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<body><p> SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1<b>United States Department of Agriculture
</b></p>
<p><b>Marketing and Regulatory Programs
</b></p>
<p>Animal and 
</p>
<p>Plant Health Inspection 
</p>
<p>Service</p>
<p><img src="embedded:image1.wmf" alt="image1.wmf"></p>
<p><img src="embedded:image2.wmf" alt="image2.wmf"><b>Rulemaking for the Importation of Swine Commodities from Hungary</b></p>
<p><b>Environmental Assessment, November 2008</b></p>
<p> SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1
</p>
<p>
<b>Rulemaking for the Importation of Swine Commodities from Hungary</b></p>
<p><b>Environmental Assessment,
</b></p>
<p><b>November 2008</b></p>
<p><b>Agency Contact for the Rulemaking:
</b></p>
<p>Donald Link 
</p>
<p>Import Risk Analyst, Regionalization and Evaluation Services Import, National Center for Import and Export, Veterinary Services 
</p>
<p>Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
</p>
<p>U.S. Department of Agriculture
</p>
<p>930 Main Campus Drive, Suite 200
</p>
<p>Raleigh, NC  27606</p>
<p></p>
<p>The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all </p>
<p>its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, 
</p>
<p>religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family 
</p>
<p>status.  (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)  Persons with 
</p>
<p>disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program 
</p>
<p>information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s 
</p>
<p>TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).
</p>
<p>To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil 
</p>
<p>Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 
</p>
<p>Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964 (voice and TDD).  
</p>
<p>USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. </p>
<p><b>Table of Contents
</b></p>
<p>   I.  Need for the Proposed Action
1
</p>
<p>  II.  Alternatives
3</p>
<p> III.  Potential Environmental Impacts
4</p>
<p> IV.  Agencies or Persons Contacted
11</p>
<p>  V.  References
11
</p>
<p><b>I. </b>
<b>Need for the Proposed Action</b></p>
<p>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 that are free of or low risk for classical swine fever (CSF).  The country of Hungary submitted a request to APHIS seeking recognition as a region free of CSF in order to export live swine and swine-derived products including semen, pork, and pork products (hereafter referred to as “swine commodities”) to the United States according to requirements in APHIS import regulations.  CSF is a highly contagious viral disease of swine.  CSF is exotic to the United States and is one of the diseases of concern to APHIS in its regulation of animal and animal product importation into the United States.</p>
<p>In response to Hungary’s request, APHIS conducted a risk analysis to assess the risk of introduction of CSF into the United States from Hungary (in “APHIS Risk Analysis of the Status of Hungary Regarding Classical Swine Fever”) (USDA, APHIS, 2008)).  APHIS’ evaluation found that Hungary meets the requirements for being recognized as low risk for CSF.  Based on this finding, APHIS proposes to amend its regulations to add Hungary 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).  </p>
<p>Allowing the trade of swine commodities from Hungary would be consistent with the World Organization for Animal Health (commonly referred to as the Office International des Epizooties (OIE)) Terrestrial Animal Health Code for CSF.  CSF is among the OIE-listed diseases of concern for international trade.  The proposed rulemaking action is needed to allow the importation of swine commodities from Hungary because there is no scientific basis for prohibiting trade based on the CSF disease status of Hungary.  </p>
<p>This environmental assessment (EA) has been prepared to comply with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) </p>
<p>(42 United States Code (U.S.C.) 4321 <i>et seq</i>.) 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).  This EA evaluates the potential effects on the quality of the human environment
 from a rulemaking that seeks to allow the importation of swine commodities according to APHIS import requirements.  The import requirements are designed to manage animal health risks associated with the presence of diseases in swine.  APHIS’ NEPA implementing procedures classify rulemakings that seek to remedy specific animal health risks as actions normally requiring preparation of EAs.
  
</p>
<p>In accordance with requirements under the APHIS NEPA regulations, this document is being made available for public review and comment.  Written comments are welcome and should be sent to the agency contact identified in the notice that announced the availability of this document to the public.
</p>
<p>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,
 (2) the determination from an APHIS evaluation that Hungary is low risk for CSF, and (3) APHIS determinations that measures are in place to mitigate the risk of CSF introduction into the United States through importation of swine and swine commodities from countries or regions that APHIS recognizes as low risk for CSF, such as Hungary, APHIS will consider that future proposed actions of this nature
 would pose negligible environmental impact.  </p>
<p>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 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.
