importing 
breeding material through embryos or semen whenever possible, to avoid 
the extra costs and potential delays that use of HSTAIC entails.
    Some commenters stated that, depending on the commodity under 
consideration, only the viremic state of a disease might be of concern, 
with the incubatory and convalescent states representing negligible 
risk. We agree that the situation described by the commenters is true 
for some diseases, depending on the mode(s) of transmission. However, 
we do not agree that an animal in the incubatory stage represents a 
negligible risk. Because diagnosis at the incubatory stage is often 
difficult, making a distinction among the stages when determining 
disease risk will have little practical effect on establishing import 
conditions.
    In our proposed regulations we used the term herd. In the 
``Definitions'' section to the regulations regarding ruminants and 
swine, we included no period of time that animals would need to remain 
together to be considered a herd. Some commenters stated that the 
definition of ``herd'' should indicate that, to constitute a herd, the 
animals must have been together for a specified minimum period of time. 
We do not consider it advisable to make such a change. In certain 
situations, how long the animals have been together is less important 
than the origin of the animals in the group. For instance, if all 
animals in the group have been assembled from herds certified free of a 
disease under a disease eradication program, the length of time the 
animals have been together is not significant.
    Some commenters addressed the requirement in proposed 
Secs. 93.415(d)(3) and (4) that ruminants from regions proposed to be 
classified as Risk Class R3 or R4 for FMD undergo pre-embarkation 
quarantine under APHIS supervision in a facility approved by the 
Administrator. The commenters stated that this requirement shows an 
unwarranted disregard for the scientific, ethical, and certifying 
ability of the veterinary authorities in exporting countries. Although 
this final rule does not categorize regions as Risk Class R3 or R4, and 
does not require APHIS supervision of pre-embarkation quarantine, it 
retains the requirement of the current regulations that ruminants and 
swine imported from countries not considered free of FMD be quarantined 
in a pre-embarkation quarantine facility approved by the Administrator. 
Although we agree that, in many cases, reliance on the veterinary 
authorities in an exporting country would provide adequate approval and 
inspection of a facility, we consider it necessary for the 
Administrator to have authority to ensure that in all cases the 
facilities in question meet adequate standards.
    Several commenters stated that APHIS should consider implementing 
recommendations from the ``Border States Consensus Document.'' The 
document referred to represents a consensus by U.S. States that share a 
border with Mexico regarding recognition of efforts within Mexico to 
eradicate Mycobacterium bovis (tuberculosis). The recommendations of 
the consensus document, including recognition of certain States in 
Mexico as being free of tuberculosis, can be accommodated by the 
procedures for requesting recognition of regions set forth in this 
rule.
    A number of commenters addressed the issue of how camelids should 
be addressed in the regulations. Some commenters recommended that they 
be removed from the definition of ``ruminants.'' The commenters stated 
that camelids are not true ruminants, that marked anatomic and 
physiologic differences between camelids and ruminants exist in many 
organ systems, and that llamas and alpacas appear to be resistant to 
and unlikely to spread several important livestock diseases, including 
FMD, M. bovis, and Brucella abortus. Other commenters expressed concern 
regarding the potential disease risk posed by camelids.
    ``Webster's New International Dictionary'' defines Ruminantia as 
follows: ``A division of even-toed hoofed animals including those that 
chew the cud, as the oxen, sheep, goats, antelopes, deer, chevrotains, 
and camels. They are divided into three groups; the Pectora or true 
ruminants * * * the Tylopada, or camels and llama * * * and the 
Chevrotains.'' We have many of the same disease concerns with camelids 
as with other ruminants. However, we agree with the commenters that 
there may be some practical disease risk differences between camelids 
and cattle. Although we are making no changes to this final rule in 
response to these comments, we are reviewing this issue and are 
considering addressing it in future rulemaking.

[[Page 56008]]

Comments Addressing Regulations Governing the Importation of Meat and 
Meat Products

    A small number of commenters expressed concern that the import 
conditions for meat products from certain of the proposed risk class 
regions required that the backbone be removed from the carcass of the 
animal, even though the meat grading standards of the Department's 
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) require foreign beef to have a 
country-of-origin mark on the carcass 4 inches from the backbone. 
Because we are not making final the import conditions based on risk 
classifications, in a number of cases the provisions the commenters are 
referring to are not set forth as general requirements. However, we 
consider the requirement that a carcass be deboned an important one in 
reducing the risk of FMD-transmission from meat, and expect to apply it 
to future importations as appropriate. For example, in our June 26, 
1997, final rule regarding the importation of fresh, chilled or frozen, 
beef from Argentina, one of the requirements for importation of the 
meat was that it be deboned. The AMS standards in 7 CFR 54.4 et seq. 
state that grading is done only on carcasses and is voluntary. We 
consider concerns regarding disease risk to take precedence over 
grading standards for meat, which could be done on the carcass before 
the meat is deboned.
    One commenter stated that, in Sec. 94.15 of the proposal, regarding 
cancellation of compliance agreements, the regulations indicated that 
certain actions by APHIS will be taken ``as promptly as circumstances 
allow.'' The commenter requested that the time allowed for action by 
APHIS be specified. The provisions referred to by the commenter are set 
forth in the current regulations. Based on our experience enforcing the 
regulations, we consider the actions taken by APHIS to have been taken 
in a timely manner and do not consider it necessary to revise the 
provisions in question at this time.
    In Secs. 94.1 (e) and (g) of the proposed regulations, we set forth 
proposed requirements for the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) 
meat from ruminants and swine from regions classified as Risk Class R2 
or R3 for FMD. Among the proposed import conditions was the requirement 
that the meat reach a pH of 6.0 or less in the loin muscle. In the 
Supplementary Information section of our proposed rule, we stated that 
acidic or alkaline conditions readily kill the FMD virus. One commenter 
took issue with this statement, stating that research has shown that 
although a pH below 6.0 or above 11.5 will inactivate the FMD virus, 
the virus resident in the micro-environment of animal tissue--such as 
lymphatic tissue, bone marrow, or coagulated blood--is resistant to 
inactivation over a practical pH range.
    The proposed requirements referenced by the commenter are not 
included in this final rule because they were import conditions 
particular to two risk categories that we are not including in this 
rule. However, maturation of meat to an appropriate pH level is a 
proven method of killing the FMD virus, and is one of the conditions we 
set forth in our June 26, 1997, final rule for the importation of fresh 
(chilled or frozen) meat from Argentina. In the Supplementary 
Information section of that final rule, we stated that although we 
agreed with the commenter, the regulations as proposed already 
addressed the concerns raised. We stated that we assumed that by 
``micro-environment'' the commenter was referring to those areas of the 
meat in the carcass that are in the immediate area of the bones, 
lymphatic tissue, or coagulated blood, and noted that one of the 
proposed conditions for importing fresh (chilled or frozen) meat from 
Argentina was that all bone, blood clots, and lymphoid tissue be 
removed from the meat. However, in that final rule, based on the 
comment and the literature available to us, we amended the regulations 
as proposed to require that a pH level of 5.8 or less be reached before 
the meat may be imported.
    The proposed importation requirements for cured or cooked meat from 
regions classified as Risk Class R3, R4, or RU for certain diseases 
included the requirement that the meat be deboned. This requirement for 
deboning is also included in the current regulations. Some commenters, 
addressing the proposal, stated that deboning should not be required 
for cured or cooked meat because such treatment already reduces the 
disease risk from the meat to an acceptable level. We do not agree with 
the commenters that removal of bones is not necessary in meat that is 
otherwise cured or cooked in accordance with the regulations. The 
presence of the bone in the meat makes it difficult to determine 
whether the bone has been treated throughout to the extent necessary to 
destroy the restricted disease agent. For example, in the case of FMD, 
unless some way is developed to determine the temperature level within 
the bone, there is no way of determining whether the entire piece of 
meat, including the bone, has been heated to the temperature necessary 
to kill the FMD virus.

Comments Regarding Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

    Some commenters took issue with our statement in the Supplementary 
Information section of our proposal that bovine spongiform 
encephalopathy (BSE) ``is thought to have been introduced into cattle 
from scrapie-infected sheep brains that were included in rendered 
protein meal added to cattle feed.'' The commenters stated that the 
original source of BSE is unknown, and that it would be more accurate 
to say that the BSE epidemic seems to be the result of a single source 
infection resulting from BSE-infected meat and bone meal. The statement 
we included in our proposed rule was based on the information available 
to us at the time the proposal was developed. At this time, we agree 
with the commenters as to the limits of what can be concluded regarding 
the origins of BSE.
    One commenter questioned the rationale for allowing the importation 
of embryos from BSE-affected regions, while, according to the 
commenter, the OIE takes a cautious approach. The commenter apparently 
misread the proposed regulations. Embryos from countries affected with 
BSE are currently not permitted importation into the United States, and 
the proposed regulations did not include provisions allowing the 
importation of such embryos.
    Several commenters stated that because transmissible encephalopathy 
occurs in cervidae in the United States, a ban on the feeding of 
ruminant protein should be in force in the United States. Other 
commenters stated that such a ban would eliminate the possibility that 
an infected animal, even if imported, could transmit the disease to 
another. Although APHIS does not have the authority to ban the feeding 
of ruminant protein, it should be noted that in a final rule published 
on June 5, 1997 (62 FR 30936-30978, Docket No. 96N-0135), the United 
States Department of Health and Human Service, Food and Drug 
Administration, established regulations controlling the use of animal 
protein derived from mammalian tissue in ruminant feed.

Proposed Provisions Not Being Made Final

    A large number of the issues raised by commenters regarding our 
proposed rule addressed provisions of the proposed rule that are not 
included in either the current regulations or in this final rule. 
Therefore, pending future requests for regionalization, many of the 
concerns raised regarding the proposed

[[Page 56009]]

rule are no longer relevant. These include concerns raised by 
commenters regarding the following: Differences between the current 
regulations and the proposed rule regarding import requirements for 
animals and animal products, including the concern that the proposed 
regulations would, in some cases, be more restrictive than the current 
regulations; the relationship between the ``qualitative'' and 
``quantitative'' options for assessing risk under the proposed rule; 
criteria for assigning regions to particular risk classifications; 
whether the quantitative risk assessment option could be scientifically 
supported; differences between the proposed import requirements and the 
standards of the OIE Code; differences between the proposed import 
requirements and requirements governing U.S. interstate movement; 
classification as ``restricted disease agents'' of agents not included 
on the OIE ``A'' or ``B'' list of diseases; concerns that the proposed 
import requirements would not allow consideration of ``equivalency'' 
with an importing region's mitigation measures; that criteria for 
border controls of regions were too rigid; importation requirements 
relating to specific disease agents, including ectoparasites; whether 
the proposed import requirements would preempt State requirements; that 
certain terms used in the proposed rule were unclear and required 
definitions; that the proposed restricted disease agents did not seem 
to be treated differently based on potential impact; and the risk 
classification of certain countries.
    Similarly, commenters made several requests that are no longer 
relevant. These include: That the regulations clarify which animals 
would be considered in determining the risk classification of a region; 
that embryos from ``high-risk'' areas be considered ``low-risk'' if 
treated in accordance with internationally recognized treatment 
standards; that the practice of vaccination not necessarily affect a 
region's risk classification; that the United States evaluate its own 
status and programs with regard to the requirements of the proposal; 
and that APHIS publish risk analysis documentation to support the 
prohibition of meat, embryos, and semen from certain risk class 
categories.

Other Proposed Changes to the Regulations Being Made Final

    We proposed to make a number of changes to the regulations that 
were not directly related to the concepts of regionalization or risk 
assessment. In all cases but one, we received no comments regarding 
these proposed changes. We discuss below the amendments we proposed, 
any comments we received, and actions we are taking on the proposed 
changes in this final rule.
    We proposed to consider the entire country of Canada as presenting 
a slight risk for the introduction of Brucella abortus and as a 
negligible risk for B. melitensis. Under the proposed import conditions 
for such a risk classification, no testing for these diseases would be 
required for cattle from Canada from provinces free of brucellosis. We 
continue to consider it warranted to allow cattle from Canada from 
brucellosis certified-free provinces or herds to enter the United 
States without brucellosis testing, and are amending Sec. 92.418 of the 
current regulations to provide that such testing is not necessary.
    We are adding to Sec. 94.0, ``Definitions,'' the definitions we 
proposed for Cervid, Contact, Pink juice test, Region, Ruminants, and 
Veterinarian in charge.
    Current Sec. 94.7 includes provisions for the disposal of animals, 
meats, and other articles ineligible for importation under the 
regulations regarding rinderpest and FMD in current Sec. 94.1. We 
proposed to expand the disposal regulations so that they refer to 
African swine fever, hog cholera, swine vesicular disease, and BSE, as 
well as to rinderpest and FMD. In this rule, we are making final those 
expanded provisions.
    We are making final at Sec. 94.12(b)(1)(iii)(B) of the regulations 
the provision we proposed that pork or pork products consigned from the 
port of arrival to an approved establishment must be moved under 
Customs or USDA seal, and must be otherwise handled as the 
Administrator may direct in order to guard against the introduction and 
dissemination of swine vesicular disease. The required seals may not be 
broken except by persons authorized by the Administrator to do so.
    We proposed under Sec. 94.9 to allow the limited transiting of meat 
and other animal products not otherwise eligible for entry into the 
United States, to allow for offloading from one means of conveyance at 
the port of arrival onto a second means of conveyance scheduled for 
immediate departure from the United States. One of the conditions for 
such limited movement was that the meat or other animal product not be 
stored for more than 24 hours at the maritime or airport port of 
arrival. Commenters requested that the allowable time for holding or 
storage be extended to 48 hours, to allow for cargo movement logistical 
problems. We agree with the commenters that a longer period of time at 
the port is sometimes necessary to make connections between ships. As 
long as the meat and other animal products are securely contained 
aboard the carrier or while being offloaded, and as long as their 
overland movement in the United States is confined to that port of 
arrival, we believe it is warranted to allow the meat or other animal 
products to be held at the port up to 72 hours. We are adding 
provisions for such limited transit at Sec. 94.15(d) of this final 
rule.
    We are making final the change we proposed to Sec. 94.16(b)(2) of 
the current regulations to remove the requirement that certain dry milk 
and dry milk products intended for importation be processed for human 
food. The provisions that require that dry milk or dry milk products 
intended for importation from countries in which rinderpest or FMD 
exists be processed for human food also require that the dry milk or 
dry milk products be processed in a manner approved by the 
Administrator as adequate to prevent the introduction or dissemination 
of livestock diseases into the United States. Dry milk or dry milk 
products that are processed in a manner adequate to prevent disease can 
be safely processed for uses other than human food.
    We are making final at Sec. 96.10 our proposed removal of 
references to specific cities in which casings that arrive in the 
United States without certification may be disinfected, and are 
providing that such casings may be forwarded to a USDA-approved 
facility for disinfection. We are making this change because the 
facilities in the cities specified are no longer in operation. 
Currently, all casings entering the United States under 9 CFR part 96 
are entering in accordance with Sec. 96.4, which allows the casings to 
be entered if the casings are accompanied by certification that they 
were derived from healthy animals that were inspected ante- and post-
mortem. In the event of an intended importation of casings that would 
need to be disinfected in the United States, such disinfection could be 
done at any facility approved by APHIS.
    As proposed, we are removing current Secs. 96.15 and 96.16, because 
they specify administrative procedures that have been discontinued for 
a number of years.

