[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 8, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6040-6044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2778]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 94

[Docket No. 98-094-1]


Poultry Products From Mexico Transiting the United States

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: We are proposing to allow poultry carcasses, parts, and 
products (except eggs and egg products) that are not eligible for entry 
into the United States to move through the United States via land ports 
from Mexican States that Mexico considers to be free of exotic 
Newcastle disease (END), under certain conditions, for export to 
another country. We believe such in-transit movements would present a 
negligible risk of introducing END into the United States. This action 
would relieve restrictions on trade while continuing to provide 
protection against the introduction of END into the United States.

DATES: We invite you to comment on this docket. We will consider all 
comments that we receive by April 10, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Please send your comment and three copies to: Docket No. 98-
094-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 
4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that 
your comment refers to Docket No. 98-094-1.
    You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our 
reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of the USDA 
South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington 
DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, 
please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
    APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related 
information, including the names of organizations and individuals who 
have commented on APHIS rules, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Michael David, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, Animals Program, National Center for Import and Export, 
VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 734-
8364.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred to below as the 
regulations) prohibit or restrict the importation of certain animals 
and animal products into the United States to prevent the introduction 
of certain animal diseases. The regulations in Sec. 94.6 govern, among 
other things, the importation of poultry carcasses, parts, products, 
and eggs (other than hatching eggs) from regions where exotic Newcastle 
disease (END) or Salmonella enteritidis, phage-type 4, is considered to 
exist. Because END exists in certain parts of Mexico, Mexico is 
characterized, under Sec. 94.6(a), as a region where END is considered 
to exist. Further, under the regulations in Sec. 94.6(b), Mexico is 
also characterized as a region where S. enteritidis, phage-type 4, is 
considered to exist.
    Under the regulations, poultry carcasses, and parts and products of 
poultry carcasses may be imported into the United States from Mexico 
only if they have been cooked or are consigned directly to an approved 
establishment in the United States. Poultry eggs (other than hatching 
eggs) from Mexico may be imported into the United States only if: (1) 
They are accompanied by a health certificate regarding the flock of 
origin and meet certain other conditions; (2) they are consigned 
directly to an approved establishment for breaking and pasteurization; 
(3) they are imported under permit for scientific, educational, or 
research purposes; or (4) they are imported under permit and have been 
cooked or processed or will be handled in a manner that prevents the 
introduction of END and S. enteritidis into the United States.
    Further, poultry carcasses, parts, products, and eggs (other than 
hatching eggs) that do not qualify for entry into the United States 
under one of these conditions may transit the United States via air and 
sea ports under the conditions contained in Sec. 94.15(d).
    Mexico's Director of Animal Health has requested that we allow 
poultry carcasses, parts, and products from the Mexican States that 
Mexico considers free of END to transit the United States via land 
border ports for export to another country. Currently, Mexico 
recognizes the States of Baja California, Baja California Sur, 
Campeche, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo Leon, Quintana Roo, 
Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, and Yucatan as free of END.
    In response, officials of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) have met with representatives from Mexico knowledgeable 
in disease prevention, epidemiology, and diagnostic methods. The APHIS 
officials reviewed the information supplied by these representatives 
(discussed below) and found two factors contributing to the 12 States' 
apparent successes in remaining free of END: The States' locations and 
relative isolation from States or countries where END is considered to 
exist, and controls by Mexico's Division of Animal Health on the 
movement of poultry and eggs into and through the END-free States. 
Based on this review, the APHIS officials recommended granting Mexico's 
request. However, because the term ``poultry carcasses, parts, and 
products'' might be construed to include eggs and egg products, we wish 
to make it clear that because Mexico is characterized as a region where 
S. enteritidis, phage-type 4, is considered to exist, eggs (other than 
hatching eggs) and egg products are only allowed to transit the United 
States via air and sea ports under the conditions currently contained 
in Sec. 94.15(d). We are not proposing to amend the regulations 
concerning the transit of eggs or egg products from Mexico in this 
document.