</p>
<p>Public comments on this approach are welcome.</p>
<p><b>II.  Alternatives
</b></p>
<p>The two alternatives considered in this EA include (1) the no action alternative in which the current regulations would remain unchanged, continuing to omit Hungary from the list of EU Member States comprising the APHIS-defined EU CSF region (a region considered low risk for CSF) and, therefore, continuing to not allow the importation of swine commodities from that region to the United States, and (2) the rule amendment, which would designate Hungary as low risk for CSF and would, therefore, allow the importation of swine commodities from Hungary according to certain conditions. 
</p>
<p><b>A.  No Action
</b></p>
<p>The no action alternative would leave the current importation regulations unchanged.  Under this alternative, Hungary would continue to not be listed as part of the APHIS-defined EU CSF region considered low risk for CSF; consequently, Hungary would not be allowed to export swine commodities to the United States.  The low-risk CSF status of Hungary is not reflected in the current import regulations.  The continuance of such unsupported trade restrictions would be contrary to U.S. obligations under international trade agreements.
</p>
<p><b>B.  Rule Amendment 
</b></p>
<p class="footnote_Text">The rule amendment alternative would amend the current regulations to add Hungary to the list of EU Member States comprising the APHIS-defined EU CSF region in 9 CFR §§ 93.500, 94.0, and 98.30,
 and 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.  This alternative would allow the importation of swine and swine commodities from Hungary if certain conditions are met and would be consistent with U.S. obligations under international trade agreements. </p>
<p><b>C.
Alternatives Eliminated from Further Consideration</b></p>
<p>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 <i>de facto</i> trade barrier.  The certification requirements in the rule provide sufficient mitigation measures without being overly restrictive.
</p>
<p><b>III.
Potential Environmental Impacts
</b></p>
<p><b>A. Background 
</b></p>
<p>The disease of concern with regard to allowing the importation of swine commodities from Hungary is CSF.  CSF is a highly contagious viral disease affecting swine and wild boar.  The incubation period for CSF is </p>
<p>2 to 14 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.  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 post-mortem decrease in muscle pH that accompanies carcass maturation), and is unlikely to be destroyed by transport or cold storage (USDA, APHIS, 2006).  More information about the characteristics of CSF is provided in the APHIS risk analysis (USDA, APHIS, 2008) for this matter. </p>
<p>The risk analysis, “APHIS Risk Analysis of the Status of Hungary Regarding Classical Swine Fever,” evaluates the risk of CSF introduction to U.S. animals from allowing these commodities from Hungary (USDA, APHIS, 2008).  In preparing the risk analysis, APHIS evaluated the status of Hungary 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.  
</p>
<p class="body_Text">Hungary, a Member State of the EU since 2004, adopted the legislation of the European Commission (EC) regarding animal health, welfare, and identification including legislation pertaining to CSF.  Hungary 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 low risk with respect to CSF.  </p>
<p class="body_Text">As discussed in APHIS’ evaluation of Hungary’s CSF status, Hungary shares borders with seven countries, four of which are EU Member States:  Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Romania.  Of the bordering EU Member States, APHIS currently recognizes Austria in 9 CFR §§ 94.9 and 94.10 as part of the EU region that is low risk for CSF, and APHIS evaluations have been completed to determine the CSF risk status of Slovenia and Slovakia.  Romania, which joined the EU in January 2007, continues to experience CSF outbreaks in wild boar and domestic swine; Hungary provides for enhanced checks for forbidden pork products from Romania in passenger baggage at and near the Hungary/Romania border.  The other three border countries, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, and the Ukraine, are EC-designated third countries—countries that are approved by the EU’s Food and Veterinary Office to export live animals or animal products to EU Member States because they meet certain requirements, including animal health standards that are at least equivalent to those required of EU Member States.  However, these three countries are not necessarily approved to export live swine or pork to EU Member States.  Animals and animal products from the third countries must meet certain requirements and can only enter through certain border inspection points.  While CSF outbreaks have occurred in domestic and/or wild boar populations in five of the adjacent countries (details of which are provided in APHIS’ evaluation of Hungary’s CSF status (USDA, APHIS, 2008), Hungary enforces EC legislation regarding import prohibitions on animals and products from non-EU countries as well as CSF-affected regions within EU countries, implemented surveillance practices for CSF in wild boar that have demonstrated the ability to detect evidence of circulation of the virus within this population, implemented effective biosecurity practices in domestic swine facilities, and has not had a CSF case in its domestic swine population since 1993.  </p>
<p>The potential for impacts on the human environment from the importation of swine commodities from Hungary is dependent upon the ability of mitigative factors and mitigation measures to prevent the introduction of CSF via the biological pathways of transmission of the disease.  </p>
<p><b>B.  No Action Alternative      </b></p>