Clarification of Final Rule Regarding the Importation of Pork from 
Sonora

    As noted above, on May 9, 1997, we published in the Federal 
Register a final rule to allow the importation of fresh (chilled or 
frozen) pork from the State

[[Page 56010]]

of Sonora, Mexico. The provisions allowing this importation were added 
at a new Sec. 94.20. At Sec. 94.20(a), we specified that the pork must 
be meat from swine that have been raised and slaughtered in Sonora. It 
was also our intent that the swine from which the meat comes have been 
born in Sonora. In this final rule, we are amending Sec. 94.20(a) to 
clarify this intent.

Clarification of Terminology

    In current part 94, we refer in a number of cases to meat that is 
``fresh, chilled, or frozen.'' The intent of this phrase is to refer to 
fresh meat that is either chilled or frozen. We are making 
nonsubstantive punctuation changes in part 94 to clarify this intent by 
using the wording: ``fresh (chilled or frozen).''

Regulatory Reform

    This action is part of the President's Regulatory Reform 
Initiative, which, among other things, directs agencies to remove 
obsolete and unnecessary regulations and to find less burdensome ways 
to achieve regulatory goals.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866. The rule 
has been determined to be significant for purposes of Executive Order 
12866 and, therefore, has been reviewed by the Office of Management and 
Budget.
    In this rule, we are establishing procedures for recognizing 
regions, rather than only countries, for the purpose of the importation 
of animals and animal products into the United States. We are also 
establishing procedures by which regions may request permission to 
export animals and animal products to the United States under specified 
conditions, based on the regions' disease status. These changes to the 
regulations are in accordance with international trade agreements 
entered into by the United States. We are also allowing, under certain 
conditions, the unloading and reloading at the port of arrival of meat 
and other animal products otherwise prohibited entry into the United 
States. Additionally, we are removing the requirement that cattle from 
brucellosis certified-free herds, provinces, and territories in Canada 
be tested for brucellosis before being imported into the United States, 
and are making several minor changes in our requirements for importing 
animals and animal products that will relieve or clarify some import 
restrictions while continuing to protect U.S. livestock and poultry 
from foreign animal diseases.

Regionalization

    The fundamental purpose of the changes we are making to the 
regulations with respect to regionalization--primarily changing the 
word ``country'' to ``region'' and setting out the procedures that a 
region must follow to be recognized as a region--is to establish a 
framework for a regional approach to the importation of animals and 
animal products and, thereby, fulfill U.S. commitments under 
international trade agreements. In developing this rule and the policy 
statement published elsewhere in this same issue of the Federal 
Register, we have explicitly recognized that there are identifiable and 
measurable gradations of risk presented by animals and animal products 
and that these gradations are often tied more to factors such as 
geography, ecosystems, epidemiological surveillance, and the 
effectiveness of disease control programs than to national political 
boundaries. Accordingly, we have adopted an approach that assesses risk 
along a continuum and responds to the risks presented from an 
importation on a case-by-case basis.
    Because this framework will not be fully implemented until we 
receive a new request to allow the importation of animals or animal 
products into the United States, and because we do not know the number 
or sources of requests we will receive in the future, we cannot 
estimate the economic impact of this rule as stipulated in E.O. 12866. 
We are therefore committed to performing a risk assessment and cost-
benefit analysis on a case-by-case basis for each request we receive in 
the near future.

Removal of Requirement for Brucellosis Testing of Cattle From 
Canada

    We are making final a provision to allow cattle from certified 
brucellosis-free herds, provinces, or territories in Canada to enter 
the United States without brucellosis testing.
    All domestic herds in Canada are free of brucellosis, and therefore 
no brucellosis testing would be required for any cattle imported to the 
United States. Expected cost savings can be estimated using the number 
of breeding cattle imported from Canada in Fiscal Year 1996: 29,340 
head. Assuming a laboratory cost of $3 to $4 per test (based on USDA 
National Veterinary Services Laboratories user fees), Canadian 
operations exporting breeding cattle to the United States may save a 
total of between $88,020 and $117,360. (Other costs associated with 
assembling of the cattle at the time of testing will remain, since 
physical inspections will still take place.)
    The cost savings are very small compared to the average value of 
the cattle. In 1996, the average price per animal of cattle imported 
from Canada that weighed 200-320 kg was $332. (Based on the way the 
price data is made available, this price includes the value of both 
slaughter and non-slaughter animals. Under the current regulations, 
cattle intended for immediate slaughter are not required to be 
tested.). The average price of nonslaughter cattle (not including 
purebreds) weighing more than 320 kg was $1,152. Thus, the savings 
represent no more than 1 cent of every dollar of the smaller animals' 
average cost, and about 3 cents of every 10 dollars of the larger 
animals' average cost. The average price of purebred cattle imported 
from Canada in 1996 was $810, of which the cost savings represents less 
than 5 cents of every 10 dollars. The fraction of this savings, if any, 
that may be realized by U.S. livestock buyers, would be smaller still. 
The economic impact for U.S. entities will be negligible.

Transiting of Certain Animal Products

    This rule allows the unloading and reloading at the port of arrival 
of meat and other animal products otherwise prohibited entry into the 
United States. Under certain conditions, such products may be unloaded 
from a means of conveyance and be held at a port for up to 72 hours 
before reshipment from the same port by a second means of conveyance.
    U.S. imports would not be affected by this rule change. 
Consequently, the only U.S. entities for which there could be impacts 
would be ones taking part in the marine or air transshipments, by 
providing shipping or temporary storage of the transshipped products.
    As an example, under this rule, meat from Europe prohibited by the 
United States but eligible for entry to particular Caribbean or South 
American countries, could be transshipped at U.S. ports. This could 
result in cost savings for shipping companies, depending on shipping 
logistics, as well as additional business for the ports providing 
transshipment services.
    According to available information, in 1994 there were 129 U.S. 
firms in the SIC category ``Deep Sea Foreign Transportation of 
Freight.'' Nearly 90 percent (115 firms) were small entities by the 
Small Business Administration's definition of fewer than 500 employees. 
There were also 577 U.S. firms in 1994 in the category, ``Marine Cargo 
Handling.'' For this industry, designation as a small entity is

[[Page 56011]]

determined by annual receipts of less than $18.5 million. An estimated 
80 to 90 percent of U.S. firms handling marine cargo are small 
entities.
    With respect to firms that could be involved in air transshipments, 
in 1994 there were 520 U.S. firms classified under ``Scheduled Air 
Transportation'' and 1,475 U.S. firms classified under ``Nonscheduled 
Air Transportation''. Of these firms, 86 percent and 95 percent, 
respectively, had less than 500 employees. For both SIC categories, the 
Small Business Administration's definition of a small entity is one 
with fewer than 1,500 employees. There were also 2,864 U.S. firms in 
1994 comprising the category, ``Airports, Flying Fields, and Airport 
Terminal Services.'' An estimated 85 percent of these firms are small 
entities, as determined by annual receipts of less than $5 million.
    If U.S. shipping and cargo handling firms were to be affected by 
this regulation, it is likely that at least some of them would be small 
entities. However, because the transshipment that would be allowed by 
this rule change currently does not take place, there is no record upon 
which to base an estimation of impacts. Commodities and volumes that 
would be transshipped are not known, let alone the number of U.S. firms 
(as opposed to foreign firms) that would be affected or the amount by 
which they might benefit through lower shipping costs or additional 
temporary storage consignments.
    Total estimated receipts of U.S. firms in these industries in 1994 
were as follows: ``Deep Sea Foreign Transportation of Freight,'' $8.7 
billion; ``Marine Cargo Handling,'' $6.2 billion; ``Scheduled and 
Nonscheduled Air Transportation,'' $121.5 billion; and ``Airports, 
Flying Fields, and Airport Terminal Services, $7.6 billion.'' Possible 
benefits from transshipments at U.S. ports as allowed by this rule 
change would likely be very slight compared to industry incomes.

Disposal of Animals

    We are expanding the regulations regarding the disposal of animals, 
meats, and other articles ineligible for importation to refer to such 
products affected by African swine fever, swine vesicular disease, hog 
cholera, and BSE, as well as those products affected by rinderpest and 
FMD.
    This change is expected to have no economic impact. In practice, 
disposal provisions for animals and meat having African swine fever, 
hog cholera, swine vesicular disease, or BSE are already the same as 
for rinderpest or FMD. Specification of these diseases will simply 
clarify existing provisions.

Movement of Pork and Pork Products

    We are revising the current import regulations regarding the 
movement of certain pork and pork products from a port of arrival to an 
approved U.S. establishment for treatment because of swine vesicular 
disease, to require that such movement be done under Customs or USDA 
seal. This change is a clarification to make the regulations in 
question consistent with similar import requirements with regard to 
treatment for other diseases. We expect no economic impact from this 
change, because, currently, there are no such approved establishments 
in the United States.

Dry Milk Products

    We are removing the requirement that certain dry milk products 
intended for importation be processed for human food. The provisions in 
current Sec. 94.16(b)(2) that require that dry milk products intended 
for importation from countries in which rinderpest or FMD exists be 
processed for human food, also require that the dry milk products be 
processed in a manner approved by the Administrator as adequate to 
prevent the introduction or dissemination of livestock diseases into 
the United States. Dry milk products that are processed in a manner 
adequate to prevent disease can be safely processed for uses other than 
human food. We expect no increase or decrease in the amount of imported 
dry milk or dry milk products due to this change, and expect no change 
in the manner in which such products are processed.

Casings

    We are removing the requirement that casings imported without 
certification under Sec. 96.4 be moved to specific cities for 
disinfection. We expect no economic impact from this change. At 
present, there are no facilities in any U.S. cities where disinfection 
of casings is performed, and all casings entering the United States 
under 9 CFR part 96 are entering in accordance with the certification 
requirements of Sec. 96.4, which allows the casings to be entered if 
the casings are accompanied by certification that they were derived 
from healthy animals that were inspected ante-and post-mortem. In the 
event of an intended importation of casings that would need to be 
disinfected in the United States, such disinfection could be done at 
any facility approved by APHIS.

Executive Order 12988

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

National Environmental Policy Act

    An environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact 
have been prepared for this rule. The assessment provides a basis for 
the conclusion that the actions required or authorized by this rule 
will not present a significant risk of introducing or disseminating 
animal disease agents into the United States and will not have a 
significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Based on 
the finding of no significant impact, the Administrator of the Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that an 
environmental impact statement need not be prepared.
    The environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact 
were prepared in accordance with: (1) The National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) Regulations of the 
Council on Environmental Quality for implementing the procedural 
provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), (3) USDA regulations 
implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS' NEPA Implementing 
Procedures (7 CFR part 372).
    Copies of the environmental assessment and finding of no 
significant impact are available for public inspection at USDA, room 
1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect copies are requested to 
call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the reading room. 
In addition, copies may be obtained by writing to the individual listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The information collection burden expected to be imposed by 9 CFR 
parts 92, 93, and 98 of this rule is 1,809 burden hours for animal 
importations, which is 176,875 burden hours less than the proposed 
rule. Although this final rule provides a mechanism for 
regionalization, it does not assign individual regions to specific risk 
categories, as did the proposed rule. Because the provisions of the 
current regulations will continue to be followed

[[Page 56012]]

until we receive requests for regionalization, the burden expected is 
much less than what was expected under the proposed rule. In accordance 
with section 3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.), the information collection requirements of this final 
rule have been submitted for approval to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB). When OMB notifies us of its decision, we will publish a 
document in the Federal Register providing notice of the assigned OMB 
control number for parts 92, 93, and 98, or, if approval is denied, 
providing notice of what action we plan to take.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the information 
collection or recordkeeping requirements included in this rule under 9 
CFR parts 94, 95, and 96 have been approved by the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB). The assigned OMB control number is 0579-0015.
    This rule contains no new information collection or recordkeeping 
requirements under 9 CFR parts 97 and 130.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public 
Law 104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the 
effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, tribal 
governments, and the private sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA, 
APHIS generally must prepare a written statement, including a cost-
benefit analysis, for proposed and final rule with ``Federal mandates'' 
that may result in expenditures by State, local, or tribal governments, 
in the aggregate, or to the private sector, of $100 million or more in 
any one year. When such a statement is needed for a rule, section 205 
of the UMRA generally requires APHIS to identify and consider a 
reasonable number of regulatory alternatives and adopt the least 
costly, more cost-effective, or least burdensome alternative that 
achieves the objectives of the rule.
    This rule contains no Federal mandates (under the regulatory 
provisions of Title II of the UMRA) that may result in expenditures by 
State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or to the 
private sector, or $100 million or more in any one year. Thus, this 
rule is not subject to the requirements of sections 202 and 205 of the 
UMRA.

