United States 

Department of 

Agriculture

Marketing and 

Regulatory

Programs

Animal and 

Plant Health 

Inspection 

Service

Final Rulemaking for 

Importation of 

Swine and Swine 

Commodities from 

Slovakia

Environmental Assessment,

May 2011
Final Rulemaking for 

Importation of Swine and 

Swine Commodities from 

Slovakia

Environmental Assessment,

May 2011

Agency Contact for the Rulemaking:

Donald Link 

Import Risk Analyst, Regionalization Evaluation Services 

National Center for Import and Export, Veterinary Services 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

U.S. Department of Agriculture

920 Main Campus Drive, Suite 200

Raleigh, NC 27606

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TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil 

Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 

Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964 (voice and TDD). 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 
Table of Contents

 I. Need for the Proposed Action............................................... 1

 II. Alternatives............................................................................. 3

III. Potential Environmental Impacts.......................................... 4

IV. Agencies or Persons Contacted......................................... 14

 V. References............................................................................ 14
1

I. Need for the Proposed Action

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulates the importation of animals 

and animal products into the United States to guard against the 

introduction of animal diseases. APHIS’ regulations allow for the 

importation of animal products from regions considered as free of or low 

risk for classical swine fever (CSF) and free of swine vesicular disease 

(SVD) and foot and mouth disease (FMD). The Republic of Slovakia 

(hereafter referred to as Slovakia) submitted a request to APHIS to be 

recognized as a region free of CSF, SVD, FMD, and rinderpest. This 

recognition would allow Slovakia to export live swine, and swine-derived 

products including semen, pork, and other pork products (hereafter 

referred to as “swine and swine commodities”) to the United States.

Slovakia would also be eligible to export ruminants and ruminant-derived 

products to the United States, based on the FMD and rinderpest status, if 

they meet all other ruminant health requirements.

In response to Slovakia’s request, APHIS prepared a risk analysis to 

analyze the potential disease risks (in “APHIS Evaluation of the Status of 

Slovakia Regarding Classical Swine Fever, Swine Vesicular Disease, Foot 

and Mouth Disease, and Rinderpest”) (USDA, APHIS, 2009) associated 

with this action. In summarizing the evaluation of Slovakia’s status with 

regard to CSF, SVD, FMD and rinderpest, APHIS considers the risk of 

infected live swine and ruminants, or commodities derived from these 

species, entering the United States from Slovakia and exposing U.S. 

livestock to be low. This risk is further mitigated if Slovakia is subject to 

the same mitigation measures specified for other EU Member States in 9 

CFR §§ 94.11, 94.13, 94.24, and 98.38. 

Based on the findings of the evaluation, APHIS is proposing to amend its 

import regulations to add Slovakia to the list of European Union (EU) 

Member States that comprise the APHIS-defined EU CSF region (9 CFR 

§§ 93.500, 94.0, and 98.30)—which APHIS considers low risk for CSF 

(9 CFR §§ 94.9, 94.10)—and thereby allow importation of swine 

commodities from this country (9 CFR §§ 94.10, 94.24, and 98.38). 

APHIS further proposes to add Slovakia to the list of countries recognized 

as free of SVD (9 CFR §§ 94.12 and 94.13), FMD, and rinderpest

(9 CFR § 94.1). The proposed action is needed to allow the importation of 

swine commodities from Slovakia because there is no scientific basis for 

prohibiting trade based on the CSF, SVD, FMD, and rinderpest status of

Slovakia. Allowing the trade of these commodities would be consistent 

with the World Organization for Animal Health (commonly referred to as 

the Office of International des Epizooties (OIE)) Terrestrial Animal 

Health Code for CSF, SVD, and FMD.
2

This environmental assessment (EA) addresses potential environmental 

impacts related to the amendment of APHIS’ regulations to include 

Slovakia in the APHIS-defined EU CSF region (which APHIS recognizes 

as low risk for CSF) and recognize it as free of SVD, FMD, and 

rinderpest. This EA has been prepared to comply with the provisions of 

the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 United States 

Code (U.S.C.) 4321, et seq.) as prescribed in implementing regulations 

adopted by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 Code of Federal 

Regulations (CFR) §§ 1500–1508), USDA’s NEPA regulations (7 CFR 

part 1b), and APHIS’ NEPA implementing procedures (7 CFR part 372).

