. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1680/Add.1 
19 June 2008  
 (08-2900) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
 
NOTIFICATION  
 
Addendum
 
 
 
The following communication, received on 16 June 2008, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of the United States . 
 
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 Final rule:  Temporary Importation of Horses; N oncompetitive Entertainment Horses From Countries 
Affected With Contagious Equine Metritis (APHIS–2006–0164)  
 
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the US Department of 
Agriculture is amending the regulations to allo w non-competitive entertainment horses from countries 
affected with contagious equine metritis (CEM) to be temporarily imported into the United States 
under certain conditions.  The regulations currently  provide for the temporary importation of horses 
from countries affected with contagious equine metr itis to compete in specified events.  In recent 
years it has become evident that similar provisi ons are needed for non-competitive entertainment 
horses.  This action will allow the temporary importa tion of horses into the United States solely for 
public exhibition and entertainment purposes while c ontinuing to protect against the introduction and 
dissemination of contagious equine metritis.   The effective date of the final rule is 7 July 2008.  
 This final rule was published in the Federal Register:  5 June 2008 (Volume 73, Number 109) 
Rules and Regulations Pages 31930-31937 (availabl e in English).  To view online, go to 
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/advanced.html
, select 2008 FR Vol. 73, and type 31930 in search box.  
  On 2 August 2007, APHIS published in the Federal Register (72 FR 42318–42326, Docket 
No. APHIS–2006–0164) a proposal to amend the regul ations in 9 CFR 93.301 to establish conditions 
under which noncompetitive entertainment horses from CEM-affected regions may be imported into the United States for longer than 90 days solely for public exhibition and entertainment purposes.  
Because the conditions are very similar to the conditions in § 93.301(f), which provides for the 
temporary importation of horses to compete in speci fied events, we proposed that § 93.301(f) apply to 
both types of imported horses.  We also proposed to amend the regulations pertaining to import 
permits in § 93.304 to require the submission of a dditional information with the application for an 
import permit.  (This proposal can be viewed online; go to http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/advanced.html
, select 2007 FR Vol. 72, and t ype 42318 in search box).  
  We solicited comments concerning our proposal for 60 days ending 1 October 2007.  We 
received four comments by that date.  The comments were from a private citizen, State animal health 
department, horse industry group, and a horse entertainment company. G/SPS/N/USA/1680/Add.1 
Page 2  
 
   
 For additional information, you may contact Dr. Ellen M. Buck, Veterinary Medical Officer, 
Import/Export Animals, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 
39, Riverdale, MD 20737–1231; tel. +1 301 734–8364.  
United States SPS National Notification Authority, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, 
International Regulations and Sta ndards Division (IRSD), Stop 1027, Washington D.C. 20250;  Tel:  
+(1 202) 720 1301;  Fax:  +(1 202) 720 0433;  E-mail:  us.spsenquirypoint@fas.usda.gov 
  
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