List of Subjects

9 CFR Part 92

    Animal diseases, Imports, Livestock, Poultry and poultry products, 
Quarantine, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

9 CFR Part 93

    Animal diseases, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

9 CFR Part 94

    Animal diseases, Imports, Livestock, Meat and meat products, Milk, 
Poultry and poultry products, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

9 CFR Part 95

    Animal feeds, Hay, Imports, Livestock, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Straw, Transportation.

9 CFR Part 96

    Imports, Livestock, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

9 CFR Part 97

    Exports, Government employees, Imports, Livestock, Poultry and 
poultry products, Travel and transportation expenses.

9 CFR Part 98

    Animal diseases, Imports.

9 CFR Part 130

    Animals, Birds, Diagnostic reagents, Exports, Imports, Poultry, 
Quarantine, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Tests.

    Accordingly, under the authority provided in 5 U.S.C. 5542; 7 
U.S.C. 147a, 150ee, 161, 162, 450, 1622, 2260; 19 U.S.C. 1306; 21 
U.S.C. 102-105, 111, 114, 114a, 134a, 134b, 134c, 134d, 134f, 135, 136, 
136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 42 U.S.C. 4331, 4332; 49 U.S.C. 1741; 7 CFR 2.22, 
2.80, and 371.2(d), we are amending 9 CFR, chapter I, subchapter D, as 
follows:

PART 93--[AMENDED]


Secs. 93.1-93.8  [Redesignated as Secs. 93.800-93.807]

    1. Part 93 is amended by redesignating Secs. 93.1 through 93.8 as 
Secs. 93.800 through 93.807, and designating these sections as Subpart 
H--Elephants, Hippopotami, Rhinoceroses, and Tapirs.

PART 92--[REDESIGNATED AS PART 93]

    2. In Part 92, subparts A through G (Secs. 92.100 through 92.707) 
are redesignated as part 93, subparts A through G, and part 92 is 
vacated.
    3. A new part 92 is added to read as follows:

PART 92-- IMPORTATION OF ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS: PROCEDURES 
FOR REQUESTING RECOGNITION OF REGIONS

Sec.
92.1  Definitions.
92.2  Application for recognition of the animal health status of a 
region.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622; 19 U.S.C. 1306; 21 U.S.C. 102-105, 
111, 114a, 134a, 134b, 134c, 134d, 134f, 135, 136, and 136a; 31 
U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(d).


Sec. 92.1  Definitions.

    Active surveillance. Sample collection using a systematic or 
statistically designed survey methodology to actively seek out and find 
cases of animals with a restricted disease agent, or to determine the 
prevalence of the restricted disease agent in the population.
    Adjacent region. Any geographic land area, whether or not 
identifiable by geological, political or surveyed boundaries, that 
shares common boundaries with any region.
    Administrator. The Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service or any other employee of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, delegated 
to act in the Administrator's stead.
    Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of 
Agriculture.
    Animals. All species of the animal kingdom, except man, including: 
Cattle, sheep, goats, other ruminants, swine, horses, asses, mules, 
zebras, dogs, poultry, and birds that are susceptible to communicable 
diseases of livestock and poultry or capable of being carriers of those 
diseases or their arthropod vectors.
    Communicable disease. Any contagious or infectious disease of 
animals. It can be transmitted either directly or indirectly to a 
susceptible animal from an infected animal, vector, inanimate source, 
or other sources.
    Contagious disease. Any communicable disease transmitted from one 
animal to another by direct contact or by feed, water, aerosol, or 
contaminated objects.
    Disease agent. A virus, bacterium, or other organism that causes 
disease in animals.
    Import (imported, importation) into the United States. To bring 
into the territorial limits of the United States.
    Passive surveillance. A surveillance system that does not depend on 
active

[[Page 56013]]

participation by the responsible agency to seek out and monitor a 
restricted disease agent. The system relies on mandatory reporting, a 
pool of trained investigators, diagnostic submission procedures and 
laboratory support, and periodic public information and continuing 
education programs on diseases.
    Prevalence. The number of cases of a disease in existence at a 
given time in a designated area.
    Region. Any defined geographic land region identifiable by 
geological, political or surveyed boundaries. A region may consist of 
any of the following:
    (1) A national entity (country);
    (2) Part of a national entity ( zone, county, department, 
municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.);
    (3) Parts of several national entities combined into an area; or
    (4) A group of national entities (countries) combined into a single 
area.
    Restricted disease agent. Any communicable disease agent or its 
vector not known to exist in the United States or that is subject to a 
Federal or cooperative Federal/State control or eradication program 
within the United States.
    Surveillance. Systems to find, monitor, and confirm the existence 
or absence of a restricted disease agent or agents in livestock, 
poultry and other animals. Surveillance may be passive or active.
    United States. All of the States of the United States, the District 
of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the 
Virgin Islands of the United States, and all other territories and 
possessions of the United States.
    Vector-borne disease. A disease transmitted to an animal through an 
intermediate arthropod vector, including ticks or insects.


Sec. 92.2  Application for recognition of the animal health status of a 
region.

    (a)(1) The representative of the national government(s) of any 
country or countries who has the authority to request such a change may 
request at any time that all or part of the country or countries be 
recognized as a region, be included within an adjacent previously 
recognized region, or be made part of a region larger than an 
individual country. Requests for recognition of a region must be sent 
to the Administrator, in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section.
    (b) Each request for approval to export a particular type of animal 
or animal product to the United States from a foreign region must be 
made to the Administrator, in accordance with paragraph (c) of this 
section, and must include, in English, the following information about 
the region:
    (1) The authority, organization, and infrastructure of the 
veterinary services organization in the region.
    (2) Disease status--i.e., is the restricted disease agent known to 
exist in the region? If ``yes,'' at what prevalence? If ``no,'' when 
was the most recent diagnosis?
    (3) The status of adjacent regions with respect to the agent.
    (4) The extent of an active disease control program, if any, if the 
agent is known to exist in the region.
    (5) The vaccination status of the region. When was the last 
vaccination? What is the extent of vaccination if it is currently used, 
and what vaccine is being used?
    (6) The degree to which the region is separated from adjacent 
regions of higher risk through physical or other barriers.
    (7) The extent to which movement of animals and animal products is 
controlled from regions of higher risk, and the level of biosecurity 
regarding such movements.
    (8) Livestock demographics and marketing practices in the region.
    (9) The type and extent of disease surveillance in the region--
e.g., is it passive and/or active; what is the quantity and quality of 
sampling and testing?
    (10) Diagnostic laboratory capabilities.
    (11) Policies and infrastructure for animal disease control in the 
region--i.e., emergency response capacity.
    (c) Requests for recognition of a region or for approval to export 
animals or animal products to the United States from a region, 
including the information required by this section, must be sent to the 
Administrator, c/o National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 
4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231. (Where possible, 
include a copy of the request and accompanying information on a 3.5-
inch floppy disk in ASCII or a word processing format.)
    (d) The information submitted in accordance with paragraph (b) of 
this section will be made available to the public prior to initiation 
by APHIS of any rulemaking action on the request.
    (e) If, after review of the information submitted, APHIS believes 
the requested importation can be safely allowed, APHIS will publish a 
proposed rule in the Federal Register to allow the importation, and the 
conditions under which the importation would be allowed, along with a 
discussion of the basis for the proposal.
    (f) APHIS will provide a period of time during which the public may 
comment on the proposal. During the comment period, the public will 
have access to the information upon which APHIS based its analysis of 
the risk of such importation, as well as to its methodology in 
conducting the analysis. Once APHIS has reviewed all comments received, 
it will make a final decision on what conditions will be necessary to 
allow the importation in question, and will publish the conditions for 
import in the Federal Register.
    4. The heading of part 93 is revised to read as follows:

PART 93--IMPORTATION OF CERTAIN ANIMALS, BIRDS, AND POULTRY, AND 
CERTAIN ANIMAL, BIRD, AND POULTRY PRODUCTS; REQUIREMENTS FOR MEANS 
OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS

    5. The authority citation for part 93 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622; 19 U.S.C. 1306; 21 U.S.C. 102-105, 
111, 114a, 134a, 134b, 134c, 134d, 134f, 135, 136, and 136a; 31 
U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(d).

Subpart A--Birds

    6. Newly designated Sec. 93.100 is amended by revising the 
definition of Licensed veterinarian and adding a definition of Region, 
in alphabetical order, to read as follows:


Sec. 93.100  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Licensed veterinarian. Any person licensed by any region or 
political subdivision thereof to practice veterinary medicine.
* * * * *
    Region. Any defined geographic land area identifiable by 
geological, political, or surveyed boundaries. A region may consist of 
any of the following:
    (1) A national entity (country);
    (2) Part of a national entity (zone, county, department, 
municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.);
    (3) Parts of several national entities combined into an area; or
    (4) A group of national entities (countries) combined into a single 
area.
* * * * *


Sec. 93.101  [Amended]

    7. Newly designated Sec. 93.101 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), footnote 1 is amended by removing the word 
``countries'' and adding in its place the word ``regions''.
    b. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place each time the word ``region'' in the following 
places:
    i. Paragraph (b)(3)(iii).

[[Page 56014]]

    ii. Paragraph (b)(3)(v).
    iii. Paragraph (b)(3)(vi).
    iv. Paragraph (b)(3)(vii).
    v. Paragraph (b)(3)(viii).
    vi. Paragraph (b)(3)(ix).
    vii. Paragraph (b)(3)(x).
    viii. Paragraph (b)(3)(xi).
    ix. Paragraph (c)(2)(i).
    x. Paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(A).
    xi. Paragraph (c)(3)(i).
    xii. Paragraph (d), introductory text.
    c. In paragraph (b)(1), by removing the reference to 
``Secs. 92.205, 92.214, and 92.216'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Secs. 93.205, 93.214, and 93.216''.
    d. In paragraph (b)(3), introductory text, by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.107'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.107''.
    e. In paragraph (b)(3)(ii), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.103(a)(2)(iv)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.103(a)(2)(iv)''.
    f. In paragraph (b)(3)(ix), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.103(a)(2)(iv)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.103(a)(2)(iv)''.
    g. In paragraph (b)(3)(x), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.104(a)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.104(a)''.
    h. In paragraph (b)(3)(xi), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.104(a)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.104(a)''.
    i. In paragraph (c)(1), by removing the reference to 
``Secs. 92.102 or 92.203'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Secs. 93.103 or 93.203'', and by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.105'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.105''.
    j. In paragraph (c)(2)(i), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.101(c)(1)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.101(c)(1)''.
    k. In paragraph (c)(3), the introductory text, by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.102(a)'' and adding in its place a reference 
to ``Sec. 93.102(a)''.
    l. In paragraph (c)(3)(ii), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.103(a)(3)'' each time it appears and adding in its place 
each time a reference to ``Sec. 93.103(a)(3)'', and by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.102(a)'' each time it appears and adding in 
its place each time a reference to ``93.102(a)''.
    m. In paragraph (c)(3)(iv), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.106(a)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.106(a)''.
    n. In paragraph (c)(3)(v), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.210'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.210''.
    o. In paragraph (d), the introductory text, by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.103'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.103''.
    p. In paragraph (d)(1)(ii), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.103(c)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.103(c)''.
    q. In paragraph (e), by removing the reference to 
``Secs. 92.102(a), 92.103, 92.104, 92.105(a), and 92.106(a)'' and 
adding in its place a reference to ``Secs. 93.102(a), 93.103, 
93.104, 93.105(a), and 93.106(a)''.
    r. In paragraph (f), by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.102 
or 92.203'' and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.102 or 
93.203'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.103'' and 
adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.103''.


Sec. 93.102  [Amended]

    8. Newly designated Sec. 93.102 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.101(c)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.101(c)'', and by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.101(f)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.101(f)''.
    b. In paragraph (c), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.105'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.105''.
    c. In paragraph (d), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.101(c)(1) or (2)'' each time it appears and adding in its 
place a reference to ``Sec. 93.101(c)(1) or (2)'', and by removing 
the reference to ``Sec. 92.101(f)'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.101(f)'.


Sec. 93.103  [Amended]

    9. Newly designated Sec. 93.103 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a)(1)(vi).
    ii. Paragraph (a)(1)(viii).
    iii. Paragraph (a)(2)(ii), introductory text.
    iv. Paragraph (a)(2)(ii)(B).
    v. Paragraph (a)(2)(v).
    vi. Paragraph (b), second sentence.
    vii. Paragraph (c)(1)(ii).
    viii. Paragraph (c)(1)(iv).
    ix. Paragraph (c)(2)(ii).
    x. Paragraph (c)(2)(iv).
    b. In paragraph (a)(1), by removing the reference to 
``Secs. 92.101 (b) and (c), 92.103(c), and 92.107(b)'' and adding in 
its place a reference to ``Secs. 93.101(b) and (c), 93.103(c), and 
93.107(b)''.
    c. In paragraph (a)(1)(x), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.106(c)(5)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.106(c)(5)''.
    d. In paragraph (a)(1)(xii), by removing the reference to 
``Secs. 92.100 through 92.107'' and adding in its place a reference 
to ``Secs. 93.100 through 93.107''.
    e. In paragraph (a)(1)(xiii), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.107'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.107''.
    f. In paragraph (a)(2)(i), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.106(c)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.106(c)''.
    g. In paragraph (a)(2)(iii), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.107'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.107''.
    h. In paragraph (a)(2)(iv), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.107'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.107''.
    i. In paragraph (a)(2)(v), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.101(b)(3)'' each time it appears and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.101(b)(3)''.


