. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/828/Add.5 
8 October 2007  
 (07-4276) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
 
NOTIFICATION  
 
Addendum
 
 
 
The following communication, received on 2 October 2007, is being circulated at the request 
of the Delegation of the United States . 
 
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 Final rule:  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Mi nimal-Risk Regions; Importation of Live Bovines 
and Products Derived from Bovines (APHIS-2006-0041)  
  
APHIS is amending the regulations regarding the importation of animals and animal products 
to establish conditions for the importation of the following commodities from regions that present a 
minimal risk of introducing bovine spongiform encephalopathy into the United States:  live bovines 
for any use born on or after a date determined by  the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to 
be the date of effective enforcement of a ruminant-t o-ruminant feed ban in the region of export;  blood 
and blood products derived from bovines; and casings and part of the small intestine derived from 
bovines.  We are making these amendments afte r conducting a risk assessment and comprehensive 
evaluation of the issues and concluding that such b ovines and bovine products can be safely imported 
under the conditions described in this rule.  This document also removes the delay in applicability of 
certain provisions of a final rule published in January 2005. 
 
The Final Rule becomes effective on 19 November 2007. 
 
This document makes final a proposed rule th at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) of the US Department of Agricu lture (USDA or the Department) published in the 
Federal Register on 9 January 2007 (72 FR 1101-1129, Docket No. APHIS-2006-0041).  
Additionally, it removes the delay of applicability  of certain provisions of a final rule APHIS 
published in January 2005.   
In the January 2007 proposed rule, APHIS proposed to amend the regulations in 9 CFR parts 
93, 94, 95, and 96 to establish conditions for the importation of the following commodities from 
regions that present a minimal risk of introducing bovine spongiform encepha lopathy (BSE) into the 
United States:  live bovines for any use born on or after a date determined by APHIS to be the date of 
effective enforcement of a ruminant-to-ruminant fe ed ban in the region of export; blood and blood 
products derived from bovines; and casi ngs and part of the small intestine derived from bovines.  In 
this document, APHIS responds to public comments received on the proposed rule and its underlying 
risk assessment and other supporting analyses.  Additionally, they discuss the history of APHIS 
rulemaking related to BSE minimal-risk regions. 
 G/SPS/N/USA/828/Add.5 
Page 2  
 
  Available in English, [Federal Register :  18 September 2007 (Volume 72, Number 180)] 
[Rules and Regulations] [Page 53313-53379];  From  the Federal Register Online via GPO Access 
[wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr18se07-21]  
For additional information, see attached link:   
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01j an20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/07-4595.htm
 
or go to the GPO ACCESS web site http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html  and perform a "Quick 
Search" of Volume 72 using the page # (53313). And select to view: fr18se07R Bovine Spongiform 
Encephalopathy; Minimal-Risk Regions. You may also contact the following:  
For information regarding ruminant products, contact Dr. Karen James-Preston, Director, 
Technical Trade Services, Animal Products, Nationa l Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 
River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-4356.  
For information concerning live ruminants, contact Dr. Lee Ann Thomas, Director, Technical 
Trade Services, Animals, Organisms and Vectors, and Select Agents, National Center for Import and 
Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-4935.  
For other information concerning this proposed rule, contact Dr. Lisa Ferguson, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, National Center for Animal Health  Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 43, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-6954. 
 
 United States SPS National Notification Authority, US DA Foreign Agricultural Service, International 
Regulations and Standards Division (IRSD), Stop 1027, Washington D.C. 20250;  Tel:  +(1 202) 720-
1301;  Fax:  +(1 202) 690-0677;  E-ma il:  us.spsenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov 
 
 
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