[[Page 6041]]

General Information

    The table below shows the year of the last outbreak of END in each 
State and the year Mexico officially declared each State free of END. 
As shown in the table, none of the States listed has had an outbreak of 
END in the last 8 years.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Year  of
                                                    last         Year
                 Mexican State                    outbreak     declared
                                                   of END    free of END
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baja California...............................         1982         1995
Baja California Sur...........................        * N/A         1995
Campeche......................................        * N/A         1997
Chihuahua.....................................        * N/A         1995
Coahuila......................................         1987         1997
Durango.......................................         1991         1995
Nuevo Leon....................................         1983         1995
Quintana Roo..................................         1990         1997
Sinaloa.......................................         1989         1993
Sonora........................................         1989         1993
Tamaulipas....................................         1989         1997
Yucatan.......................................         1984        1996
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Never reported.

    Geographically, the 12 States compose two contiguous areas in 
Mexico. The States of Yucatan, Campeche, and Quintana Roo are located 
on the Yucatan Peninsula. They are bordered by only one Mexican State, 
Tabasco, and two countries, Guatemala and Belize, not considered free 
of END. Yucatan, Campeche, and Quintana Roo maintain active border 
surveillance, ensuring that no poultry from Tabasco, Guatemala, and 
Quintana Roo enters without proper documentation, as explained below.
    The remaining nine States considered by Mexico to be free of END--
Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, 
Nuevo Leon, Sinaloa, Sonora, and Tamaulipas--are contiguously located 
in northern Mexico, along the U.S. border and south into north-central 
Mexico. These States are bordered to the south by States not considered 
free of END, but, like the Yucatan Peninsula States, they maintain 
active border surveillance to ensure the safety of their poultry from 
END.
    Of the 12 States that would be eligible to transit poultry 
carcasses, parts, and products (except eggs and egg products) through 
the United States via land ports under this proposed rule, Nuevo Leon 
had the highest volume of poultry production in 1997 (120,000 metric 
tons, or less than one-tenth of one percent of Mexico's total poultry 
production for that year). Following Nuevo Leon were Durango and 
Coahuila, with a combined total of 150,000 metric tons, and Yucatan 
with 60,000 metric tons. The other 8 States produced less than 60,000 
metric tons of poultry each.
    Poultry carcasses, parts, and products from Mexico that would be 
eligible to transit the United States via land border ports under this 
proposed rule must be processed and packaged in Tipo Inspeccion Federal 
(TIF) plants. TIF plants are facilities that are approved by the 
Government of Mexico and that are subject to strict Federal supervision 
to ensure that international health standards are maintained. A TIF 
plant may be a slaughter facility, a processing plant, or a combination 
of the two. The number of TIF plants in each of the 12 Mexican States 
is shown in the table below. Data is not available on the exact number 
of nonslaughter TIF plants that process poultry. The number of TIF 
plants listed in the ``Industrial plant'' column below includes pork, 
beef, and poultry processing plants.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Number of
                                             TIF Plants      Number of
               Mexican State                Slaughtering  ``Industrial''
                                               Poultry      TIF plants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baja California...........................             0              1
Baja California Sur.......................             0              0
Campeche..................................             0              0
Chihuahua.................................             0              5
Coahuila..................................             0              3
Durango...................................             1              0
Nuevo Leon................................             1             11
Quintana Roo..............................             0              0
Sinaloa...................................             1              2
Sonora....................................             2              1
Tamaulipas................................             0              0
Yucatan...................................             1              1
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As required by the Government of Mexico, the 12 States that are 
subject to this proposed rule may import live poultry only from other 
END-free States and countries. The Government of Mexico requires 
shipments of poultry from END-free countries to be accompanied by a 
certificate of origin issued by that country's veterinary authorities 
and by a certificate of import issued by Mexico's veterinary 
authorities. States recognized by Mexico as free of END also require 
and issue their own permits and health certificates, further ensuring 
that the products originate in an END-free region. In addition, live 
poultry and poultry carcasses, parts, or products imported into these 
END-free States must be shipped in sealed trucks, and all shipments are 
inspected at inspection stations located either on State lines or at 
international ports of entry.
    The Government of Mexico also requires that any poultry carcasses, 
parts, or products that are shipped for processing to an END-free State 
from a region where END is believed to exist arrive at TIF processing 
plants in sealed, numbered containers. The seals must show no evidence 
of tampering, and the shipment must be accompanied by a certificate 
signed by an authorized official in the region of origin. Once they 
arrive at the TIF plant in an END-free State, such poultry carcasses, 
parts, or products are not allowed to come in contact with poultry that 
is eligible for importation into the United States in accordance with 
the regulations contained in 9 CFR part 94 to ensure that no 
comminglement occurs. The poultry carcasses, parts, or products must be 
immediately cooked to eliminate any risk of disseminating END.