Sec. 93.104  [Amended]

    10. Newly designated Sec. 93.104 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), by removing the word ``country'' each time 
it appears and adding in its place the word ``region''.
    b. In paragraph (a), by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.101 
(b) and (c)'' and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.101 
(b) and (c)''.
    c. In paragraph (c)(2), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.107'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.107''.
    d. In paragraph (c)(8), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.107'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.107''.
    e. In paragraph (c)(13), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.101(b)(3)(ix)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.101(b)(3)(ix)''.
    f. In paragraph (c)(14), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.101(b)(3)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.101(b)(3)''.
    g. In paragraph (c)(15), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.107'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.107''.
    h. In paragraph (d)(2), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.107'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.107''.
    i. In paragraph (d)(9), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.101(b)(3)(ix)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.101(b)(3)(ix)''.
    j. In paragraph (d)(10), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.101(b)(3)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.101(b)(3)''.
    k. In paragraph (d)(11), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.107'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.107''.


Sec. 93.105  [Amended]

    11. Newly designated Sec. 93.105 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.107(c)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.107(c)''.
    b. In paragraph (b), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.101(c)(2)'' each time it appears and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.101(c)(2)''; by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.102(a)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.102(a)''; and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.102 
and 92.203'' and adding in its place a reference to ``Secs. 93.102 
and 93.203''.
    c. In paragraph (c), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.107(b)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.107(b)''.


Sec. 93.106  [Amended]

    12. Newly designated Sec. 93.106 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (c)(5)(iii), the Cooperative and Trust Fund 
Agreement, the second paragraph, which begins with ``Whereas, the 
Importer'', by removing the word ``countries'' and adding in its 
place the word ``regions''.
    b. In paragraph (c)(5)(iii), the Cooperative and Trust Fund 
Agreement, paragraph (B)(5), by removing the word ``country'' and 
adding in its place the word ``region''.
    c. In paragraph (a), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.101(c)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.101(c)'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.103'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.103''.
    d. In paragraph (b)(1), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.107'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.107'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.103'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.103''.
    e. In paragraph (b)(2), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.107'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.107''.
    f. In paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(L), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.103'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.103''.
    g. In paragraph (c)(2)(ii)(M), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.103'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.103''.

[[Page 56015]]

    h. In paragraph (c)(5)(iii), the Cooperative and Trust Fund 
Agreement, paragraph (A)(4), by removing the reference to ``part 
92'' and adding in its place a reference to ``part 93'' each time it 
appears.
    i. In paragraph (c)(5)(iii), the Cooperative and Trust Fund 
Agreement, paragraph (A)(5), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.106(c)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.106(c)''.
    j. In paragraph (c)(5)(iii), the Cooperative and Trust Fund 
Agreement, paragraph (A)(13), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.106(c)(3)(ii)(C)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.106(c)(3)(ii)(C)''.
    k. In paragraph (c)(5)(iii), the Cooperative and Trust Fund 
Agreement, paragraph (A)(20), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.106(c)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.106(c)''.
    l. In subpart A, footnote 13, by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.107'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.107''.


Sec. 93.107  [Amended]

    13. Newly designated Sec. 93.107 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.103'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.103'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.101'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.101''.
    b. In paragraph (b)(3), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.203(b)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.203(b)''.
    c. In paragraph (b)(4), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.104(c)(8)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.104(c)(8)''.
    d. In paragraph (c)(2), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.105(a)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.105(a)''.
    e. In paragraph (c)(3), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.203(b)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.203(b)''.

Subpart B--Poultry

    14. Newly designated Sec. 93.200 is amended by revising the 
definition of Operator and adding a definition of Region, in 
alphabetical order, to read as follows:


Sec. 93.200  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Operator. For the purpose of Sec. 93.209, any person operating an 
approved quarantine facility.
* * * * *
    Region. Any defined geographic land area identifiable by 
geological, political, or surveyed boundaries. A region may consist of 
any of the following:
    (1) A national entity (country);
    (2) Part of a national entity (zone, county, department, 
municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.)
    (3) Parts of several national entities combined into an area; or
    (4) A group of national entities (countries) combined into a single 
area.
* * * * *


Sec. 93.201  [Amended]

    15. Newly designated Sec. 93.201 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), footnote 2, by removing the word 
``countries'' and adding in its place the word ``regions''.
    b. In paragraph (b), introductory text, by removing the word 
``country'' and adding in its place the word ``region''.
    c. In paragraph (b), introductory text, by removing the 
reference to ``part 92'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``part 93'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.204'' and 
adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.204''.
    d. In paragraph (b)(1)(ii), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.204(c)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.204(c)''.
    e. In paragraph (c), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.203'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.203'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.204'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.204''.


Sec. 93.202  [Amended]

    16. In newly designated Sec. 93.202, paragraph (a) is amended by 
removing the word ``country'' and adding in its place the word 
``region''.


Sec. 93.204  [Amended]

    17. Newly designated Sec. 93.204 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a)(1), by removing the reference to 
``Secs. 92.204(c), 92.214, 92.217, and 92.218'' and adding in its 
place a reference to ``Secs. 93.204(c), 93.214, 93.217, and 
93.218''.
    b. In paragraph (a)(2), by removing the word ``countries'' and 
adding in its place the word ``regions''.
    c. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a)(1).
    ii. Paragraph (a)(2).
    iii. Paragraph (b).
    iv. Paragraph (c)(1)(iii).
    v. Paragraph (c)(1)(v).
    vi. Paragraph (c)(2)(ii.)
    vii. Paragraph (c)(2)(iv).


Sec. 93.205  [Amended]

    18. Newly designated Sec. 93.205 is amended by removing the word 
``country'' each time it appears and adding in its place the word 
``region''.


93.207  [Amended]

    19. Newly designated Sec. 93.207 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Secs. 92.215 and 92.220'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Secs. 93.215 and 93.220''.


Sec. 93.209  [Amended]

    20. Newly designated Sec. 93.209 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.216'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.216''.
    b. In paragraph (b), by removing the word ``countries'' and 
adding in its place the word ``regions''.

    21. Preceding newly designated Sec. 93.214, in the undesignated 
center heading ``CANADA \6\'', footnote 6 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Secs. 92.214 to 92.216'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Secs. 93.214 to 93.216''.


Sec. 93.214  [Amended]

    22. Newly designated Sec. 93.214 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.204'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.204'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.203(b)'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.203(b)''.
    b. In paragraph (b), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.206'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.206''.


Sec. 93.215  [Amended]

    23. Newly designated Sec. 93.215 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a)(1), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.204'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.204'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.201'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.201''.
    b. In paragraph (b), by removing the word ``country'' and adding 
in its place the word ``region''.


Sec. 93.216  [Amended]

    24. Newly designated Sec. 93.216 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.209'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.209''.
    25. In subpart B, the undesignated heading preceding newly 
designated Sec. 93.217 is revised to read ``CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE 
WEST INDIES 7'', and footnote 7 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.217'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.217'' and by removing the word ``countries'' and adding in 
its place the word ``regions''.


Sec. 93.217  [Amended]

    26. Newly designated Sec. 93.217 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the word ``countries'' and adding in its place 
the word ``regions'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a).
    ii. Paragraph (b).
    iii. Paragraph (c).
    b. In paragraph (a), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.204'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.204''.
    c. In paragraph (b), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.206'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.206''.
    d. In paragraph (c), by removing the reference to 
``Secs. 92.205, 92.207, 92.209, and 92.210'' and adding in its place 
a reference to ``Sec. 93.205, 93.207, 93.209, and 93.210''.

    27. Preceding newly designated Sec. 93.218, in the undesignated 
center

[[Page 56016]]

heading ``MEXICO 8'', footnote 8 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Secs. 92.218 to 92.220'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Secs. 93.218 to 93.220''.


Sec. 93.218  [Amended]

    28. In newly designated Sec. 93.218, paragraph (a) is amended by 
removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.204'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.204''.


Sec. 93.219  [Amended]

    29. Newly designated Sec. 93.219 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.206'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.206''.


Sec. 93.220  [Amended]

    30. In newly designated Sec. 93.220, paragraph (b) is amended by 
removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.203'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.203''.

Subpart C--Horses

    31. Newly designated Sec. 93.300 is amended as follows:

    a. In the definition of Code of Practice, by removing the word 
``country'' and adding in its place the word ``region.''
    b. By revising the definition of Licensed veterinarian and by 
adding a definition of Region, in alphabetical order, to read as 
follows:


Sec. 93.300  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Licensed Veterinarian. Any person licensed by any country or 
political subdivision thereof to practice veterinary medicine.
* * * * *
    Region. Any defined geographic land area identifiable by 
geological, political, or surveyed boundaries. A region may consist of 
any of the following:
    (1) A national entity (country);
    (2) Part of a national entity (zone, county, department, 
municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.)
    (3) Parts of several national entities combined into an area; or
    (4) A group of national entities (countries) combined into a single 
area.
* * * * *


Sec. 93.301  [Amended]

    32. Newly designated Sec. 93.301 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (b), introductory text.
    ii. Paragraph (c)(1).
    iii. Paragraph (c)(2)(viii).
    iv. Paragraph (d)(1)(ii)(E).
    v. Paragraph (d)(2).
    vi. Paragraph (e)(1), introductory text.
    vii. Paragraph (e)(1)(iii).
    viii. Paragraph (e)(1)(v).
    ix. Paragraph (e)(1)(vi).
    x. In the heading of paragraph (g), and introductory text.
    xi. Paragraph (g)(1), introductory text.
    xii. Paragraph (g)(1)(iii).
    xiii. Paragraph (g)(1)(iv).
    xiv. Paragraph (h), introductory text.
    b. By removing the word ``countries'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``regions'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a), footnote 3.
    ii. Paragraph (c)(1).
    iii. In the heading of paragraph (e).
    iv. Paragraph (h)(5).
    c. In paragraph (b), introductory text, by removing the 
reference to ``part 92'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``part 93'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.304'' and 
adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.304''.
    d. In paragraph (c)(2)(iii), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.314(a)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.314(a)''.
    e. In paragraph (c)(2)(iv), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.301(a)'' and adding in its place would be removed and a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.301(a)''.
    f. In paragraph (d)(1)(i), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.304'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.304''.
    g. In paragraph (d)(1)(ii), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.314(a)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.314(a)'' each time it appears.
    h. In paragraph (d)(3), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.308'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.308'' each time it appears.
    i. In paragraph (e)(1)(i), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.304'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.304'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.308'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.308''.
    j. In paragraph (e)(1)(ii), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.314(a)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.314(a)''.
    k. In paragraph (e)(2)(i), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.308'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.308''.
    l. In paragraph (f)(1), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.304'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.304''.
    m. In paragraph (f)(4), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.304'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.304''.
    n. In paragraph (f)(6)(i), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.304'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.304''.
    o. In paragraph (g)(1), introductory text, by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.314(a)'' and adding in its place a reference 
to ``Sec. 93.314(a)''.
    p. In paragraph (g)(2), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.304'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.304''.
    q. In paragraph (g)(5), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.308'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.308''.


Sec. 93.302  [Amended]

    33. In newly designated Sec. 93.302, paragraph (a) is amended by 
removing the word ``country'' and adding in its place the word 
``region''.


Sec. 93.303  [Amended]

    34. Newly designated Sec. 93.303 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), by removing the reference to 
``Secs. 92.308(a), (b), and (c) and 92.317'' and adding in its place 
a reference to ``Secs. 93.308(a), (b), and (c) and 93.317''.
    b. In paragraph (e), by removing the reference to 
``Secs. 92.301(c), 92.304(a), 92.306, 92.308(a), (b), and (c), and 
92.314'' and adding in its place a reference to ``Secs. 93.301(c), 
93.304(a), 93.306, 93.308(a), (b), and (c), and 93.314''.
    c. In paragraph (e), by removing the word ``country'' and adding 
in its place the word ``region'', and in footnote 12, by removing 
the word ``countries'' and adding in its place the word ``regions''.


Sec. 93.304  [Amended]

    35. Newly designated Sec. 93.304 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the word ``countries'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``regions'' in the following places:
    i. The section heading.
    ii. Paragraph (a)(1)(i).
    iii. Paragraph (a)(2).
    b. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a)(1)(i).
    ii. Paragraph (a)(2).
    iii. Paragraph (b)(1).
    c. In paragraph (a)(1)(i), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.301(c)(1)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.301(c)(1)'', and by removing the reference to 
``Secs. 92.315, 92.319, and 92.321'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Secs. 93.315, 93.319, and 93.321''.
    d. In paragraph (a)(1)(ii), introductory text, by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.301(f)'' each time it appears and adding in 
its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.301(f)''.
    e. In paragraph (a)(1)(iii), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.301(f)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.301(f)''.
    f. In paragraph (a)(2), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.301(c)(1)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.301(c)(1)''.


Sec. 93.306  [Amended]

    36. In newly designated Sec. 93.306, paragraph (a) is amended by 
removing the reference to ``Secs. 92.318 and 92.323'' and adding in its 
place a reference to ``Secs. 93.318 and 93.323''.


Sec. 93.308  [Amended]

    37. Newly designated Sec. 93.308 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), introductory text, by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.324'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.324'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.303'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.303''.
    b. In paragraph (a)(1), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.317'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.317'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.303'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.303''.
    c. In paragraph (a)(2), by removing the word ``countries'' each 
time it appears and

[[Page 56017]]

adding in its place the word ``regions'', and by removing the word 
``country and adding in its place the word ``region.''.
    d. In paragraph (b), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.303(e)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.303(e)''.
    e. In paragraph (c)(4)(ii), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.308(a)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.308(a)''.