<p>The “no action” alternative would not allow swine commodities to be imported from Hungary; the current rules governing the importation of these commodities would remain unchanged with regard to Hungary.  This alternative would have no potential effect on U.S. animal health, public health, or the physical environment.  This alternative, however, is inconsistent with the requirements of international trade agreements. </p>
<p><b>C.  Rule Amendment (Proposed Action)</b></p>
<p>The rule amendment alternative would allow the importation of swine commodities from Hungary according to certain requirements that are designed to prevent the introduction of CSF.  Any potential for impacts to the human environment would be the result of exposure to the CSF 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 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.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>When allowing importation of swine commodities from a foreign region, 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.  CSF was last reported in domestic swine in Hungary in 1993.  CSF virus was detected in wild boar that were hunted and killed in January 2007 in Nógrád County of Hungary, adjacent to the border with Slovakia, with additional finds in 2007 and through July 2008 in both Nógrád and Pest counties.  APHIS evaluated the CSF status of the potential exporting region and found that Hungary appears to have addressed this disease incursion in a timely and effective manner and has implemented necessary measures to prevent CSF transmission to domestic swine in Hungary.  The results of the evaluation are reported in a risk analysis (USDA, APHIS, 2008).</p>
<p>The risk analysis assessed potential pathways
 by which the CSF virus could be introduced into Hungary from other EU Member States or affected third countries, thereby potentially resulting in risk to U.S. animals by allowing the importation of swine commodities from Hungary.  The risk analysis noted that for each of the pathways identified, Hungary has in place numerous mitigating factors and safeguards, including requirements under EC legislation, that are designed to reduce the risk of disease introduction.  These factors or safeguards include, but are not limited to, the following:
</p>
<p>· Hunting restrictions for wild boar in the infected area, including the requirement that all shot boar must be serologically and virologically evaluated.
</p>
<p>-
Combination of control activities aimed at affected wild boar populations, including enhanced biosecurity measures on farms in the infected area, such as disinfection of personnel entering and exiting pig holding buildings, mandatory indoor housing of swine, enhanced reporting requirements for signs of disease in domestic swine, and a prohibition on the movement of swine and pork products, including semen and embryos or ova from the infected area for intra-community trade. 
</p>
<p>· Public outreach programs, e.g., awareness campaigns for the public and informational flyers for hunters.</p>
<p>· Training in emergency response aimed at disease experts and training for customs officers, veterinarians, technicians, and administrative staff at border inspection points. </p>
<p>· Prohibition against garbage feeding to domestic swine.</p>
<p>The risk estimation component of the APHIS risk analysis concludes that the likelihood of live swine, pork, pork products, or swine semen entering the United States from Hungary and exposing U.S. livestock to the CSF virus, considering the mitigation measures that have to be met for all EU Member States in APHIS’ regulations (under 9 CFR §§ 94.24 for pork and pork products, 94.24 for breeding swine, and 98.38 for swine semen) to be very low (USDA, APHIS, 2008).  
</p>
<p>If CSF transmission were to occur in domestic swine in Hungary after receiving recognition as a region considered low risk for CSF, importation of infected swine commodities would be mitigated by requirements that must be met in 9 CFR §§ 94.24 and 98.38.  The requirements specified in APHIS regulations are designed to prevent the introduction of CSF into the United States from low-risk regions and include, but are not limited to, the following:
</p>
<p>· Official certification of the CSF-free origin of swine commodities;
</p>
<p>· Approval of exporting slaughtering establishments by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and certification by an official veterinarian of the exporting country that this condition has been met; 
</p>
<p>· No commingling or contact of swine, pork, or pork products with swine, pork, or pork products from CSF-affected regions; 
</p>
<p>· Origin of swine semen must be from animals at an approved collection center; and 
</p>
<p>· Restrictions on the use of transportation equipment for live swine and movement of the commodities to prevent CSF infection.  
</p>
<p>If the proposed action (to add Hungary to the list of EU Member States comprising the APHIS-defined EU CSF region) were implemented and an incursion of CSF were to occur in domestic swine in an area of Hungary, APHIS regulations would prohibit for a specified period of time the importation of swine commodities from the affected area that could be effectively regionalized for disease status.
  For a CSF outbreak in domestic swine, restrictions would be lifted without rulemaking once the designation as a restricted zone is lifted by the competent veterinary authority of Hungary 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.  Additional requirements under APHIS’ import regulations further mitigate the risk of exposure of U.S. swine to any potentially infected swine from Hungary or decrease the likelihood of infected swine being chosen for import as follows:
</p>
<p>· a minimum quarantine of 15 days for all imported swine (9 CFR § 93.510).  </p>
<p>· swine imports are limited to breeding swine only and prohibit imported swine originating or commingling with swine from any region in which CSF is known to exist or any restricted areas within the EU due to the detection of CSF in domestic swine or wild boar (9 CFR § 94.24).   