Conditions for Movement Through the United States

    Under this proposed rule, the following conditions would apply to 
the in-transit movement of poultry carcasses, parts, and products 
(except eggs and egg products) from Baja California, Baja California 
Sur, Campeche, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo Leon, Quintana Roo, 
Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, and Yucatan:
    1. Any person wishing to move poultry carcasses, parts, or products 
from Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chihuahua, 
Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo Leon, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa, Sonora, 
Tamaulipas, and Yucatan through the United States via land ports for 
export must first obtain a permit from APHIS. The application for the 
permit would tell APHIS how much and what type of poultry carcasses, 
parts, or products would be transported; when they would be 
transported; the method and route of shipment; and who would be 
involved in the transportation.
    2. The poultry carcasses, parts, or products must be packaged prior 
to movement from the TIF plant in leakproof containers sealed with 
serially numbered seals approved by APHIS. The containers must remain 
sealed at all times while transiting Mexico and the United States.
    3. The person moving the poultry carcasses, parts, or products 
through the United States via land ports must inform the APHIS officer 
at the U.S. port of arrival, in writing, of the following information 
before the poultry carcasses, parts, or products arrive in the United 
States: The time and date that the poultry carcasses, parts, or 
products are expected at the port of arrival in the United States, the 
time schedule and route of the shipments through the United States, the 
permit

[[Page 6042]]