Sec. 93.314  [Amended]

    38. Newly designated Sec. 92.314 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. In paragraph (a), introductory text.
    ii. In paragraph (a)(1).
    iii. In paragraph (a)(5)(i).
    iv. In paragraph (a)(5)(ii).
    v. In paragraph (b).
    b. In paragraph (a)(5)(iv), by removing the word ``countries'' 
and adding in its place the word ``regions''.
    c. In paragraph (a)(5), introductory text, by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.301(g)'' and adding in its place a reference 
to ``Sec. 93.301(g)''.
    d. In paragraph (a)(5)(i), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.301(c)(1)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.301(c)(1)''.
    e. In paragraph (c), by removing the reference to reference to 
``Sec. 92.306'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.306''.

    39. Preceding newly designated Sec. 93.315, in the undesignated 
center heading ``CANADA\16\'', footnote 16 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Secs. 92.315, 92.316, 92.317 and 92.318'' and adding in 
its place a reference to ``Secs. 93.315, 93.316, 93.317 and 93.318''.


Sec. 93.315  [Amended]

    40. Newly designated Sec. 93.315 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.305'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.305''.


Sec. 93.316  [Amended]

    41. Newly designated Sec. 93.316 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.306'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.306''.


Sec. 93.317  [Amended]

    42. In newly designated Sec. 93.317, paragraph (a) is amended by 
removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.306'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.306'', and by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.314'' each time it appears and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.314''.


Sec. 93.318  [Amended]

    43. Newly designated Sec. 93.318 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a)(1), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.304'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.304'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.301'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.301''.
    b. In paragraph (b), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.317(b)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.317(b)''.
    c. In paragraph (b), by removing the word ``country'' and adding 
in its place the word ``region''.

    44. The undesignated center heading immediately preceding 
Sec. 93.319 is revised to read ``CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE WEST 
INDIES\17\'', and footnote 17 is amended by removing word ``countries'' 
and adding in its place the word ``regions'', and by removing the 
reference to ``Secs. 92.319 and 92.320'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Secs. 93.319 and 93.320''.


Sec. 93.319  [Amended]

    45. Newly designated Sec. 93.319 is amended by removing the word 
``countries'' and adding in its place the word ``regions'', and by 
removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.305'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.305''.


Sec. 93.320  [Amended]

    46. Newly designated Sec. 93.320 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.306'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.306'', by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.314'' and 
adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.314'', and by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.308 (a), (b) and (c)'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.308 (a), (b), and (c)''.
    47. Preceding newly designated Sec. 93.321, in the undesignated 
center heading ``MEXICO\18\'', footnote 18 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Secs. 92.321 to 92.326'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Secs. 93.321 to 93.326''.


Sec. 93.322  [Amended]

    48. Newly designated Sec. 93.322 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.305'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.305''.


Sec. 93.323  [Amended]

    49. In newly designated Sec. 93.323, paragraphs (a) and (b) are 
amended by removing the references to ``Sec. 92.324'' and adding in 
their place a reference to ``Sec. 93.324''.


Sec. 93.324  [Amended]

    50. Newly designated Sec. 93.324 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.303(a)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.303(a)''.


Sec. 93.325  [Amended]

    51. Newly designated Sec. 93.325 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Secs. 92.306 and 92.323'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Secs. 93.306 and 93.323'', by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.314'' and adding in its place a reference to ``93.314'', and 
by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.324'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.324''.


Sec. 93.326  [Amended]

    52. Newly designated Sec. 93.326 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Secs. 92.321, 92.322, 92.323, and 92.324'' and adding in 
its place a reference to ``Secs. 93.321, 93.322, 93.323, and 93.324'', 
and by removing the words ``in Sec. 92.324'' and adding in their place 
the words ``in Sec. 93.324''.

Subpart D--Ruminants

    53. In newly designated Sec. 93.400, the definition of Brucellosis 
certified free province and territories of Canada is revised, and a new 
definition of Region is added, in alphabetical order, to read as 
follows:


Sec. 93.400  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Brucellosis certified-free province or territory of Canada. A 
province or territory of Canada in which all herds of cattle are 
brucellosis certified free. The brucellosis certified free provinces 
and territories of Canada are Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New 
Brunswick, Newfoundland (including Labrador), Northwest Territories, 
Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and 
Yukon Territory.
* * * * *
    Region. Any defined geographic land area identifiable by 
geological, political, or surveyed boundaries. A region may consist of 
any of the following:
    (1) A national entity (country);
    (2) Part of a national entity (zone, county, department, 
municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.);
    (3) Parts of several national entities combined into an area; or
    (4) A group of national entities (countries) combined into a single 
area.
* * * * *


Sec. 93.401  [Amended]

    54. Newly designated Sec. 93.401 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), footnote 3, by removing the word 
``countries'' and adding the word ``regions'' in its place;
    b. In paragraph (b), introductory text, by removing the word 
``country'' and adding the word ``region'' in its place, and by 
removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.404'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.404''.


Sec. 93.402  [Amended]

    55. In newly designated Sec. 93.402, paragraph (a) is amended by 
removing the word ``country'' and adding the word ``region'' in its 
place.


Sec. 93.403  [Amended]

    56. In newly designated Sec. 93.403, paragraph (g), the references 
to

[[Page 56018]]

``Secs. 92.401, 92.404(a), 92.407, 92.408, 92.433, and 92.434'' are 
removed, and references to ``Secs. 93.401, 93.404(a), 93.407, 93.408, 
93.433, and 93.434'' are added in their place.


Sec. 93.404  [Amended]

    57. Newly designated Sec. 93.404 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a)(1), by removing the reference to 
``Secs. 92.417, 92.422, and 92.424'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Secs. 93.417, 93.422, and 93.424''.
    b. In paragraph (a)(2), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.430'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.430''.
    c. In paragraph (c)(4), ``Agreement for the Importation, 
Quarantine and Exhibition of Certain Wild Ruminants and Wild 
Swine'', paragraph 2, the first sentence, by removing the words 
``this country'' and adding in their place the words ``the United 
States''.
    d. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a)(1).
    ii. Paragraph (a)(2).
    iii. Paragraph (a)(3).
    iv. Paragraph (b).
    v. Paragraph (c)(4), in the ``Agreement for the Importation, 
Quarantine and Exhibition of Certain Ruminants and Swine'', in the 
introductory text and in paragraph (1) and paragraph (2).
    e. By removing the word ``countries'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``regions'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a)(3).
    ii. Paragraph (c), the heading and the introductory text.
    f. In paragraph (c)(4), the ``Agreement for the Importation, 
Quarantine and Exhibition of Certain Ruminants and Swine'', 
introductory text, by removing the reference to ``part 92'' and 
adding in its place a reference to ``part 93''.


Sec. 93.405  [Amended]

    58. Newly designated Sec. 93.405 is amended as follows:

     a. In paragraph (a), by removing the reference to 
``Secs. 92.418(a), 92.419(a), 92.423(c), and 92.428(d)'' and adding 
in its place a reference to ``Secs. 93.418(a), 93.419(a), 93.423(c), 
and 93.428(d)''.
    b. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a), introductory text.
    ii. Paragraph (a)(1).
    iii. Paragraph (a)(2).
    iv. Paragraph (c)(3).
    c. In paragraph (b)(2)(ii), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.435(a)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.435(a)''.
    d. In paragraph (c)(3), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.435(a)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.435(a)''.


Sec. 93.406  [Amended]

    59. Newly designated Sec. 93.406 is amended as follows:

     a. In paragraph (a), by removing the reference to 
``Secs. 92.418, 92.427(c) and (d), and 92.432'' and adding in its 
place a reference to ``Secs. 93.418, 93.427(c) and (d), and 
93.432'', and by removing the word ``country'' and adding the word 
``region'' in its place.
    b. In paragraph (b), by removing the reference to ``Secs. 92.419 
and 92.428(b)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Secs. 93.419 and 93.428(b),'' and by removing the word ``country'' 
and adding in its place the word ``region'.
    c. In paragraph (c), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.411'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.411''.


Sec. 93.408  [Amended]

    60. Newly designated Sec. 93.408 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Secs. 92.421 and 92.426'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Secs. 93.421 and 93.426'', and by removing the reference 
to ``Secs. 92.423(c) and 92.427(a)'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Secs. 93.423(c) and 93.427(a)''.
    61. Preceding newly designated Sec. 93.417, in the undesignated 
center heading ``CANADA \7\'', footnote 7 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Secs. 92.417 to 92.421'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Secs. 93.417 to 93.421''.


Sec. 93.417  [Amended]

    62. Newly designated Sec. 93.417 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), introductory text, by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.404'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.404'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.403(b)'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.403(b)''.
    b. In paragraph (a)(3)(i) and paragraph (a)(3)(ii), by removing 
the word ``country'' and adding in its place the word ``region'.
    c. In paragraph (b), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.407'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.407''.

    63. Newly designated Sec. 93.418 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.420'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.420'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.405(a)'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.405(a)'.
    b. In paragraph (b)(2)(i), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.420'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.420''.
    c. By revising paragraph (c) to read as set forth below.
    d. In paragraph (d)(4), by removing the reference to ``paragraph 
(c)(5)'' and adding in its place a reference to ``paragraph 
(c)(2)(ii)(C)''.


Sec. 93.418  Cattle from Canada.

* * * * *
    (c) Brucellosis test or vaccination certificates. (1) Cattle from 
Canada from a herd in which any cattle have been determined to have 
brucellosis may not be imported into the United States;
    (2) Except for cattle prohibited from importation into the United 
States under paragraph (c)(1) of this section, cattle 6 months of age 
or older from Canada may be imported into the United States if the 
following conditions are met:
    (i) The cattle are imported for slaughter in accordance with 
Sec. 92.420;
    (ii) The cattle are steers; or
    (iii) The cattle are accompanied by a certificate issued or 
endorsed by a salaried veterinarian of the Canadian government showing:
    (A) That the cattle are from a brucellosis certified-free herd, 
province, or territory; or
    (B) The date and place the cattle were last tested for brucellosis; 
that the cattle were found negative for brucellosis on such test; and 
that such test was performed within 30 days preceding the arrival of 
the cattle at the port of entry; or
    (C) That the female cattle under 18 months of age were vaccinated 
against brucellosis in accordance with Canadian regulations.
* * * * *


Sec. 93.419  [Amended]

    64. In newly designated Sec. 93.419, paragraph (a) is amended by 
removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.420'' and adding in its place a 
reference to Sec. 93.420''; and by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.405'' and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.405''.


Sec. 93.420  [Amended]

    65. Newly designated Sec. 92.420 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.408'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.408''.


Sec. 93.421  [Amended]

    66. Newly designated Sec. 93.421 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a)(1), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.404'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.404'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.401'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.401''.
    b. In paragraph (b), by removing the word ``country'' and adding 
in its place the word ``region''.

    67. Preceding newly designated Sec. 93.422, the undesignated center 
heading ``COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AMERICA AND WEST INDIES8'' is 
revised to read ``CENTRAL AMERICA AND WEST INDIES8'', and 
footnote 8 is amended by removing the word ``countries'' and adding in 
its place the word ``regions'', and by removing the reference to 
``Secs. 92.422 and 92.423'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Secs. 93.422 and 93.423''.

[[Page 56019]]

Sec. 93.422  [Amended]

    68. Newly designated Sec. 93.422 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.404'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.404'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.423'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.423''.
    b. In paragraph (b), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.407'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.407''.

    69. In newly designated Sec. 93.422, paragraphs (a) and (b) are 
amended by removing the word ``countries'' and adding in its place the 
word ``regions''.


Sec. 93.423  [Amended]

    70. Newly designated Sec. 93.423 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), by removing the word ``country'' each time 
it appears and adding in its place the word ``region''; by removing 
the reference to ``Sec. 92.405(a)'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.405(a)''; and by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.420'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.420''.
    b. In paragraph (b), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.405'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.405''.
    c. In paragraph (c), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.403(d)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.403(d)''.

    71. Preceding newly designated Sec. 93.424, in the undesignated 
center heading ``MEXICO 9'', footnote 9 is amended by 
removing the reference to ``Secs. 92.424 to 92.429,'' and adding in its 
place a reference to ``Secs. 93.424 to 93.429''.


Sec. 93.424  [Amended]

    72. Newly designated ``Sec. 93.424'' is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), introductory text, by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.404'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.404''; and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.403(c)'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.403(c)''.
    b. In paragraph (a)(3)(i) and paragraph (a)(3)(ii), by removing 
the word ``country'' each time it appears and adding in its place 
the word ``region''.
    c. In paragraph (a)(3)(iii), by removing the word ``countries'' 
and adding in its place the word ``regions''.
    d. In paragraph (b), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.427(d)'' each time it appears and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.427(d)''.


Sec. 93.425  [Amended]

    73. Newly designated Sec. 93.425 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.407'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.407''.


Sec. 93.426  [Amended]

    74. Newly designated Sec. 93.426 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.427'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.427''.
    b. In paragraph (b), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.403'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.403''.


Sec. 93.427  [Amended]

    75. Newly designated Sec. 93.427 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.405(a)'' and adding in 
its place a reference to Sec. 93.405(a) in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (b)(1).
    ii. Paragraph (b)(2)(i).
    iii. Paragraph (b)(2)(ii).
    iv. Paragraph (c)(1).
    v. Paragraph (d)(1), introductory text.
    b. In paragraph (b)(2), introductory text, by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.403(c)'' and adding in its place a reference 
to ``Sec. 93.403(c)''.
    c. In paragraph (c)(1), by removing the word ``country's'' and 
adding in its place the word ``region's''.
    d. In paragraph (c)(1) and paragraph (c)(2), by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.429'' each time it appears and adding in its 
place a reference to ``Sec. 93.429''.
    e. In paragraph (c)(2), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.427(e)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.427(e)''.


