[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 71 (Thursday, April 13, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19134-19135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5509]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 93

[Docket No. 05-041-2]


Importation of Cattle From Mexico

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: We are withdrawing a proposed rule that would have added San 
Luis, AZ, as a port through which cattle that have been infested with 
fever ticks or exposed to fever ticks or tick-borne diseases may be 
imported into the United States. The proposed rule would also have 
removed provisions that limit the admission of cattle that have been 
infested with fever ticks or exposed to fever ticks or tick-borne 
diseases to the State of Texas and that prohibit the movement of such 
cattle into areas of Texas quarantined because of fever ticks. We are 
taking this action after considering the comments we received

[[Page 19135]]

following the publication of the proposed rule.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Arnaldo Vaquer, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, National Center for Import and Export, Technical Trade 
Services Team, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 43, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1231; (301) 734-8364.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 9 CFR part 93 prohibit or 
restrict the importation of certain animals, birds, and poultry into 
the United States to prevent the introduction of communicable diseases 
of livestock and poultry. In section 93.426, paragraph (a) states that 
all ruminants offered for entry into the United States from Mexico must 
be inspected at the port of entry and found to be free from 
communicable diseases and fever tick infestation and to not have been 
exposed to communicable diseases and fever tick infestation. Under 
section 93.427(b)(2), cattle that have been exposed to splenetic, 
southern, or tick fever, or that have been infested with or exposed to 
fever ticks, may be imported from Mexico for admission into the State 
of Texas, except that portion of the State quarantined because of fever 
ticks, either at one of the land border ports in Texas listed in 
section 93.403(c) of the regulations, or at the port of Santa Teresa, 
NM, provided that certain conditions are met.
    On November 9, 2005, we published in the Federal Register (70 FR 
67933-67935, Docket No. 05-041-1) a proposed rule to amend the 
regulations in 9 CFR part 93 to: (1) Add San Luis, AZ, as a port 
through which cattle that have been infested with fever ticks or 
exposed to fever ticks or tick-borne diseases may be imported into the 
United States; (2) remove provisions that limit the admission of cattle 
that have been infested with fever ticks or exposed to fever ticks or 
tick-borne diseases to the State of Texas; and (3) remove provisions 
that prohibit the movement of such cattle into areas of Texas 
quarantined because of fever ticks.
    We solicited comments concerning our proposal for 60 days ending on 
January 9, 2005. We received a total of 11 comments by that date. They 
were from representatives of the cattle industry, State agriculture and 
animal health departments, and private citizens. Three of the 
commenters supported the proposed rule. The remaining commenters were 
opposed to the proposed rule, citing concerns about importing Mexican 
cattle, maintaining and staffing the new port, or increasing the risk 
of spreading bovine piroplasmosis (another name for splenetic, 
southern, or tick fever) to domestic cattle within Texas or California.
    APHIS is further analyzing the animal health risks associated with 
the changes we proposed and is therefore withdrawing the November 9, 
2005, proposed rule referenced above. The concerns and recommendations 
of all the commenters will be considered if any new proposed 
regulations regarding changes to the fever tick regulations are 
developed.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622 and 8301-8317; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 
31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 7th day of April 2006.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-5509 Filed 4-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P