In accordance with requirements under the APHIS NEPA regulations, this 

EA was made available for public review and comment along with 

APHIS’ risk evaluation and proposed rulemaking for this matter. APHIS 

received no comments on this EA. APHIS also welcomed public 

comments on the approach for future proposed actions of the same nature 

as in this EA, discussed in the following two paragraphs; no comments 

were received on the approach.

Based upon (1) the Findings of No Significant Impact for EAs prepared 

for a rulemaking to allow the importation of swine and swine commodities 

from EU Member States in the past,

1

(2) the determination from an APHIS 

evaluation that Slovakia is low risk for CSF and free from SVD, FMD, 

and rinderpest, and (3) APHIS determinations that measures are in place to 

mitigate the risk of CSF, SVD, FMD, and rinderpest introduction into the 

United States through importation of swine, swine commodities, 

ruminants, and ruminant commodities from countries or regions that 

APHIS recognizes as low risk for CSF or free of SVD, FMD, and 

rinderpest, such as Slovakia, APHIS will consider that future proposed 

actions of this nature2 would pose negligible environmental impact. 

This consideration applies to each EU Member State or country that has 

entered into an agricultural equivalency agreement with the European 

Union, provided that a disease status assessment finds them to be free of 

or a low risk for the relevant diseases. Accordingly, APHIS plans to 

consider future actions of this nature as posing negligible environmental 

impact and included under this environmental assessment. We would do 

so provided that, based on our evaluation of the disease status of the 

country, no extraordinary circumstances exist that require the preparation 

 

1

The Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland (72 Federal Register (FR) 67227–67233; 

November 28, 2007).

2

 By “of this nature,” we mean that the same disease concern is being considered, the same or 

comparable commodities are being considered for importation, the same or equivalent risk mitigation 

measures are in place in the exporting country and in APHIS import regulations, and our risk 

evaluation determines that the importation of the commodities into the United States would pose no 

greater risk than those authorized importation from previously assessed countries.
3

of an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, the 

proposed action does not trigger the need for other environmental review 

under NEPA, and the proposed action would not individually or 

cumulatively have a significant environmental impact.

II. Alternatives

Two alternatives are considered in this EA. They include—

(1) the “no action” alternative, in which the current regulations would 

remain unchanged, continuing to omit Slovakia from the list of EU 

Member States comprising the APHIS-defined EU CSF region 

(considered as low risk for CSF) and from the list of countries 

considered free of SVD, FMD, and rinderpest, and, therefore, 

continuing to not allow the importation of swine and ruminant 

commodities from Slovakia to the United States, and 

(2) the rule amendment of 9 CFR §§ 94.1, 94.9, 94.10, 94.11, 94.12, 

94.13, 94.24, and 98.38, which would add Slovakia to the APHISdefined EU CSF region (considered low risk for CSF) and designate 

Slovakia free of SVD, FMD, and rinderpest, and would, therefore, 

allow the importation of swine and ruminant commodities from 

Slovakia under certain conditions. 

A. No Action

The no action alternative would leave the current APHIS importation 

regulations unchanged. Under this alternative, Slovakia would continue to 

not be listed as part of the APHIS-defined EU CSF region considered low 

risk for CSF and also would not be listed as free of SVD, FMD, and 

rinderpest. Therefore, Slovakia would not be allowed to export swine and 

ruminant commodities to the United States. The status of Slovakia as low 

risk for CSF and free of SVD, FMD, and rinderpest is not reflected in the 

current import regulations and would continue as such. The continuance 

of such unsupported trade restrictions would be contrary to U.S. 

obligations under international trade agreements.

