[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 212 (Friday, November 1, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 66533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27812]



[[Page 66533]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 94

[Docket No. 02-072-2]


Change in Disease Status of Israel 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 Israel to the list of 
regions where bovine spongiform encephalopathy exists because the 
disease had been detected in a native-born animal in that region. The 
effect of the interim rule was a restriction on the importation of 
ruminants, meat, meat products, and certain other products of ruminants 
that had been in Israel. The interim rule was necessary to help prevent 
the introduction of bovine spongiform encephalopathy into the United 
States.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The interim rule became effective on June 4, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Gary Colgrove, Chief Staff 
Veterinarian, Sanitary Trade Issues Team, 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 parts 93, 94, 95, and 96 (referred to 
below as the regulations) govern the importation of certain animals, 
birds, poultry, meat, other animal products and byproducts, hay, and 
straw into the United States in order to prevent the introduction of 
various animal diseases, including bovine spongiform encephalopathy 
(BSE).
    In an interim rule effective June 4, 2002, and published in the 
Federal Register on July 18, 2002 (67 FR 47243-47244, Docket No. 02-
072-1), we amended the regulations in Sec.  94.18 (a)(1) by adding 
Israel to the list of regions where BSE exists due to the detection of 
BSE in a native-born animal in that region.
    Comments on the interim rule were required to be received on or 
before September 16, 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 Orders 12866 and 12988 and the Paperwork 
Reduction Act.
    Further, for this action, the Office of Management and Budget has 
waived its review under Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This action affirms an interim rule that amended the regulations by 
adding Israel to the list of regions where BSE exists. The effect of 
the interim rule was a restriction on the importation of ruminants, 
meat, meat products, and certain other products of ruminants that had 
been in Israel. The interim rule was necessary to help prevent the 
introduction of BSE into the United States.
    The following analysis addresses the economic effects of the 
interim rule on small entities, as required by the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act.
    The interim rule's restrictions on the importation of ruminants and 
ruminant products and byproducts from Israel are not expected to have a 
significant impact on a substantial number of small entities due to the 
fact that the restricted items are either not imported from Israel or 
are imported in very small amounts. There are three categories of 
imports that may be affected, but Israel's share of U.S. imports is 
small in each case.
    The first category of affected imported commodities is ``Meat and 
edible meat offal, salted in brine, dried or smoked; edible flours and 
meals of meat or meat offal.'' Average total yearly imports of these 
products by the United States over the 3-year period 1999-2001 were 
valued at $24.6 million. Imports from Israel in 1999 were valued at 
$26,000. No imports of these products from Israel were reported for 
2000 or 2001.
    The second category of affected commodities is ``Preparations of a 
kind used in animal feeding.'' Average total yearly imports of these 
products, 1999-2001, were valued at $93.5 million. Imports from Israel 
had an average yearly value over this period of about $76,000.
    The final category of affected commodities is ``Other prepared or 
preserved meat, meat offal or blood.'' Average yearly imports of these 
products, 1999-2001, were valued at $101.2 million. Imports from Israel 
had an average yearly value over this period of about $2.7 million.
    It is apparent that Israel is a minor supplier to the United States 
of the ruminant products and byproducts affected by the BSE-related 
restrictions resulting from the interim rule. Therefore, we do not 
expect that the interim rule's restrictions on ruminants and ruminant 
products and byproducts from Israel will substantially affect any U.S. 
importers, large or small, of those commodities.
    Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.

List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 94

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

PART 94--RINDERPEST, FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE, FOWL PEST (FOWL 
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 and that was published at 67 FR 
47243-47244 on July 18, 2002.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7711-7714, 7751, 7754, 8303, 8306, 
8308, 8310, 8311, and 8315; 21 U.S.C 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 28th day of October, 2002.
Bobby R. Acord,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 02-27812 Filed 10-31-02; 8:45 am]
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