number, and the serial numbers of the seals on the containers.
    4. The poultry carcasses, parts, or products must transit the 
United States under Customs bond.
    5. The poultry carcasses, parts, or products must be exported from 
the United States within the time period specified on the permit.
    Any poultry carcasses, parts, or products exceeding the time limit 
specified on the permit or transiting in violation of any of the 
requirements of the permit or the regulations may be destroyed or 
otherwise disposed of at the discretion of the Administrator, APHIS, 
pursuant to section 2 of the Act of February 2, 1903, as amended (21 
U.S.C. 111).
    These safeguards are intended to prevent tampering with the 
shipments, ensure that the shipments actually leave the United States, 
and otherwise ensure that the shipments do not present a significant 
risk of introducing END into the United States.
    Under these circumstances--the low risk associated with the poultry 
carcasses, parts, and products coupled with the safeguards for in-
transit shipments--we believe that there would be little, if any, risk 
of introducing END into the United States as a result of this proposed 
rule. Therefore, we are proposing to amend Sec. 94.15 to allow poultry 
carcasses, parts, and products (except eggs and egg products) that do 
not meet the requirements in Sec. 94.6 for entry into the United States 
and that originate in one of the Mexican States listed above to transit 
the United States via land ports for export to another country.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866. 
The rule has been determined to be not significant for the purposes of 
Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been reviewed by the 
Office of Management and Budget.
    Currently, the regulations in 9 CFR part 94 prohibit or restrict 
the importation of certain animals or animal products into the United 
States to prevent the introduction of certain animal diseases. Under 
the regulations, poultry carcasses, parts, and products from Mexico 
must meet the requirements of Sec. 94.6 to be imported into the United 
States because exotic Newcastle disease (END) is considered to exist in 
certain areas in Mexico. However, under Sec. 94.15, certain products 
that are not eligible for entry into the United States in accordance 
with the regulations in 9 CFR part 94 may transit the United States for 
immediate export if certain conditions are met. Currently Sec. 94.15(b) 
covers only pork and pork products from Chihuahua, Baja California, 
Sonora, or Yucatan, Mexico, and 94.15(d) allows the transit via air and 
sea ports of all meat and animal products not otherwise eligible for 
entry into the United States.
    In this document, we are proposing to allow poultry carcasses, 
parts, and products (except eggs and egg products) that are not 
eligible for entry into the United States under Sec. 94.6 to move via 
land ports through the United States from 12 Mexican States, under 
certain conditions, for export to another country. These 12 States have 
been officially declared by the Government of Mexico to be free of END.
    An APHIS review of the END situation in those States has revealed 
that, if proper risk management techniques continue to be applied in 
Mexico, and if accident and exposure are minimized by proper handling 
during transport, there would be a negligible risk that END could be 
disseminated into the United States as a result of this proposal.
    The proposed regulations would have no direct effect on U.S. 
producers and consumers of poultry because Mexican poultry would only 
transit the United States en route to other countries and would not 
enter U.S. marketing channels. Neither the quantity or price of poultry 
traded in U.S. domestic markets nor U.S. consumer or producer surplus 
would be affected by the proposed rule.
    A benefit of allowing Mexican poultry to transit the United States 
for export is that U.S. companies would ship the poultry from U.S. 
receiving centers in the border States of California, Arizona, and 
Texas to export points. Current Department of Transportation 
regulations restrict trucks from Mexico from proceeding into the United 
States due to safety restrictions. However, any economic activity that 
would result from this proposal is dependent on the volume of poultry 
shipped from Mexico for export to other countries. Given Mexico's low 
volume of poultry and poultry product exports, few shipments of poultry 
are likely to transit the United States to other countries under this 
proposal, and benefits to U.S. carriers and shippers are likely to be 
very small.
    Potential losses from disease outbreaks are not quantified because 
APHIS judges the likelihood of outbreaks (which could result from a 
combination of factors such as the presence of the disease in Mexico, 
failure of the preclearance program, accidental openings while in 
transit, or exposure after an accidental opening of a shipment) to be 
negligible.

Mexican Poultry Production and Exports

    Since 1990, poultry meat production in Mexico has grown 5 percent 
annually to reach 1.7 million metric tons in 1998. However, nearly all 
of the poultry meat produced in Mexico is consumed domestically. For 
example, in 1997, Mexico produced 1.5 million metric tons of poultry, 
but exported only 5,000 metric tons of that total. Therefore, we 
anticipate that the volume of poultry that would transit the United 
States under this proposal would be very small.

Effects on Small Trucking Companies

    This proposed rule, if implemented, could directly affect U.S. 
trucking companies operating in the border States of California, 
Arizona, and Texas. Small Business Administration (SBA) data show that 
there are approximately 18,000 trucking companies operating in those 
States, and over 96 percent of those companies are small entities. 
However, it is unclear how many of those companies would be affected by 
this proposal.
    At present, freight arriving in the Customs territory of the United 
States by truck from Mexico has to be delivered to customers within the 
commercial zone of the U.S. cities along the border or else transferred 
to a U.S. trucking or other shipping company within that zone. U.S. 
trucking companies would benefit from transporting Mexican poultry from 
U.S. land border ports to U.S. maritime ports. However, given the 
anticipated low volume of Mexican exports, this proposed rule would 
likely not have a significant economic effect on a substantial number 
of small trucking companies.

Effects on Small Railroad Companies

    This proposed rule, if implemented, could also affect four U.S. 
railroad companies that currently transport goods across the U.S.-
Mexico border. Two of these railroad companies meet SBA criteria for 
small entities (fewer than 1,500 employees). Any economic effects on 
railroad companies, whether small or large, would likely be positive, 
but such effects are anticipated to be insignificant, given the 
expected small volume of Mexican exports.