B. Rule Amendment 

The rule amendment alternative would amend the current regulations to 

add Slovakia to the APHIS-defined European Union (EU) CSF region 

considered low risk for CSF and also add Slovakia to the list of regions 

that are free of SVD, FMD, and rinderpest. In doing so, this alternative 

would allow the importation of swine and ruminant commodities from 
4

Slovakia if certain conditions are satisfied. The rule amendment would 

accomplish the following actions:

 Add Slovakia to the list of EU Member States in 9 CFR §§ 

93.500, 94.0, and 98.303and include it as one of the Member 

States in a region that APHIS considers as low risk for CSF under 

9 CFR §§ 94.9 and 94.10 and therefore subject to the import 

conditions specified under 9 CFR §§ 94.24 and 98.38. 

 Add Slovakia to the regions listed under 9 CFR §§ 94.1 as free of 

FMD and rinderpest but subject to the import conditions specified 

under 9 CFR §§ 94.11, and 

 Add Slovakia to the regions listed under 9 CFR §§ 94.12 as free of 

SVD but subject to the import conditions specified under 9 CFR §§ 

94.13. 

C. Alternatives Eliminated from Further 

Consideration

Alternatives differing from those mentioned above were eliminated from 

consideration because changes in the requirements either would not 

mitigate the potential risk from the region or would place excessive 

restrictions on the imports that would serve as a de facto trade barrier. 

The certification requirements in the rule provide sufficient mitigation 

measures without being overly restrictive.

III. Potential Environmental Impacts

The animal diseases of concern for this evaluation with regard to allowing 

the importation of swine and ruminant commodities from Slovakia are 

CSF, SVD, FMD, and rinderpest. APHIS evaluated the risk of CSF, SVD, 

FMD, and rinderpest introduction to U.S. animals from allowing these 

commodities from Slovakia (USDA, APHIS, 2008). APHIS evaluated the 

disease risk status of Slovakia with regard to its infrastructure and control 

measures in place for these diseases, including an assessment of disease 

surveillance measures, import practices, laboratory capacity, emergency

response procedures, and other factors that could influence the risk of 

disease introduction into the United States. 

 

3

The APHIS-defined EU CSF region currently consists of Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, 

Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, 

Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom (England, 

Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland). 
5

Slovakia, as a Member State of the EU since May 2004, adopted the 

legislation of the European Commission (EC) regarding animal health, 

welfare, and identification including legislation pertaining to CSF, SVD, 

and FMD. Slovakia also adopted the harmonized EC legislation regarding 

import, export, and trade of live animals, meat, and animal products. The 

APHIS-defined EU CSF region is considered as low risk with respect to 

CSF. APHIS considers large portions of the EU to be free of SVD and 

FMD as well (USDA, APHIS, 2008). 

A. Background

CSF is a highly contagious viral disease affecting swine and wild boar. 

The incubation period for CSF is 2 to14 days. CSF is transmitted by

direct contact from pig to pig; through ingestion of products, including 

fresh, frozen, or cured pork, that contain the virus; and by aerosols. CSF 

also can be introduced or spread by infected swine semen. Indirect 

contact with body secretions and excretions from infected animals 

(including dead animals) and viral contamination of objects may lead to 

mechanical transfer of the virus. Thus, movement of people, wild 

animals, and inanimate objects, such as trucks used to transport animals, 

may indirectly transmit the CSF virus (as cited in USDA, APHIS, 2008). 

The CSF virus is hardy, being stable between pH 4 and 10 and also stable 

at low temperatures (thus, it is unlikely to be destroyed by the postmortem decrease in muscle pH that accompanies carcass maturation), and 

is unlikely to be destroyed by transport or cold storage (as cited in USDA, 

APHIS, 2008). 

SVD also is a highly contagious viral disease affecting swine and wild 

boar. The incubation period for SVD is 2 to 7 days. SVD may be 

introduced into a herd by infected animals, by feeding garbage containing 

infected meat scraps, or by contacting infected feces (as cited in USDA, 

APHIS, 2008). After the initial introduction, the disease spreads through 

contact of susceptible pigs with infected pigs and infected feces (such as 

from an improperly cleaned truck). The virus is hardy, resistant to pH 

changes between 2.5 and 12 (thus, it is unlikely to be destroyed by the 

post-mortem decrease in muscle pH that accompanies carcass maturation), 

and is very stable under cold conditions. The virus also is resistant to 

fermentation and smoking processes and may remain in hams for 

180 days, sausages for more than 1 year, and processed intestinal casings 

for more than 2 years (as cited in USDA, APHIS, 2008). 

