[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 1061]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00265]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0077]


Reclassification of Nuevo Le[oacute]n, Mexico to Level V for 
Bovine Tuberculosis

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that we have reclassified the 
region of Nuevo Le[oacute]n, Mexico as Level V for bovine tuberculosis. 
Previously, the Nuevo Le[oacute]n region was classified as Level IV for 
bovine tuberculosis. We took this action based on an onsite review of 
the bovine tuberculosis control and eradication program in Nuevo 
Le[oacute]n.

DATES: The revised classification was effective December 1, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Kari Coulson, Import Risk Analyst, 
Regionalization Evaluation Services, Strategy and Policy, VS, APHIS, 
USDA, 920 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606; (919) 480-9876; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations in 9 CFR part 93, subpart D 
(Sec. Sec.  93.400 through 93.442, referred to below as part 93 or the 
subpart), contain requirements for the importation of ruminants into 
the United States to address the risk of introducing or disseminating 
diseases of livestock within the United States. Part 93 currently 
contains provisions that address the risk that imported bovines (cattle 
or bison) may introduce or disseminate bovine tuberculosis within the 
United States. Within part 93, Sec.  93.437 contains the requirements 
for classification of foreign regions for bovine tuberculosis and Sec.  
93.438 contains the process for requesting regional classification for 
bovine tuberculosis.
    In accordance with Sec.  93.437(f), the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) maintains lists of all Level I, Level II, 
Level III, Level IV, and Level V regions for bovine tuberculosis and 
makes changes to the lists in accordance with Sec.  93.438. In 
accordance with Sec.  93.437(e), regions that do not have a program 
that meets APHIS requirements for bovine tuberculosis classification, 
have a prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in their domestic bovine herds 
equal to or greater than 0.5 percent, or are unassessed by APHIS with 
regard to bovine tuberculosis are considered to be Level V.
    Paragraph (d) of Sec.  93.438 provides that a region may be 
required to allow APHIS to conduct additional information collection 
activities in order for that region to maintain its classification for 
bovine tuberculosis. If APHIS determines that a region's classification 
is no longer accurate, APHIS will publish a notice in the Federal 
Register announcing the revised classification and setting forth the 
reasons for the reclassification.
    In March 2023, APHIS conducted an onsite review of the bovine 
tuberculosis control and eradication program in Nuevo Le[oacute]n. At 
the time of this review, APHIS recognized the Nuevo Le[oacute]n region 
as Level IV status for bovine tuberculosis. The review determined that 
the region no longer has a program that meets APHIS minimum 
requirements for Level IV status due to deficiencies in the following 
areas: Veterinary control and oversight; epidemiological 
investigations; management of affected herds; regulatory controls on 
the movement of livestock; and surveillance. These findings support 
reclassifying Nuevo Le[oacute]n as Level V for bovine tuberculosis.
    With the publication of this notice, we are announcing the revised 
classification of the Nuevo Le[oacute]n region of Mexico to Level V for 
bovine tuberculosis, effective December 1, 2023. This notice serves as 
an official record and public notification of this action.
    Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this action 
as not a major rule, as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
    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 4th day of January 2024.
Donna Lalli,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-00265 Filed 1-8-24; 8:45 am]
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