</p>
<p>If CSF 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 commodities, contaminated material, and vehicles.  </p>
<p></p>
<p>If the introduction of CSF 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 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.  </p>
<p>Potential for impacts to the physical environment from the introduction of CSF could occur in relation to the use of disinfectants to prevent the transfer of the CSF virus from surfaces.  As part of an eradication program, measures aimed at preventing spread of the CSF virus, including disinfection of equipment, transport vehicles, and/or premises where infected swine 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.</p>
<p>Conditions or mitigation measures that would be required to be met in order to comply with APHIS import regulations for swine and swine products from Hungary are designed to prevent the introduction of CSF into the United States.  Under the proposed action and according to the finding in APHIS’ evaluation that CSF does not exist in domestic swine populations in Hungary, no significant impact on the physical environment as a result of allowing the importation of swine or swine products from Hungary is reasonably foreseeable.  </p>
<p>The CSF virus is not known to affect humans (USDA, APHIS, 2008; The Center for Food Security & Public Health, 2005).  Indirect transmission of the CSF virus to swine may occur via movement of people and inanimate objects such as live-haul trucks (as cited in USDA, APHIS, 2008).  Impacts on public health according to conditions of APHIS’ import regulations to prevent the introduction and spread of CSF from swine or swine products from Hungary are not reasonably foreseeable. </p>
<p>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).</p>
<p></p>
<p><b>a.  Environmental Executive Orders
</b></p>
<p>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.  Neither impacts on the health or safety of children nor disproportionately high and adverse human health and/or environmental effects on any minority populations and/or low-income populations in the United States as a result of CSF exposure are reasonably foreseeable as a result of the rule amendment to allow the importation of swine or swine products from Hungary.
</p>
<p><b>b.  Endangered Species Act
</b></p>
<p>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 is 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; therefore, the rule amendment would have no effect on endangered or threatened species in the United States or critical habitat. </p>
<p>IV. <b>Agencies or Persons Contacted
</b></p>
<p>Environmental Services
</p>
<p>Policy and Program Development 
</p>
<p>Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
</p>
<p>U.S. Department of Agriculture
</p>
<p>4700 River Road, Unit 149
</p>
<p>Riverdale, MD  20737–1238</p>
<p><b>V.  References
</b></p>
<p>The Center for Food Security and Public Health, 2005.  Classical swine fever.  College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University.  Ames, IA.  Last updated May 5, 2008.  Available at <a href="http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/classical_swine_fever.pdf"><u>http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/classical_swine_fever.pdf</u></a>.  Accessed on 11/04/08.
</p>
<p>USDA, APHIS—See U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.</p>
<p>U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 2006.  APHIS evaluation of the status of Lithuania regarding classical swine fever, swine vesicular disease, and foot and mouth disease. January 2006.  Veterinary Services, National Center for Import and Export, Riverdale, MD.
</p>
<p>U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 2008.  APHIS risk analysis of the status of Hungary regarding classical swine fever.  September 2008.  Veterinary Services, National Center for Import and Export, Riverdale, MD.</p>
<h2>U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2004.  Protecting the food supply. Fact sheet on FDA'S new food bioterrorism regulation.  Final Rule: Administrative Detention.  Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.  Available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsbtac21.html.  Accessed 10/30/08.</h2>
<p>1.  Animal 
</p>
<p>     Health
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>2.	Physical Environment
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>3.  Public Health
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>4.  Additional Environ-mental Review Considera-
</p>
<p>tions
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>�  The “human environment” is interpreted comprehensively to include the natural and physical environment and the relationship of people with that environment (40 CFR § 1508.14).
</p>
<p>�  7 CFR § 372.5(b)(1).
</p>
<p>�  The Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland (72 Federal Register (FR) 67227–67233; November 28, 2007).
</p>
<p>�  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.
</p>
<p>�   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, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, and Northern Ireland).  
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>�  (1) through contact with infected wild boar, either in Hungary or from adjacent countries, (2) through exposure to infected swine or swine products from other EU Member States or third countries, and 
</p>
<p>(3) through exposure to contaminated objects (e.g., vehicles or passengers) from other EU Member States or third countries that are experiencing outbreaks of CSF, again either due to direct contact, or secondary contact via wild boar..
</p>
<p>�  In the event of an animal disease outbreak, APHIS considers the counties in Hungary to be the smallest administrative units for animal disease status recognition purposes.
</p>
<p>
</p>
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