FMD is a contagious disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, including 

sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs, and well over 70 wildlife species, such as 

deer and wild boar. The incubation period for FMD is 2 to 14 days. FMD 

virus is capable of aerosol transmission, and saliva, feces, and urine are 
6

sources of FMD virus. FMD virus may also be present in milk and semen 

up to 4 days before clinical signs appear (as cited in USDA, APHIS, 

2008). The virus can be transmitted by direct or indirect contact with 

infected animals or an infected environment, such as movement of people, 

wild or domestic animals, or inanimate objects (such as vehicles, farm 

implements, and clothing); long-range airborne transmission is also

possible (USDA, APHIS, 2007). The virus can survive in meat and meat 

products in which the pH has remained above 6.0 and thus can be 

transmitted by infected meat and meat products and through infected meat 

that has been discarded as garbage. Meat from pigs does not consistently 

reach as low an ultimate pH during carcass maturation as does beef, so the 

inactivation of FMD virus in pig meat may not be as complete as that 

occurring in beef (as cited in USDA, APHIS, 2008).

Rinderpest is an infectious disease of cattle, domestic buffalo, and certain 

other species. It is characterized by fever, oral erosions, diarrhea, 

lymphoid necrosis, and high mortality.

More information about the characteristics of the diseases of concern is 

available in APHIS’ evaluation related to this matter (USDA, APHIS, 

2008). The potential for impacts on the human environment from the 

importation of swine and ruminant commodities from Slovakia is

dependent upon the ability of mitigative factors and mitigation measures 

to prevent the introduction of the diseases of concern via the biological 

pathways of disease transmission. This section addresses the potential 

environmental impacts that could occur under the alternatives considered.

B. No Action Alternative

The “no action” alternative would not allow swine, ruminants, or swine 

and ruminant commodities to be imported from Slovakia; the current 

APHIS regulations governing the importation of these commodities would 

remain unchanged with regard to Slovakia. This alternative would have 

no potential effect on U.S. animal health, public health, or the physical 

environment. However, based upon APHIS’ evaluation of the risk status 

of Slovakia for CSF, SVD, FMD, and Rinderpest, this alternative, 

however, is inconsistent with the requirements of international trade 

agreements. 

C. Rule Amendment Alternative

The rule amendment alternative would allow the importation of swine and

ruminant commodities from Slovakia according to certain requirements 

that are designed to prevent the introduction of CSF, SVD, FMD, and 

rinderpest. Any potential for impacts to the human environment would be 
7

the result of exposure to the CSF, SVD, FMD, or rinderpest virus via a 

breakdown in the requirements that are designed to mitigate the risk of 

exposure of U.S. livestock to these viruses. Animal health, the physical 

environment, and public health are addressed in this document as 

components of the U.S. human environment that have the potential to be 

impacted in the event that the CSF, SVD, FMD, or rinderpest virus were 

to be introduced as a result of the rule amendment. Also, other 

environmental review considerations for the protection of the human 

environment are addressed in this section of the EA.

When allowing imports of live animals or animal products from other 

regions, the health of animals in the region of origin and the region’s 

ability to prevent introduction of animal diseases is important in 

determining the risk to the health of U.S. animals. APHIS evaluated the 

animal health status of the exporting region, Slovakia, the results of which 

are provided in a risk analysis (USDA, APHIS, 2008).

In summarizing from the APHIS risk analysis, three outbreaks of CSF 

occurred in domestic swine in Slovakia between April and July 2008

(USDA, APHIS, 2008); prior to these occurrences, August 2005 was the 

last time CSF virus had been detected in domestic swine in Slovakia. CSF 

continues to be found in Slovakia’s wild boar population. All outbreaks in 

domestic swine from 2003 forward have been controlled by stamping out4

without vaccination. Slovakia has never reported SVD in indigenous 

swine; however, in 1972, SVD was reported in imported pigs on three 

holdings, resulting in a total of 16 diagnosed cases. The outbreaks were 

handled by stamping out, and no other cases have been reported since. 

