[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 82 (Monday, April 29, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20883-20884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10460]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 94

[Docket No. 01-026-2]


Change in Disease Status of Portugal Because of African Swine 
Fever

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are amending the regulations to remove Portugal from the 
list of regions where African swine fever exists. We are taking this 
action because Portugal is now free of African swine fever. This action 
relieves restrictions due to African swine fever on the importation of 
pork and pork products into the United States from Portugal. However, 
because Portugal is on the list of regions where hog cholera exists and 
the list of regions that are subject to certain restrictions because of 
their proximity to or trading relationships with rinderpest- or foot-
and-mouth disease-affected countries, Portugal continues to be subject 
to certain restrictions regarding the importation into the United 
States of pork and pork products.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 14, 2002.

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) 734-4356.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred to below as the 
regulations) govern the importation of certain animals and animal 
products into the United States in order to prevent the introduction of 
various animal diseases, including rinderpest, foot-and-mouth disease 
(FMD), African swine fever (ASF), hog cholera, and swine vesicular 
disease. These are dangerous and

[[Page 20884]]

destructive communicable diseases of ruminants and swine. Section 94.8 
of the regulations lists regions of the world where ASF exists or is 
reasonably believed to exist. Section 94.8 also restricts the 
importation of pork and pork products into the United States from the 
listed regions.
    On December 10, 2001, we published in the Federal Register (66 FR 
63633-63634, Docket No. 01-026-1) a proposal to amend the regulations 
by removing Portugal from the list in Sec. 94.8 of regions where ASF 
exists.
    We solicited comments concerning our proposal for 60 days ending 
February 8, 2002.
    We did not receive any comments. Therefore, for the reasons given 
in the proposed rule, we are adopting the proposed rule as a final 
rule, without change.

Effective Date

    This is a substantive rule that relieves restrictions and, pursuant 
to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553, may be made effective less than 30 
days after publication in the Federal Register. This rule removes 
certain restrictions on the importation of pork or pork products into 
the United States from Portugal. We have determined that approximately 
2 weeks are needed to ensure that Animal Plant Health Inspection 
Service personnel at ports of entry receive official notice of this 
change in the regulations. Therefore, the Administrator of the Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this rule 
should be made effective 15 days after publication in the Federal 
Register.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866. For this 
action, the Office of Management and Budget has waived its review 
process required under Executive Order 12866.
    We are amending the regulations to remove Portugal from the list of 
regions where ASF exists. We are taking this action because Portugal is 
now free of ASF. This action relieves restrictions due to ASF on the 
importation of pork and pork products into the United States from 
Portugal. However, because Portugal is on the list of regions where hog 
cholera exists and the list of regions that are subject to certain 
restrictions because of their proximity to or trading relationships 
with rinderpest- or FMD-affected countries, Portugal continues to be 
subject to certain restrictions regarding the importation into the 
United States of pork and pork products.
    The following analysis addresses the economic effect of this rule 
on small entities, as required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    Entities in the United States likely to be affected by this rule 
include those engaged in the production of swine and processed pork 
products. Since Portugal has never exported pork or pork products to 
the United States, we anticipate that this rule will have no economic 
effect on U.S. swine importers, hog meat processors, hog producers, or 
any other entities, large or small. However, should Portugal commence 
the exportation of pork and pork products to the United States, 
restrictions on the importation of pork and pork products into the 
United States from Portugal will still be in place because Portugal is 
on the list of regions where hog cholera exists and the list of regions 
that are subject to certain restrictions because of their proximity to 
or trading relationships with rinderpest-or FMD-affected countries. 
Given those continuing restrictions, we believe any potential imports 
of processed pork and pork products from Portugal would be minimal. 
Likewise, because any potential increase in imports of processed pork 
and pork products from Portugal would be slight, the potential effect 
on U.S. swine producers and processors of pork is expected to be 
minimal.
    Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.

Executive Order 12988

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

Paperwork Reduction Act

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

List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 94

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

    Accordingly, we are amending 9 CFR part 94 as follows:

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

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

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7711, 7712, 7713, 7714, 7751, and 7754; 
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 371.4.


Sec. 94.8  [Amended]

    2. In Sec. 94.8, the introductory text of the section is amended by 
removing the word ``Portugal,''.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 24th day of April 2002 .
W. Ron DeHaven,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 02-10460 Filed 4-26-02; 8:45 am]
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