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Karen Eggert (301) 734-7280\
Angela Harless (202) 720-4623

**USDA PROPOSES CHANGES TO IMPORT REQUIRMENTS FOR HORSES FROM COUNTRIES
AFFECTED WITH CONTAGIOUS EQUINE METRITIS**

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2007\--The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposes to amend its
regulations so that noncompetitive entertainment horses from countries
affected with contagious equine metritis (CEM) can be temporarily
imported into the United States under certain conditions.

The regulations currently provide for the temporary importation of
horses from countries affected with CEM to compete in specified events.
The proposed changes would allow horses to be temporarily imported, in
some cases for more than 90 days, solely for public exhibition and
entertainment purposes while continuing to protect against the
introduction of CEM in the United States. A risk assessment conducted by
APHIS concluded that with the application of restrictions described in
the proposed rule, the risk posed by allowing the extended importation
of noncompetitive entertainment horses from CEM-affected countries is
extremely low.

APHIS is proposing two primary safeguards to prevent the transmission of
CEM while the horses are in the United States. First, an APHIS
specialist would monitor the horses whenever they are not in transit and
second, APHIS would require stringent measures to ensure that the horses
are kept apart from other horses, except when performing, being
exhibited or exercising.

Because CEM is a venereal disease, transmitted only through sexual
contact, there is virtually no risk that a horse will transmit the
disease through casual contact with other horses during a performance or
exercise. APHIS also would require submission of additional information,
such as detailed identifying information, for all related import
permits.

Although CEM does not cause mortality, it can be a costly disease to
control. The direct consequences can include the closing of breeding
operations and production losses. A CEM outbreak would result in the
quarantine of affected horse farms, temporary cessation of breeding
operations and restrictions on both intrastate and interstate movement.

Notice of this proposed rule was published in the Aug. 2 *Federal
Register*.

Consideration will be given to comments received on or before Oct. 1.
Send an original and three copies of postal mail or commercial delivery
comments to Docket No. APHIS-2006-0164, Regulatory Analysis and
Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118,
Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238. To submit a comment using the Internet, go to
the Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov, select
"Animal and Plant Health

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Inspection Service" from the agency drop-down menu; then click on
"Submit." In the Docket ID column, select APHIS-2006-0164 to submit or
view public comments and to view supporting and related materials
available electronically.

Comments are posted on the Regulations.gov Web site and also can be
reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th St. and Independence
Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding holidays. To facilitate entry into the comment
reading room, please call (202) 690-2817.

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