[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 71 (Monday, April 14, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 17886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9022]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 71 / Monday, April 14, 2003 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 17886]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 94

[Docket No. 02-109-2]


Importation of Beef From Uruguay

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed Rule; Notice of reopening and extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: We are extending the comment period for our proposed rule to 
amend the regulations governing the importation of certain animals, 
meat, and other animal products into the United States to allow, under 
certain conditions, the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) beef 
from Uruguay. This action will allow interested persons additional time 
to prepare and submit comments.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 
25, 2003.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by postal mail/commercial delivery 
or by e-mail. If you use postal mail/commercial delivery, please send 
four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to: Docket 
No. 02-109-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 
3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state 
that your comment refers to Docket No. 02-109-1. If you use e-mail, 
address your comment to [email protected]. Your comment must 
be contained in the body of your message; do not send attached files. 
Please include your name and address in your message and ``Docket No. 
02-109-1'' on the subject line.
    You may read any comments that we receive on Docket No. 02-109-1 in 
our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of the USDA 
South Building, 14th Street andIndependence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. 
Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, 
please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
    APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related 
information, including the names of organizations and individuals who 
have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Hatim Gubara, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, Regionalization Evaluation Services Staff, VS, APHIS, 
4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-4356.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On February 10, 2003, we published in the Federal Register (68 FR 
6673-6677, Docket No. 02-109-1) a proposal to amend the regulations 
governing the importation of certain animals, meat, and other animal 
products into the United States to allow, under certain conditions, the 
importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from Uruguay. Based on 
the evidence in a recent risk evaluation, we believe that fresh 
(chilled or frozen) beef from Uruguay can be safely imported from 
Uruguay provided certain conditions are met.
    Comments on the proposed rule were required to be received on or 
before April 11, 2003. We are reopening and extending the comment 
period for Docket No. 02-109-1 for an additional 14 days ending April 
25, 2003. This action will allow interested persons additional time to 
prepare and submit comments.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701-7772, and 8301-8317; 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 9th day of April 2003.
Peter Fernandez,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 03-9022 Filed 4-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P