Sec. 93.428  [Amended]

    76. Newly designated Sec. 93.428 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.405'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.405'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.427(a)'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.427(a)''.
    b. In paragraph (b), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.427'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.427''.
    c. In paragraph (d), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.426'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.426''.


Sec. 93.429  [Amended]

    77. Newly designated Sec. 93.429 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Secs. 92.424, 92.425, 92.426, and 92.427(b)(2)'' and 
adding in its place a reference to ``Secs. 93.424, 93.425, 93.426, and 
93.427(b)(2)'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.405(a)'' and 
adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.405(a)''.


Sec. 93.430  [Amended]

    78. Newly designated Sec. 92.430 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (c)(1).
    ii. Paragraph (d), ``Cooperative Services Agreement Between 
(Name of Importer) and the United States Department of Agriculture, 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service'', under ``The importer 
agrees:'', paragraph 4.
    iii. Paragraph (d), ``Cooperative Services Agreement Between 
(Name of Importer) and the United States Department of Agriculture, 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service'', under ``Both parties 
agree:'', paragraph 4.
    b. In paragraph (d), ``Cooperative Services Agreement Between 
(Name of Importer) and the United States Department of Agriculture, 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service'', under ``The importer 
agrees:'', paragraph 7, by removing the reference to ``9 CFR 
92.431'' and adding in its place a reference to ``9 CFR 93.431''.


Sec. 93.431  [Amended]

    79. Newly designated Sec. 93.431 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a)(4), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.430(d)'' both times it appears and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.430(d)''.
    b. In paragraph (b)(2)(iv) and paragraph (b)(4), by removing the 
word ``country'' and adding in its place the word ``region''.


Sec. 93.432  [Amended]

    80. Newly designated Sec. 93.432 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.432(c)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.432(c)''.
    b. In paragraph (b)(2), introductory text, by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.432(c)(1)'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.432(c)(1)''.


Sec. 93.434  [Amended]

    81. Newly designated Sec. 93.434 is amended as follows:

     a. In paragraph (a) and the introductory text of paragraph (b), 
by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.412'' each time it appears 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.412''.
    b. In paragraph (b)(2)(i)(A), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.403(g)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.403(g)''.


Sec. 93.435  [Amended]

    82. Newly designated Sec. 93.435 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (b)(2), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.405(b)(2)(ii)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.405(b)(2)(ii)''.
    b. By removing the word ``country'' and adding in its place the 
word ``region'' in the following places:
    i Paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3).
    ii. Paragraph (d).
    iii. Paragraph (e).
    iv. Paragraph (g)(2)(i) and (g)(2)(ii).
    c. In paragraph (b)(3), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.405(c)(3)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.405(c)(3)''.
    d. In paragraph (b)(6), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.404(c)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.404(c)''.

Subpart E--Swine

    83. Newly designated 93.500 is amended by adding a definition of

[[Page 56020]]

Region, in alphabetical order, to read as follows:


Sec. 93.500  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Region. Any defined geographic land area identifiable by 
geological, political, or surveyed boundaries. A region may consist of 
any of the following:
    (1) A national entity (country);
    (2) Part of a national entity (zone, county, department, 
municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.);
    (3) Parts of several national entities combined into an area; or
    (4) A group of national entities (countries) combined into a single 
area.
* * * * *


Sec. 93.501  [Amended]

    84. In newly designated Sec. 93.501, paragraph (b), the 
introductory text is amended by removing the reference to ``part 92'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``part 93''; by removing the 
word ``country'' and adding in its place the word ``region''; and by 
removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.504'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.504''.


Sec. 93.502  [Amended]

    85. In newly designated Sec. 93.502, paragraph (a) is amended by 
removing the word ``country'' and adding in its place the word 
``region''.


Sec. 93.504  [Amended]

    86. Newly designated Sec. 93.504 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a)(1).
    ii. Paragraph (a)(2).
    iii. Paragraph (a)(3).
    iv. Paragraph (b).
    v. Paragraph (c)(4), ``Agreement for the Importation, Quarantine 
and Exhibition of Certain Wild Ruminants and Wild Swine'', in the 
introductory text, paragraph (1), and paragraph (2).
    b. In paragraph (a)(1), by removing the reference to 
``Secs. 92.516 and 92.520'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Secs. 93.516 and 93.520''.
    c. In paragraph (a)(2), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.522'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.522''.
    d. By removing the word ``countries'' and replacing it with the 
word ``regions'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a)(3).
    ii. Paragraph (c) in the heading and in the introductory text.
    e. In paragraph (c)(4), ``Agreement for the Importation, 
Quarantine and Exhibition of Certain Wild Ruminants and Wild Swine, 
introductory text, by removing the reference to ``part 92'' and 
adding in its place a reference to ``part 93''.


Sec. 93.505  [Amended]

    87. In newly designated Sec. 93.505, paragraph (a) is amended by 
removing the reference to Sec. 92.517'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.517'', and by removing the word ``country'' each 
time it appears and adding in its place the word ``region'.


Sec. 93.507  [Amended]

    88. Newly designated Sec. 93.507 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.519'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.519''.
    89. Preceding newly designated Sec. 93.516, in the undesignated 
center heading ``CANADA\7\'', footnote 7 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Secs. 92.516 to 92.519'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Secs. 93.516 to 93.519''.


Sec. 93.516  [Amended]

    90. Newly designated Sec. 93.516 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), introductory text, by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.504'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.504'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.503(b)'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.503(b)''.
    b. In paragraph (a)(1) and paragraph (a)(2), by removing the 
word ``country'' each time it appears and adding in its place the 
word ``region''.
    c. In paragraph (b), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.506'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.506''.


Sec. 93.517  [Amended]

    91. In newly designated Sec. 93.517, paragraph (b) is amended by 
removing the reference to Sec. 92.507, 92.516, and 92.518'' and adding 
in its place a reference to ``Secs. 93.507, 93.516, and 93.518''.


Sec. 93.519  [Amended]

    92. Newly designated Sec. 93.519 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a)(1), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.504'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.504'', and by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.501'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.501''.
    b. In paragraph (b), by removing the word ``country'' and adding 
in its place the word ``region''.

    93. Preceding newly designated Sec. 93.520, the undesignated center 
heading ``COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AMERICA AND WEST INDIES\8\'' is revised 
to read ``CENTRAL AMERICA AND WEST INDIES\8\'', and footnote 8 is 
amended by removing the word ``countries'' and adding in its place the 
word ``regions'', and by removing the reference to ``Secs. 92.520 to 
92.522'' and adding in its place a reference to ``Secs. 93.520 to 
93.522.''


Sec. 93.520  [Amended]

    94. Newly designated Sec. 93.520 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.506'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.506''.
    95. Preceding newly designated Sec. 93.521, in the undesignated 
center heading ``MEXICO\9\'', footnote 9 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.521'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.521''.


Sec. 93.521  [Amended]

    96. Newly designated Sec. 93.521 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.506'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.506''.


Sec. 93.522  [Amended]

    97. Newly designated Sec. 93.522 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (c)(1), by removing the words ``country or 
area'' and adding in their place the word ``region''.
    b. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (c)(3).
    ii. Paragraph (d), ``Cooperative-Services Agreement Between 
(Name of Importer) and the United States Department of Agriculture, 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service'', under ``The importer 
agrees:'', paragraph 4.
    iii. Paragraph (d), ``Cooperative-Services Agreement Between 
(Name of Importer) and the United States Department of Agriculture, 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service'', under ``Both parties 
agree:'', paragraph 4.
    c. In paragraph (d), ``Cooperative-Services Agreement Between 
(Name of Importer) and the United States Department of Agriculture, 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service'', under ``The importer 
agrees:'', paragraph 7, by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.523'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.523''.


Sec. 93.523  [Amended]

    98. Newly designated Sec. 93.523 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a)(4), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.522(d)'' both times it appears and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.522(d)''.
    b. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (b)(2)(iv).
    ii. Paragraph (b)(2)(viii).
    iii. Paragraph (b)(4)

Subpart F--Dogs


Sec. 93.600  [Amended]

    99. Newly designated Sec. 93.600 is amended by removing the word 
``countries'' and adding in its place the word ``regions''.

[[Page 56021]]

Subpart G--Miscellaneous Animals

    100. In newly designated Sec. 93.700, a definition of Region is 
added, in alphabetical order, to read as follows:


Sec. 93.700  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Region. Any defined geographic land area identifiable by 
geological, political, or surveyed boundaries. A region may consist of 
any of the following:
    (1) A national entity (country);
    (2) Part of a national entity (zone, county, department, 
municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.)
    (3) Parts of several national entities combined into an area; or
    (4) A group of national entities (countries) combined into a single 
area.
* * * * *


Sec. 93.701  [Amended]

    101. Newly designated Sec. 93.701 is amended by removing the word 
``country'' both times it appears and adding in its place the word 
``region'.


Sec. 93.702  [Amended]

    102. Newly designated Sec. 93.702 is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.701'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.701''.


Sec. 93.704  [Amended]

    103. Newly designated Sec. 93.704 is amended by removing the word 
``country'' each time it appears and adding in its place the word 
``region'' in the paragraph (c)(1) and paragraph (c)(4).


Sec. 93.705  [Amended]

    104. Newly designated Sec. 93.705 is amended by removing the word 
``country'' each time it appears and adding in its place the word 
``region'' in the following places:

    a. Paragraph (a), introductory text.
    b. Paragraph (a)(1).
    c. Paragraph (a)(2).
    d. Paragraph (a)(3).

Subpart H--Elephants, Hippopotami, Rhinoceroses, and Tapirs

    105. Newly designated Sec. 93.800 is amended by adding a definition 
of Region, in alphabetical order, to read as follows:


Sec. 93.800  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Region. Any defined geographic land area identifiable by 
geological, political, or surveyed boundaries. A region may consist of 
any of the following:
    (1) A national entity (country);
    (2) Part of a national entity (zone, county, department, 
municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.)
    (3) Parts of several national entities combined into an area; or
    (4) A group of national entities (countries) combined into a single 
area.
* * * * *


Sec. 93.803  [Amended]

    106. In newly designated Sec. 93.803, paragraph (a), the 
introductory text is amended by removing the word ``country'' each time 
it appears and adding in its place the word ``region'.


Sec. 93.804  [Amended]

    107. In newly designated Sec. 93.804, paragraph (g) is amended by 
removing the word ``country'' and adding in its place the word 
``region''.

PART 94--RINDERPEST, FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE, FOWL PEST (FOWL 
PLAGUE), EXOTIC NEWCASTLE DISEASE, AFRICAN SWINE FEVER, HOG 
CHOLERA, AND BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY: PROHIBITED AND 
RESTRICTED IMPORTATIONS

    108. The authority citation for part 94 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 147a, 150ee, 161, 162, 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).

    109. In Sec. 94.0, the definition of Country of origin is removed 
and definitions of Cervid, Contact, Pink juice test, Region, Region of 
origin, Ruminants, and Veterinarian in charge are added, in 
alphabetical order, to read as follows:


Sec. 94.0  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Cervid. All species of deer, elk, and moose.
* * * * *
    Contact. Known or potential commingling of products during 
processing or storage, or while being transported from any point to any 
other point. Contact includes the simultaneous processing in the same 
room, locker, or container, but not necessarily the same storage 
facility or conveyance, as long as adequate security measures are taken 
to prevent commingling, as determined by an authorized APHIS 
representative.
* * * * *
    Pink juice test. Determination of whether meat has been thoroughly 
cooked by observation of whether the flesh and juices have lost all red 
and pink color.
* * * * *
    Region. Any defined geographic land area identifiable by 
geological, political, or surveyed boundaries. A region may consist of 
any of the following:
    (1) A national entity (country);
    (2) Part of a national entity (zone, county, department, 
municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.)
    (3) Parts of several national entities combined into an area; or
    (4) A group of national entities (countries) combined into a single 
area.
    Region of origin. For meat and meat products, the region in which 
the animal from which the meat or meat products were derived was born, 
raised and slaughtered; and for eggs, the region in which the eggs were 
laid.
    Ruminants. All animals that chew the cud, such as cattle, 
buffaloes, sheep, goats, deer, antelopes, camels, llamas and giraffes.
* * * * *
    Veterinarian in Charge. The veterinary official of the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of 
Agriculture, who is assigned by the Administrator to supervise and 
perform the official animal health work of the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service in the State or area concerned.
* * * * *


Sec. 94.1  [Amended]

    110. Section 94.1 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the word ``Countries'' in the heading to the 
section and adding in its place the word ``Regions''.
    b. By removing the word ``countries'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``regions'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a)(1);
    ii. Paragraph (a)(2);
    iii. Paragraph (b).
    c. By removing the words ``fresh, chilled, or frozen'' each time 
they appear and adding in their place the words ``fresh (chilled or 
frozen)'' in paragraph (b) and paragraph (c).
    d. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (b).
    ii. Paragraph (c), introductory text.
    iii. Paragraph (c)(2).
    iv. Paragraph (c)(3).
    v. Paragraph (c)(5).


Sec. 94.1a  [Amended]

    111. Section 94.1a is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a), introductory text.
    ii. Paragraph (a)(2).
    iii. Paragraph (a)(7).
    iv. Paragraph (a)(8), introductory text.
    b. In paragraph (a)(7) and in paragraph (a)(8), introductory 
text, by removing the word ``countries'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``regions''.

[[Page 56022]]

Sec. 94.2  [Amended]

    112. Section 94.2 is amended as follows:

    a. In the heading to the section, by removing the words ``Fresh, 
chilled, or frozen'' and adding in their place the words ``Fresh 
(chilled or frozen)'';
    b. In paragraph (a), by removing the words ``fresh, chilled, or 
frozen'' and adding in their place the words ``fresh (chilled or 
frozen)''.
    c. In paragraphs (a) and (b), by removing the word ``country'' 
each time it appears and adding in its place the word ``region''.


