[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 15, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34590-34591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12137]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 94

[Docket No. 01-122-2]


Change in Disease Status of Slovakia and Slovenia Because of BSE

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Affirmation of interim rule as final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim 
rule that amended the regulations by adding Slovakia and Slovenia to 
the list of regions where bovine spongiform encephalopathy exists 
because the disease has been detected in native-born animals in those 
regions. Slovakia and Slovenia had already been listed among the 
regions that present an undue risk of introducing bovine spongiform 
encephalopathy into the United States, so the effect of the interim 
rule was a continued restriction on the importation of ruminants that 
have been in Slovakia or Slovenia and meat, meat products, and certain 
other products of ruminants that have been in either of those regions. 
The interim rule was necessary in order to update the disease status of 
Slovakia and Slovenia regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The interim rule became effective on February 1, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Gary Colgrove, Chief Staff 
Veterinarian, Sanitary Issues Management Staff, National Center for 
Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 
20737-1231; (301) 734-4356.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 34591]]

Background

    In an interim rule effective and published in the Federal Register 
on February 1, 2002 (67 FR 4877-4878, Docket No. 01-122-1), we amended 
the regulations in 9 CFR part 94 by adding Slovakia and Slovenia to the 
list of regions where bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) exists. 
Slovakia and Slovenia had previously been listed in Sec. 94.18(a)(2) as 
regions that present an undue risk of introducing BSE into the United 
States. However, due to the detection of BSE in native-born animals in 
those regions, the interim rule was necessary to update the disease 
status of Slovakia and Slovenia regarding BSE.
    Comments on the interim rule were required to be received on or 
before April 2, 2002. We did not receive any comments. Therefore, for 
the reasons given in the interim rule, we are adopting the interim rule 
as a final rule.
    This action also affirms the information contained in the interim 
rule concerning Executive Order 12866 and the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act, Executive Order 12988, and the Paperwork Reduction Act.
    Further, for this action, the Office of Management and Budget has 
waived the review process required by Executive Order 12866.

List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 94

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

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

    Accordingly, we are adopting as a final rule, without change, the 
interim rule that amended 9 CFR part 94 that was published at 67 FR 
4877-4878 on February 1, 2002.

    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.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 9th day of May, 2002.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 02-12137 Filed 5-14-02; 8:45 am]
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