SVD has never been reported in wild boar in Slovakia. Slovakia has been 

free of FMD since 1973 and is recognized by the OIE as an OIE-member 

country that is FMD-free where vaccination is not practiced (OIE, 2008). 

Rinderpest has never been reported in Slovakia.

Slovakia shares its border with five countries: Austria to the west, the 

Czech Republic to the northwest, Poland to the northeast, Ukraine to the 

east, and Hungary to the south. APHIS considers Austria, the Czech 

Republic, and Poland as low risk for CSF and free of SVD and FMD (as 

reflected in 9 CFR 94.1, 94.11, and 94.13). APHIS has evaluated and 

determined that Hungary is free of CSF, SVD, FMD, and rinderpest,

although the rulemaking process for recognizing its CSF status has not 

been completed. APHIS has not evaluated Ukraine’s risk status for these 

diseases; however, Ukraine has not reported an outbreak of either SVD or 

FMD for more than a quarter century. As reported in APHIS’ evaluation, 

 

4

 Imposing animal movement restrictions and eradicating the disease immediately.

1. Animal 

Health
8

the likelihood of introduction into Slovakia of SVD, FMD, or rinderpest

from neighboring countries is thus considered to be low. Introduction of 

CSF from one of the neighboring countries via wild boar is more likely. 

However, the likelihood of disease introduction to domestic swine via this 

pathway is considerably less than that posed by native infected wild boar 

populations. More details about the disease status of these countries are 

provided in the risk analysis for Slovakia (USDA, APHIS, 2008), Austria 

(USDA, APHIS, 2004), the Czech Republic (USDA, APHIS, 2006a), and 

Poland (USDA, APHIS, 2006b). 

APHIS’ evaluation of Slovakia (USDA, APHIS, 2008) assessed potential 

pathways of concern5for CSF, FMD, SVD, or rinderpest introduction into 

Slovakia, whereby potential risk could occur to U.S. animal health by

allowing the importation of swine and ruminant commodities from

Slovakia. The introduction of these diseases into Slovakia by the 

identified pathways would only affect export risk to the United States if a 

susceptible domestic animal population became infected and this infection 

was not detected prior to export. However, Slovakia has in place 

mitigating factors and mitigation measures, including requirements under 

EC legislation, that are designed to reduce the risk of disease introduction. 

These include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Comprehensive EC requirements for import, transit, or trade in live 

animals, including signature of an official veterinarian of the country

of origin.

- Inspection of swine semen collection centers by official veterinarians 

twice annually, swine admitted to a collection center must originate 

from a herd that is not located in an area restricted because of disease 

in domestic swine, and the swine must be quarantined for at least 

30 days prior to entry to the collection center.

- Bovine semen collection centers must be EC-approved, the animals 

must be isolated for 28 days prior to entry and the collection center 

must be located in a region that has been free of FMD for 3 months 

with no outbreaks within a 20 kilometer radius for at least 30 days. 

- Cleaning and disinfection of transport vehicles used to move live 

swine.

- EC requirements for isolation, observation, and veterinary inspection 

of live animals prior to transport.

- Veterinary inspection practices at the point of entry for live animals 

and animal products.

- A comprehensive and rigorous approval process for exporting 

establishments (including slaughter establishments and semen 

collection centers);

- A mandatory observation period for imported live animals and 

 

5

 (1) natural movement of wild boars, (2) import and trade of live swine, (3) import and trade of swine 

products, (4) incoming vehicular and human traffic, and (5) agricultural commodities for personal 

consumption.
9

veterinary inspection prior to shipment and another veterinary

inspection at the port of entry into the EU; and

- Disinfection of live-haul trucks and rail cars at the point of 

destination. Such vehicles from third6countries must be

accompanied by a certificate indicating that they were disinfected 

prior to loading.

