[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32015-32016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12595]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2020-0044]


Removal of Japan From the List of Regions Declared Free of 
Classical Swine Fever

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we removed Japan from the list 
of regions the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service recognizes as 
free of classical swine fever (CSF). This action follows the detection 
of CSF in Japan. This action is necessary in order to inform the public 
and to prevent the introduction of CSF into the United States.

DATES: This action became effective on September 10, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Ingrid Kotowski, Regionalization 
Evaluation Services, Veterinary Services, APHIS, 920 Main Campus Drive, 
Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606; (919) 855-7732; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred 
to below as the regulations) govern the importation of specified 
animals and animal products to prevent the introduction into the United 
States of various animal diseases, including classical swine fever 
(CSF). CSF is a highly contagious disease of wild and domestic swine 
that can spread rapidly in swine populations with extremely high rates 
of morbidity and mortality. A list of regions that the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has determined are free of CSF is 
maintained on the APHIS website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/
ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-and-

[[Page 32016]]

animal-product-import-information/animal-health-status-of-regions/.
    That list is referenced in Sec. Sec.  94.9(a)(1) and 94.10(a)(1) of 
the regulations. Section 94.9 contains requirements for the importation 
of pork and pork products from regions where CSF exists. Section 94.10 
contains requirements for the importation of live swine from such 
regions.
    Paragraphs (a)(2) of Sec. Sec.  94.9 and 94.10 provide for the 
adding and removal of regions to or from the list of CSF-free regions. 
APHIS will add a region to the list after it conducts an evaluation of 
the region in accordance with 9 CFR 92.2 and finds that the disease is 
not present. APHIS will remove a region from the list upon determining 
that the disease exists in the region based on reports APHIS receives 
of outbreaks of the disease from veterinary officials of the exporting 
country, from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), or from 
other sources the Administrator determines to be reliable. A region 
that was formerly on the list but that has been removed due to an 
outbreak may be returned to the list in accordance with the procedures 
for reestablishment of a region's disease-free status in Sec.  92.4.
    On September 9, 2018, the veterinary authority of Japan reported to 
the OIE the occurrence of CSF in that country. On September 10, 2018, 
APHIS removed Japan's CSF-free status on a provisional basis pending an 
epidemiological investigation and remedial measures. Due to the failure 
to control and eradicate the disease in Japan, on November 20, 2019, 
APHIS determined that this removal would not be reversible without a 
formal re-evaluation pursuant to Sec.  92.4.
    As a result of these determinations, the importation of pork and 
pork products and live swine from Japan is subject to the APHIS import 
restrictions in Sec. Sec.  94.9 and 94.10, which are designed to 
mitigate risk of CSF introduction into the United States.

Congressional Review Act

    Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this action 
as a non-major rule, as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1633, 7701-7772, 7781-7786, 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 9th day of June 2021.
Mark Davidson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-12595 Filed 6-15-21; 8:45 am]
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