Sec. 94.3  [Amended]

    113. Section 94.3 is amended by removing the words ``fresh, 
chilled, or frozen'' and adding in their place the words ``fresh 
(chilled or frozen)'' and by removing the word ``country'' and adding 
in its place the word ``region''.


Sec. 94.4  [Amended]

    114. Section 94.4 is amended as follows:

    a. In the heading to the section, by removing the word 
``countries'' and adding in its place the word ``regions''.
    b. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a), introductory text.
    ii. Paragraph (a)(1).
    iii. Paragraph (a)(4).
    iv. Paragraph (b), introductory text.
    v. Paragraph (b)(7).
    vi. Paragraph (c)(1)(iii).
    vii. Paragraph (c)(2)(iv).


Sec. 94.5  [Amended]

    115. In Sec. 94.5, paragraph (b)(1)(i)(A) is amended by removing 
the word ``country'' and adding the word ``region'' in its place, and 
by removing the word ``countries'' and adding the word ``regions'' in 
its place.


Sec. 94.6  [Amended]

    116. Section 94.6 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the word ``countries'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``regions'' in the following places:
    i. The heading to the section.
    ii. Paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2).
    iii. Paragraph (b)(1).
    iv. Paragraph (b)(2).
    v. The heading to paragraph (c).
    vi. The heading to paragraph (d).
    b. In the heading to paragraph (a) and in the heading to 
paragraph (b), by removing the word ``Countries'' each time it 
appears and adding in its place the word ``Regions''.
    c. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (c), introductory text.
    ii. Paragraph (d), introductory text.
    iii. Paragraph (d)(1), introductory text.
    iv. Paragraph (d)(1)(i).
    v. Paragraph (d)(1)(iii).
    vi. Paragraph (d)(1)(v).
    vii. Paragraph (d)(1)(viii).
    viii. Paragraph (d)(1)(ix), introductory text.
    ix. Paragraph (d)(1)(ix)(C)(1).
    x. Paragraph (d)(1)(ix)(C)(2).
    xi. Paragraph (d)(1)(x), introductory text.
    xii. Paragraph (d)(1)(x)(C)(1).
    xiii. Paragraph (d)(1)(x)(C)(2).
    xiv. Paragraph (d)(1)(x)(C)(3).


Sec. 94.7  [Amended]

    117. Section 94.7 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the words ``fresh, chilled, or frozen'' wherever 
they appear and adding in their place the words ``fresh (chilled or 
frozen)'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a);
    ii. Paragraph (b);
    iii. Paragraph (c);
    iv. Paragraph (d).
    b. By removing the reference to ``Sec. 94.1,'' each time it 
appears and adding in its place a reference to ``Secs. 94.1, 94.8, 
94.9, 94.10, 94.12, 94.14, or 94.18,'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a).
    ii. Paragraph (b).
    iii. Paragraph (c).
    iv. Paragraph (d).


Sec. 94.8  [Amended]

    118. Section 94.8 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a)(3)(iv)(A), by removing the words ``countries 
or parts of countries'' and adding in their place the word 
``regions''.
    b. In the heading to the section, by removing the word 
``countries'' and adding in its place the word ``regions''.
    c. In footnote 7, before paragraph (1), by removing the words 
``country or a part of a country'' and adding in their place the 
word ``region'', and, in paragraph (4), by removing the words ``this 
country'' and adding in their place the words ``the United States''.
    d. By removing the words ``country or part of a country'' and 
adding in their place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a), introductory text.
    ii. Paragraph (a)(3)(i)(A).
    iii. Paragraph (a)(3)(i)(B).
    iv. Paragraph (a)(3)(v).
    v. Paragraph (c).
    e. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places.
    i. Footnote 7 to the introductory text of the section.
    ii. Paragraph (a)(3)(i)(B).
    iii. Paragraph (a)(3)(i)(C).
    iv. Paragraph (a)(3)(i)(D).
    v. Paragraph (a)(3)(vi).
    f. In footnote 7 to the introductory text of the section, by 
removing the word ``country's'' and adding in its place the word 
``region's''.


Sec. 94.9  [Amended]

    119. Section 94.9 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the word ``countries'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``regions'' in the following places:
    i. The heading to the section.
    ii. Paragraph (a), introductory text.
    iii. Paragraph (b)(1)(iii)(C)(2).
    iv. Paragraph (c).
    b. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (b), introductory text.
    ii. Paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(A).
    iii. Paragraph (b)(1)(iii)(A).
    iv. Paragraph (b)(1)(iii)(C), introductory text.
    v. Paragraph (b)(1)(iii)(C)(1).
    vi. Paragraph (b)(1)(iii)(C)(2).
    vii. Paragraph (b)(3).


Sec. 94.10  [Amended]

    120. Section 94.10 is amended as follows:

    a. In the heading to the section and in paragraph (a), by 
removing the word ``countries'' and adding in its place the word 
``regions''.
    b. In paragraph (a), by removing the word ``country'' and adding 
in its place the word ``region''.
    c. In paragraph (b), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.504(c) or Sec. 92.501'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.504(c) or Sec. 93.501''.


Sec. 94.11  [Amended]

    121. Section 94.11 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the word ``countries'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``regions'' in the following places:
    i. The heading to the section.
    ii. Paragraph (a).
    iii. Paragraph (b).
    iv. Paragraph (c), introductory text.
    b. In paragraph (a), by removing the words ``fresh, chilled, or 
frozen'' both times they appear and adding in their place the words 
``fresh (chilled or frozen)''.
    c. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a).
    ii. Paragraph (c), introductory text.
    iii. Paragraph (c)(1).
    iv. Paragraph (c)(2).
    v. Paragraph (c)(3).

    122. Section 94.12 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the word ``countries'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``regions'' in the following places:
    i. The heading to the section.
    ii. Paragraph (a).
    iii. Paragraph (b)(1)(iv)(B)(2)(ii).
    b. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (b), introductory text.
    ii. Paragraph (b)(1)(ii)(A).
    iii. Paragraph (b)(1)(iii)(A).
    iv. Paragraph (b)(1)(iv), introductory text.
    v. Paragraph (b)(1)(iv)(A).
    vi. Paragraph (b)(1)(iv)(B)(1).
    vii. Paragraph (b)(1)(iv)(B)(2)(i).
    viii. Paragraph (b)(3).
    c. By revising paragraph (b)(1)(iii)(B) to read as follows:

[[Page 56023]]

Sec. 94.12  Pork and pork products from countries where swine vesicular 
disease exists.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iii) * * *
    (B) Such pork or pork products shall be consigned directly from the 
port of entry in the United States to a meat processing establishment 
operating under Federal meat inspection and approved by the 
Administrator,\11\ for heating to an internal temperature of 166 
deg.F. During movement from the port of entry to the meat processing 
establishment, the pork or pork products must be moved under Department 
seals or seals of the the U.S. Customs Service, and shall be otherwise 
handled as the Administrator may direct in order to guard against the 
introduction and dissemination of swine vesicular disease. Seals 
applied under this section may not be broken except by persons 
authorized by the Administrator to do so; or
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ The names and addresses of approved establishments may be 
obtained from, and request for approval of any establishment may be 
made to, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary 
Services, National Center for Import-Export, 4700 River Road Unit 
38, Riverdale, Maryland 20737-1231. Establishments will be approved 
only if the Administrator determines that the imported articles will 
be so handled at the establishment as to prevent the introduction 
and dissemination of livestock or poultry diseases into the United 
States. Approval of any establishment may be refused or withdrawn 
only after the operator thereof has been given notice of the 
proposed action and has had an opportunity to present his views 
thereon.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *


Sec. 94.13  [Amended]

    123. Section 94.13 is amended as follows:

    a. In the heading to the section and in the introductory text to 
the section, by removing the word ``countries'' each time it appears 
and adding in its place the word ``regions''.
    b. In the introductory text to the section, by removing the 
words ``fresh, chilled, or frozen'' both times they appear and 
adding in their place the words ``fresh (chilled or frozen)''.
    c. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. The introductory text to the section.
    ii. Paragraph (b), introductory text.
    iii. Paragraph (b)(1).
    iv. Paragraph (b)(2).


Sec. 94.14  [Amended]

    124. Section 94.14 is amended as follows:

    a. In the heading to the section and in paragraph (a), by 
removing the word ``countries'' and adding in its place the word 
``regions'.
    b. In paragraph (a), by removing the word ``country'' and adding 
in its place the word ``region'.
    c. In paragraph (b), by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.501 
or Sec. 92.504(c)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.501 or Sec. 93.504(c)'.

    125. In Sec. 94.15, paragraph (c) is amended by removing the word 
``countries'' both times it appears and adding in its place the word 
``regions'', and a new paragraph (d) is added to read as follows:


Sec. 94.15  Animal products and materials; movement and handling.

* * * * *
    (d) Any meat or other animal products not otherwise eligible for 
entry into the United States, as provided in this part and part 95 of 
this chapter, may transit the United States for immediate export if the 
following conditions are met:
    (1) Notification of the transiting of such meat or other animal 
product is made by the importer to the Plant Protection and Quarantine 
officer at the United States port of arrival prior to such transiting;
    (2) The meat or other animal product is contained in a sealed, 
leakproof carrier or container, which remains sealed while aboard the 
transporting carrier or other means of conveyance, or, if the container 
or carrier in which the meat or other animal product is transported is 
offloaded in the United States for reshipment, it remains sealed at all 
times;
    (3) Such transit is limited to the maritime or airport port of 
arrival only, with no overland movement outside the airport terminal 
area or dock area of the maritime port; and
    (4) The meat or other animal product is not held or stored for more 
than 72 hours at the maritime or airport port of arrival.


Sec. 94.16  [Amended]

    126. Section 94.16 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (b), introductory text.
    ii. Paragraph (c), introductory text.
    iii. Paragraph (c)(1).
    iv. Paragraph (c)(3).
    v. Paragraph (d).
    b. In paragraph (b)(2), first sentence, by removing the words 
``for human food'.
    c. In paragraph (c), introductory text, by removing the word 
``countries'' and adding in its place the word ``regions'.


Sec. 94.17  [Amended]

    127. Section 94.17 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the word ``countries'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``regions'' in the following places:
    i. The heading to the section.
    ii. Paragraph (o)(2)(ii)(A).
    iii. Paragraph (o)(2)(ii)(B).
    iv. Paragraph (o)(2)(iii)(A).
    v. Paragraph (o)(2)(iii)(B).
    b. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a).
    ii. Paragraph (b).
    iii. Paragraph (d).
    iv. Paragraph (i)(2)(vi).
    v. Paragraph (i)(3)(vii).
    vi. Paragraph (j)(1).
    vii. Paragraph (j)(2).
    viii. Paragraph (j)(3).
    ix. Paragraph (k).
    x. Paragraph (m)(1).
    xi. Paragraph (o), introductory text.
    xii. Paragraph (o)(2)(ii)(A).
    xiii. Paragraph (o)(2)(ii)(B).
    xiv. Paragraph (o)(2)(iii)(A).
    xv. Paragraph (o)(2)(iii)(B).


Sec. 94.18  [Amended]

    128. Section 94.18 is amended as follows:

    a. In the heading to the section and in paragraph (a), by 
removing the word ``countries'' and adding in its place the word 
``regions''.
    b. In paragraph (b), introductory text, and paragraph (b)(1), by 
removing the words ``fresh, frozen, and chilled'' and adding in 
their place the words ``fresh (chilled or frozen)''.
    c. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (b), introductory text.
    ii. Paragraph (b)(2)(ii).
    iii. Paragraph (b)(2)(iii).
    iv. Paragraph (c), introductory text.
    d. In paragraph (d), introductory text, by removing the words 
``Fresh, chilled, or frozen'' and adding in their place the words 
``Fresh (chilled or frozen)''.


Sec. 94.19  [Amended]

    129. Section 94.19 is amended by removing the word ``country'' each 
time it appears and adding in its place the word ``region'' in both the 
heading and the text to the section.


Sec. 94.20  [Amended]

    130. Section 94.20 is amended as follows:

    a. In introductory text to the section, by removing the words 
``fresh, chilled or frozen'' and adding in their place the words 
``fresh (chilled or frozen)''.
    b. In paragraph (a), by adding the word ``born,'' immediately 
before the word ``raised''.
    c. In paragraph (b), by removing the word ``countries'' both 
times it appears and adding in its place the word ``regions''.


Sec. 94.21  [Amended]

    131. Section 94.21 is amended as follows:


[[Page 56024]]


    a. In the introductory text to the section, by removing the 
words ``fresh, chilled or frozen'' and adding in their place the 
words ``fresh (chilled or frozen)''.
    b. In paragraph (c), by removing the word ``countries'' and 
adding in its place the word ``regions''.

PART 95--SANITARY CONTROL OF ANIMAL BYPRODUCTS (EXCEPT CASINGS), 
AND HAY AND STRAW, OFFERED FOR ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES

    132. The authority citation for part 95 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 111, 136, and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 
2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(d).

    133. Section 95.1 is amended by adding a definition of Region, in 
alphabetical order, to read as follows:


Sec. 95.1  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Region. Any defined geographic land area identifiable by 
geological, political, or surveyed boundaries. A region may consist of 
any of the following:
    (1) A national entity (country);
    (2) Part of a national entity (zone, county, department, 
municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.)
    (3) Parts of several national entities combined into an area; or
    (4) A group of national entities (countries) combined into a single 
area.
* * * * *


Sec. 95.2  [Amended]

    134. Section 95.2 is amended as follows:

    a. In the heading to the section, by removing the word 
``Country'' and adding in its place the word ``Region''.
    b. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. The introductory text to the section.
    ii. Paragraph (a).
    ii. Paragraph (b).


Sec. 95.4  [Amended]

    135. Section 95.4 is amended as follows:

    a. In the heading to the section, by removing the word 
``countries'' and adding in its place the word ``regions''.
    b. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (a).
    ii. Paragraph (b).
    iii. Paragraph (c), introductory text.