The risk estimation concludes that the risk potential of infected live swine 

and/or swine commodities entering the United States from Slovakia and 

exposing U.S. livestock is low (USDA, APHIS, 2008). This risk is further 

mitigated if Slovakia is subject to the same requirements specified for 

other EU Member States in APHIS’ regulations under 9 CFR § 94.11 for 

meat and meat products from ruminants or swine, §§ 94.13 and 94.24 for 

pork and pork products, § 94.24 for breeding swine, and § 98.38 for swine 

semen. The requirements specified in APHIS regulations are designed to 

prevent the introduction of CSF, SVD, FMD, or rinderpest into the United 

States from free or low-risk regions and include, but are not limited to, the 

following:

- Official certification of the CSF-, SVD-, and/or FMD and rinderpestfree origin of swine, ruminants, and swine and ruminant 

commodities is required;

- Approval of exporting slaughtering establishments by USDA’s Food 

Safety and Inspection Service is required and an official veterinarian 

of the exporting country must certify that this condition has been 

met;

- The slaughtering establishment is not permitted to receive swine or 

ruminants, meat, or other animal products derived from swine or 

ruminants, which originated in a rinderpest- or FMD-infected region;

- The slaughtering establishment is not permitted to receive meat or 

other animal products from a rinderpest- or FMD-free region 

transported through a rinderpest- or FMD-infected region except in 

sealed containers;

- Meat and other animal products derived from swine or ruminants 

may not be commingled or otherwise come into contact with meat or 

other animals products which originated in a rinderpest- or FMDinfected region;

- Swine, pork, or pork products may not be commingled or otherwise 

come into contact with swine, pork, or pork products from CSF- or 

SVD-affected regions; 

- Semen must originate from animals at an approved collection center; 

and 

- Certain restrictions on the use of transportation equipment for live 

swine and movement of the commodities are in place. 

 

6

 Countries other than EU Member States.
10

Based on the results of the release assessment discussed in APHIS’ 

evaluation (USDA, APHIS, 2008), APHIS considers the likelihood of 

exposure of susceptible animals to CSF virus via live animals from 

Slovakia to be low. APHIS has no evidence that SVD, FMD, or 

rinderpest currently exists in Slovakia. Applying mitigation measures for 

Slovakia equivalent to those specified for other EU Member States in 

9 CFR §§ 94.11, 94.13, 94.24, and 98.38 would result in a level of risk 

that is equivalent to the portion of the EU that is authorized to export 

breeding swine, swine semen, and fresh pork to the United States (USDA, 

APHIS, 2008).

If the proposed action were implemented and an incursion of CSF, SVD, 

FMD, or rinderpest were to occur in an area of Slovakia, APHIS 

regulations would prohibit for a specified period of time the exportation of 

swine commodities and, in the case of FMD or rinderpest, ruminants or 

ruminant commodities as well, from the affected area that could be 

effectively regionalized for disease status.7 For a CSF outbreak in 

domestic swine, restrictions would be lifted once the designation as a 

restricted zone is lifted by the competent veterinary authority of Slovakia

or 6 months following depopulation of the swine on the affected premises 

in the restricted zone and the cleaning and disinfection of the last affected 

premises in the zone, whichever is later. For a CSF outbreak in wild boar, 

restrictions would remain in place from the time of detection until the 

designation of the zone as a restricted zone is removed by the Member 

State’s competent veterinary authority. For an outbreak of SVD, FMD, or 

rinderpest, restrictions would remain in place until the restricted region 

was re-evaluated for disease-free status. 

If CSF, SVD, FMD, or rinderpest were introduced into the United States, 

APHIS would implement disease eradication measures, which could 

include quarantine and depopulation in areas where an effective barrier to 

the introduction of the disease can be established, surveillance of the area 

around an outbreak, and measures aimed at preventing any virus spread by 

swine or ruminant commodities, contaminated material, and vehicles. 

FMD or rinderpest could have more of an impact on U.S. animal health 

than CSF or SVD in that FMD or rinderpest could spread to other 

livestock species, such as cattle, sheep, and goats, and wildlife species, 

such as deer, elk, caribou, and bison. 