Sec. 95.5  [Amended]

    136. Section 95.5 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a) and paragraph (c), by removing the word 
``country'' each time it appears and adding in its place the word 
``region''.
    b. In paragraph (c), footnote 1, by removing the word 
``countries'' and adding in its place the word ``regions''.


Sec. 95.7  [Amended]

    137. In Sec. 95.7, paragraph (a) and paragraph (c) are amended by 
removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and adding in its 
place the word ``region''.


Sec. 95.9  [Amended]

    138. In Sec. 95.9, paragraph (a) and paragraph (c) are amended by 
removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and adding in its 
place the word ``region''.


Sec. 95.11  [Amended]

    139. In Sec. 95.11, the introductory text of paragraph (b) and 
paragraph (b)(2) are amended by removing the word ``country'' each time 
it appears and adding in its place the word ``region''.


Sec. 95.14  [Amended]

    140. In Sec. 95.14, paragraph (a) is amended by removing the word 
``country'' and adding in its place the word ``region';.


Sec. 95.15  [Amended]

    141. Section 95.15 is amended by removing the word ``country'' and 
adding in its place the word ``region''.


Sec. 95.17  [Amended]

    142. Section 95.17 is amended by removing the word ``country'' and 
adding in its place the word ``region''.


Sec. 95.21  [Amended]

    143. Section 95.21 is amended by removing the word ``country'' and 
adding in its place the word ``region''.


Sec. 95.23  [Amended]

    144. In Sec. 95.23, the introductory text is amended by removing 
the word ``country'' both times it appears and adding in its place the 
word ``region''.

PART 96--RESTRICTION OF IMPORTATIONS OF FOREIGN ANIMAL CASINGS 
OFFERED FOR ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES

    145. The authority citation for part 96 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 111, 136, 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 
371.2(d).

    146. Section 96.1 is amended by adding a definition of Region, in 
alphabetical order, to read as follows:


Sec. 96.1  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Region. Any defined geographic land area identifiable by 
geological, political, or surveyed boundaries. A region may consist of 
any of the following:
    (1) A national entity (country);
    (2) Part of a national entity (zone, county, department, 
municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.)
    (3) Parts of several national entities combined into an area; or
    (4) A group of national entities (countries) combined into a single 
area.
* * * * *


Sec. 96.2  [Amended]

    147. Section 96.2 is amended as follows:

    a. In the heading to the section, by removing the word 
``countries'' and adding in its place the word ``regions''.
    b. In paragraph (a), by removing the words ``country or part of 
a country'' and adding in their place the word ``region'' each time 
they appear.
    c. In paragraph (b), by removing the word ``country'' and adding 
in its place the word ``region''.


Sec. 96.3  [Amended]

    148. Section 96.3 is amended as follows: a. By removing the word 
``country'' each time it appears and adding in its place the word 
``region'' in the following places:

    i. Paragraph (a).
    ii. Paragraph (c), introductory text.
    iii. Paragraph (c), ``FOREIGN OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE FOR ANIMAL 
CASINGS''.
    b. In paragraph (c), ``FOREIGN OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE FOR ANIMAL 
CASINGS'', by removing the word ``Country'' and adding in its place 
the word ``Region''.

    149. Section 96.10 is amended by revising the introductory text of 
paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec. 96.10  Uncertified casings; transportation for disinfection; 
original shipping containers; disposition of salt.

    (a) Foreign animal casings imported into the United States without 
certification may be forwarded in customs custody to a USDA-approved 
facility for disinfection under APHIS supervision and release by the 
United States Customs authorities, provided that, before being 
transported over land in the United States, each and every container of 
such casings shall be disinfected by the application of a solution of 
sodium hydroxide prepared as follows:
* * * * *
    150. Sections 96.15 and 96.16 are removed.

PART 97--OVERTIME SERVICES RELATING TO IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

    151. The authority citation for part 97 continues to read as 
follows:
    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2260; 49 U.S.C. 1741; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 
371.2(d).


[[Page 56025]]




Sec. 97.1  [Amended]

    152. In Sec. 97.1, footnote 1 is amended by removing the reference 
to ``Secs. 92.1 through 92.3'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Secs. 93.102, 93.203, 93.303, 93.403, 93.503, 93.703, and 93.805''.

PART 98--IMPORTATION OF CERTAIN ANIMAL EMBRYOS AND ANIMAL SEMEN

    153. The authority citation for part 98 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622; 19 U.S.C. 1306; 21 U.S.C. 103-105, 
111, 134a, 134b, 134c, 134d, 134f, 136, and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 
CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(d)

    154. In part 98, the heading for subpart A is revised to read:

Subpart A--Ruminant and Swine Embryos from Regions Free of 
Rinderpest and Foot-and-Mouth Disease; and Embryos of Horses and 
Asses

    155. Section 98.2 is amended by revising the definitions of 
Approved artificial insemination center and Approved embryo transfer 
unit, and by adding a definition of Region, in alphabetical order, to 
read as follows:


Sec. 98.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Approved artificial insemination center. A facility approved or 
licensed by the national government of the region in which the facility 
is located to collect and process semen under the general supervision 
of such government.

    Approved embryo transfer unit. A facility approved or licensed by 
the national government of the region in which the facility is located 
for the artificial insemination of donor dams or for conception as a 
result of artificial breeding by a donor sire and for collecting and 
processing embryos for export under the general supervision of such 
government.
* * * * *
    Region. Any defined geographic land area identifiable by 
geological, political, or surveyed boundaries. A region may consist of 
any of the following:
    (1) A national entity (country);
    (2) Part of a national entity (zone, county, department, 
municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.)
    (3) Parts of several national entities combined into an area; or
    (4) A group of national entities (countries) combined into a single 
area.
* * * * *


Sec. 98.3  [Amended]

    156. Section 98.3 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. The introductory text to the section.
    ii. Paragraph (a).
    iii. Paragraph (i).
    b. In paragraph (d), by removing the reference to ``part 92'' 
and adding in its place a reference to ``part 93''.
    c. In paragraph (f), by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.304(a)(2)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.304(a)(2)'', by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.404(a)(2)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.404(a)(2)'', and by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.504(a)(2)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.504(a)(2).


Sec. 98.4  [Amended]

    157. In Sec. 98.4, paragraph (c)(1) and paragraph (c)(5) are 
amended by removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region''.


Sec. 98.5  [Amended]

    158. In Sec. 98.5, paragraph (a), the introductory text is amended 
by removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and adding in its 
place the word ``region''.


Sec. 98.6  [Amended]

    159. Section 98.6 is amended by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.303'' and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.303'', 
by removing the reference to ``Sec. 92.403'' and adding in its place a 
reference to ``Sec. 93.403'', and by removing the reference to 
``Sec. 92.503'' and adding in its place a reference to ``Sec. 93.503''.


Sec. 98.7  [Amended]

    160. In Sec. 98.7, paragraph (g) is amended by removing the word 
``country'' and adding in its place the word ``region''.


Sec. 98.10a  [Amended]

    161. Section 98.10a is amended as follows:

    a. In the heading to the section, by removing the word 
``countries'' and adding in its place the word ``regions''.
    b. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i. Paragraph (c).
    ii. Paragraph (d).
    iii. Paragraph (f), introductory text.
    iv. Paragraph (f)(1).
    v. Paragraph (f)(2)(i).
    vi. Paragraph (f)(2)(ii).

    162. The heading for subpart B is revised to read:

Subpart B--Ruminant and Swine Embryos From Regions Where Rinderpest 
or Foot-and-Mouth Disease Exists

    163. Section 98.11 is amended by removing the definition of Country 
of origin and by adding definitions of Region and Region of origin, in 
alphabetical order, to read as follows:


Sec. 98.11  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Region. Any defined geographic land area identifiable by 
geological, political, or surveyed boundaries. A region may consist of 
any of the following:
    (1) A national entity (country);
    (2) Part of a national entity (zone, county, department, 
municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.);
    (3) Parts of several national entities combined into an area; or
    (4) A group of national entities (countries) combined into a single 
area.
    Region of origin. The region in which the embryo is conceived and 
collected and from which the embryo is imported into the United States.
* * * * *


Sec. 98.12  [Amended]

    164. Section 98.12 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (a), by removing the word ``countries'' and 
adding in its place the word ``regions''.
    b. In paragraph (b), by removing the word ``country'' both time 
it appears and adding in its place the word ``region''.


Sec. 98.13  [Amended]

    165. In Sec. 98.13, paragraph (a) is amended by removing the word 
``countries'' and adding in its place the word ``regions''.


Sec. 98.14  [Amended]

    166. In Sec. 98.14, paragraph (a) is amended by removing the word 
``country'' each time it appears and adding in its place the word 
``region''.


Sec. 98.15  [Amended]

    167. Section Sec. 98.15 is amended by removing the word ``country'' 
each time it appears and adding in its place the word ``region'' in the 
following places:

    a. The introductory text to the section.
    b. Paragraph (a)(5)(ii), introductory text.
    c. Paragraph (a)(5)(iii).
    d. Paragraph (a)(6).
    e. Paragraph (b)(1).
    f. Paragraph (b)(2).
    g. Paragraph (b)(5).


Sec. 98.16  [Amended]

    168. In Sec. 98.16, the introductory text to the section is amended 
by removing the word ``country'' and adding in its place the word 
``region''.

[[Page 56026]]

Sec. 98.17  [Amended]

    169. Section 98.17 is amended by removing the word ``country'' each 
time it appears and adding in its place the word ``region'' in the 
following places:

    a. Paragraph (f)(6)(i).
    b. Paragraph (f)(6)(ii).
    c. Paragraph (h)(2).


Sec. 98.18  [Amended]

    170. In Sec. 98.18, paragraph (c) is amended by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 92.203(a)'' and adding in its place a reference to 
``Sec. 93.203(a).


Sec. 98.21  [Amended]

    171. In Sec. 98.21, the heading is amended by removing the word 
``countries'' and adding in its place the word ``regions''.

Subpart C--Certain Animal Semen

    172. Section 98.30 is amended by adding a definition of Region, in 
alphabetical order, to read as follows:


Sec. 98. 30  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Region. Any defined geographic land area identifiable by 
geological, political, or surveyed boundaries. A region may consist of 
any of the following:
    (1) A national entity (country);
    (2) Part of a national entity (zone, county, department, 
municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.)
    (3) Parts of several national entities combined into an area; or
    (4) A group of national entities (countries) combined into a single 
area.
* * * * *


Sec. 98.31  [Amended]

    173. In Sec. 98.31, paragraph (b) is amended by removing the word 
``country'' each time it appears and adding in its place the word 
``region''.


Sec. 98.32  [Amended]

    174. In Sec. 98.32, paragraph (a) is amended by removing the word 
``country'' and adding in its place the word ``region''.


Sec. 98.34  [Amended]

    175. Section 98.34 is amended as follows:

    a. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:

    i. Paragraph (a)(1).
    ii. Paragraph (a)(2).
    iii. Paragraph (a)(3).
    iv. Paragraph (b).
    v. Paragraph (c), introductory text.
    vi. Paragraph (c)(1)(i).
    vii. Paragraph (c)(1)(ii).
    viii. Paragraph (c)(3).
    ix. Paragraph (c)(4).
    x. Paragraph (c)(5).
    b. In paragraph (a)(3) and in the heading to paragraph (c), by 
removing the word ``countries'' each time it appears and adding in 
its place the word ``regions''.


Sec. 98. 35  [Amended]

    176. In Sec. 98.35, paragraph (c) is amended by removing the word 
``country'' each time it appears and adding in its place the word 
``region''.


Sec. 98.36  [Amended]

    177. In Sec. 98.36, paragraph (a)(1) and paragraph (a)(2) are 
amended by removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region''.


Sec. 98.37  [Amended]

    178. Section 98.37 is amended as follows:

    a. In the heading to the section, by removing the word 
``countries'' and adding in its place the word ``regions''.
    b. By removing the word ``country'' each time it appears and 
adding in its place the word ``region'' in the following places:
    i Paragraph (c).
    ii. Paragraph (d).
    iii. Paragraph (f), introductory text.
    iv. Paragraph (f)(1).
    v. Paragraph (f)(2)(i).
    vi. Paragraph (f)(2)(ii).

PART 130--USER FEES

    179. The authority citation for part 130 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5542; 7 U.S.C. 1622; 19 U.S.C. 1306; 21 
U.S.C. 102-105, 111, 114, 114a, 134a, 134b, 134c, 134d, 134f, 135, 
136, and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.2(d).

Sec. 130.1  [Amended]

    180. Section 130.1 is amended by removing the reference to ``part 
92'' and adding in its place a reference to ``part 93'' in the 
following places:

    a. The definition of Feeder animal.
    b. The definition of Privately operated permanent import-
quarantine facility.
    c. The definition of Zoo animal, footnote 2.


Sec. 130.2  [Amended]

    181. Section 130.2 is amended by removing the references to ``part 
92'' and adding in their place references to ``part 93'' in the 
following places:

    a. Paragraph (a), footnote 5.
    b. Paragraph (a), in the table, under the heading ``Animal or 
bird'', in the first entry under ``Birds''.
    c. Paragraph (e).


Sec. 130.3  [Amended]

    182. In Sec. 130.3, paragraph (a)(3) is amended by removing the 
references to ``92.103, 92.204, 92.304, 92.404, or 92.504'' and adding 
in their place references to ``93.103, 93.204, 93.304, 93.404, or 
93.504''.


Sec. 130.10  [Amended]

    183. In Sec. 130.10, paragraph (a), footnote 7 is amended by 
removing the reference ``part 92'' and adding in its place a reference 
to ``part 93''.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of October, 1997.
Terry L. Medley,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 97-28473 Filed 10-23-97; 12:52 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P