 

7

 According to the associated risk analysis, exclusively for veterinary purposes, Slovakia is divided 

into 40 veterinary districts. APHIS considers the district to constitute the smallest administrative 

jurisdiction for Slovakia, ensuring effective oversight of normal animal movements into, out of, and 

within that jurisdiction, and that, in association with national authorities, if necessary, has effective 

control over animal movements and animal diseases locally. This is the smallest unit to which APHIS 

can effectively regionalize for animal disease status under its current regulations. 
11

If the introduction of CSF, SVD, FMD, or rinderpest to U.S. swine were 

to occur, potential for impacts to the physical environment could occur in 

relation to disposal of carcasses due to death from disease and 

depopulation of infected animals or disposal of contaminated bedding and 

manure. Disposal methods could include rendering, burial, and 

incineration. If not handled properly, disposal of infected animals and 

materials could impact air, water, and soil quality and potentially could 

release the live CSF, SVD, FMD, or rinderpest virus into the environment. 

Factors influencing proper disposal methods include the volume of 

infected animals and contaminated materials, geographic features of the 

area (e.g., water resources and soil type), other physical environment 

considerations (such as weather and temperature), and available funds, 

equipment, and personnel. 

Potential for impacts to the physical environment from the introduction of 

CSF, SVD, FMD, or rinderpest could occur in relation to the use of 

disinfectants to prevent the transfer of the CSF, SVD, FMD, or rinderpest

virus from surfaces. As part of an eradication program, measures aimed at 

preventing spread of the CSF, SVD, FMD, or rinderpest virus, including 

disinfection of equipment, transport vehicles, and/or premises where 

infected swine or ruminants were maintained, would be required in order 

to prevent mechanical transfer of the virus. Disinfectants used for such 

purposes would have to be approved for the specific use with the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency and used according to registration 

requirements. Label instructions for disinfectants would be provided for 

their proper application to prevent potential environmental impacts 

associated with the use of the registered product.

The risk analysis that evaluates the animal health status of swine in 

Slovakia concludes from the release assessment that Slovakia is low risk 

for CSF and free of SVD, FMD, and rinderpest (USDA, APHIS, 2008). 

APHIS further concludes from the exposure assessment in the risk 

analysis that the likelihood of exposure of susceptible U.S. livestock to 

CSF, SVD, or FMD viruses via imported meat or meat products (e.g., 

infected food waste), live animals, or genetic material from Slovakia is 

low. Implementation of mitigation measures specified in 9 CFR § 94.11 

for FMD and rinderpest, in 9 CFR § 94.13 for SVD, and in 9 CFR §§ 

94.24 and 98.38 for CSF further mitigate the risk. The conditions, or 

mitigation measures, that would be required to be met in order to comply 

with APHIS import regulations for swine commodities from Slovakia are 

designed to prevent the introduction of CSF, SVD, FMD, and rinderpest

into the United States. Under the proposed action, no significant impact 

on the physical environment as a result of allowing the importation of 

swine or swine products from Slovakia according to the requirements is 

reasonably foreseeable. 

 

2. Physical 

Environment
12

CSF, SVD, FMD, and rinderpest virus strains are host-specific, and, 

therefore, CSF, SVD, FMD, and rinderpest infections are not a public 

health issue (USDA, APHIS, 2008). The occurrence of the SVD virus in 

humans is rare; human infection has been reported in laboratory personnel 

working with the SVD virus, and caution should be taken when working 

with infected material. CSF does not affect humans (The Center for Food 

Security & Public Health, 2005). FMD infection in humans, spread 

through contact with infected animals, is rare (Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention, 2006). 

Other Federal agencies have direct authority over public health issues 

involving the importation of food products. The USDA’s Food Safety and 

Inspection Service (FSIS) enforces provisions under the Federal Meat 

Inspection Act (FMIA) (26 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) that are intended to protect 

public health through food safety requirements. These provisions extend 

to imported carcasses, parts of carcasses, and meat or meat food products, 

including from swine. Products that are allowed to be imported must be 

processed in a facility that has been inspected and approved by FSIS and 

meets requirements equivalent to those under the U.S.FMIA. Under 

section 304(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) has authority to detain an article of food for which 

there is credible evidence or information indicating such article presents a 

threat of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or 

animals. This authority provides an added measure to ensure the safety of 

the nation's food supply (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2004).

a. Environmental Executive Orders

Some executive orders such as Executive Order 13045, Protection of 

Children From Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks, and 

Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice 

in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, and departmental 

or agency directives require special environmental reviews in certain 

circumstances. In considering these additional review requirements, no 

circumstance that would trigger the need for special environmental 

reviews is involved in implementing the proposed action considered in this 

document. The rule amendment alternative presents no risk to the health 

or safety of children and will not result in disproportionately high and 

adverse human health and/or environmental effects on any minority 

populations and/or low-income populations in the United States.

3. Public 

Health

4. Additional 

Environmental 

Review 

Considerations
13

b. Endangered Species Act

Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and its implementing 

regulations require Federal agencies to ensure that their actions are not 

likely to jeopardize the continued existence of endangered or threatened 

species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical 

habitat. APHIS has considered the potential effects of the proposed action 

on endangered and threatened species and designated critical habitat. CSF 

and SVD are host specific, and there are no known federally listed or 

proposed endangered or threatened species in the United States that would 

be affected by CSF or SVD; therefore, the rule amendment will have no 

effect on endangered or threatened species in the United States or critical 

habitat. However, six endangered species are susceptible to FMD (see 

table 1).

Table 1. Endangered species in the United States susceptible to foot and 

mouth disease. 

APHIS conducted a risk analysis and determined that the risk of infected 

swine and ruminant commodities entering the United States from Slovakia

and exposing U.S. livestock to FMD is low (USDA, APHIS, 2008). This 

risk would be further mitigated by requiring implementation of the 

measures outlined in 9 CFR § 94.11 that place restrictions on the 

importation of meat and other animal products derived from ruminants and 

swine that originate from regions which are free of FMD but share a 

common land border with regions designated as infected with FMD.

Based upon the effectiveness of the mitigation measures included in 

9 CFR § 94.11 and the low likelihood of exposure of U.S. livestock to 

FMD virus, implementation of the rulemaking is expected to have no 

effect on federally listed endangered species or designated critical habitat. 

Common Name Scientific Name Critical 

Habitat

Listing 

Status

Woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou No Endangered

Columbian white-tailed 

deer

Odocoileus virginianus 

leuceurus

No

Key deer Odocoileus virginianus 

clavium

No

Sonoran pronghorn Antilocapra americana 

sonoriensis

No

Bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis Yes

Sierra Nevada bighorn 

sheep

Ovis canadensis sierrae Yes
14

IV. Agencies or Persons Contacted

Environmental and Risk Analysis Services

Policy and Program Development, APHIS, USDA 

4700 River Road, Unit 149

Riverdale, MD 20737-1238

V. References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006. Foot-and-mouth 

disease. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/doc.do/id/0900f3ec8024f90b. 

OIE—See World Organization for Animal Health. 

The Center for Food Security and Public Health, 2005. Classical swine 

fever. College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University. Ames, IA. 

Last updated August 2, 2005. Available at 

http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/classical_swine_fever.pdf. 

Accessed 7/17/2008.

USDA, APHIS—See U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service, 2004. APHIS risk considerations on importation of classical 

swine fever (CSF) virus in breeding swine, swine semen, and fresh pork 

from a European Union region of fifteen Member States. U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary

Services, National Center for Import and Export. September 2004.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service, 2006a. Evaluation of the Czech Republic regarding classical 

swine fever and swine vesicular disease. U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, National 

Center for Import and Export. January 2006.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service, 2006b. APHIS evaluation of Poland regarding classical swine 

fever and swine vesicular disease. U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, National 

Center for Import and Export. January 2006.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service, 2009. APHIS evaluation of the status of Slovakia regarding 
15

classical swine fever, swine vesicular disease, and foot and mouth disease. 

Veterinary Services, National Center for Import and Export. March 2009.

World Organization for Animal Health, 2008. List of foot and mouth 

disease free countries. Adopted by the International Committee of the 

OIE on May 27, 2008. Available at 

http://www.oie.int/eng/info/en_find.htm?eld6#Liste. Updated 10/28/08; 

accessed 11/07/08.