Effects on U.S. Poultry Exporters

    This proposal could also affect U.S. poultry exporters. Historical 
data on shipments of Mexican poultry suggest that the poultry would be 
shipped to

[[Page 6043]]

either Japan or the Middle East; but, once again, given the anticipated 
low volume of Mexican exports, U.S. companies that export poultry and 
poultry products to these two regions are unlikely to be significantly 
affected.

Trade Relations

    This proposal would remove some restrictions on the movement of 
poultry carcasses, parts, or products (except eggs and egg products) 
from Mexico and would encourage a positive trading environment between 
the United States and Mexico by stimulating economic activity and 
providing export opportunities to Mexican poultry industries.
    Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action would 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.

Executive Order 12988

    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 
Civil Justice Reform. If this proposed rule is adopted: (1) All State 
and local laws and regulations that are inconsistent with this rule 
will be preempted; (2) no retroactive effect will be given to this 
rule; and (3) administrative proceedings will not be required before 
parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with section 3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the information collection or 
recordkeeping requirements included in this proposed rule have been 
submitted for approval to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 
Please send written comments to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for APHIS, Washington, 
DC 20503. Please state that your comments refer to Docket No. 98-094-1. 
Please send a copy of your comments to: (1) Docket No. 98-094-1, 
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, suite 3C03, 4700 River 
Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238, and (2) Clearance Officer, 
OCIO, USDA, room 404-W, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250. A comment to OMB is best assured of having its 
full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication of this 
proposed rule.
    This proposed rule would amend the regulations to allow poultry 
carcasses, parts, and products (except eggs and egg products) that are 
not eligible for entry into the United States to move through the 
United States via land ports from Mexican States that Mexico considers 
to be free of exotic Newcastle disease (END), under certain conditions, 
for export to another country.
    Implementing this proposed rule would necessitate the use of 
several paperwork collection activities, including the completion of an 
import permit application, the placement of serially numbered seals on 
product containers, and the forwarding of a written pre-arrival 
notification to APHIS port personnel.
    We are soliciting comments from the public (as well as affected 
agencies) concerning our proposed information collection and 
recordkeeping requirements. These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper performance of our agency's functions, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
proposed information collection, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the information collection on those who 
are to respond (such as through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology; e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses).
    Estimate of burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 43 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Mexican exporters and full-time, salaried 
veterinarians employed by Mexico's Federal animal health protection 
service.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 15.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 37.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 555.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 398 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from: 
Clearance Officer, OCIO, USDA, room 404-W, 14th Street and Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250.

List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 94

    Animal diseases, Imports, Livestock, Meat and meat products, Milk, 
Poultry and poultry products, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Accordingly, we propose to amend 9 CFR part 94 as follows:

PART 94--RINDERPEST, FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE, FOWL PEST (FOWL 
PLAGUE), VELOGENIC VISCEROTROPIC NEWCASTLE DISEASE, AFRICAN SWINE 
FEVER, HOG CHOLERA, AND BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY: 
PROHIBITED AND RESTRICTED IMPORTATIONS

    1. The authority citation for part 94 would continue to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 147a, 150ee, 161, 162, and 450; 19 U.S.C. 
1306; 21 U.S.C. 111, 114a, 134a, 134b, 134c, 134f, 136, and 136a; 31 
U.S.C. 9701; 42 U.S.C. 4331 and 4332; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 
371.2(d).

    2. In Sec. 94.15, paragraphs (c) and (d) would be redesignated as 
paragraphs (d) and (e). respectively, and a new paragraph (c) would be 
added to read as follows:


Sec. 94.15  Animal products and materials; movement and handling.

* * * * *
    (c) Poultry carcasses, parts, or products (except eggs and egg 
products) from Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, 
Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo Leon, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa, 
Sonora, Tamaulipas, or Yucatan, Mexico, that are not eligible for entry 
into the United States in accordance with the regulations in this part 
may transit the United States via land ports for immediate export if 
the following conditions are met:
    (1) The person desiring to move the poultry carcasses, parts, or 
products through the United States obtains a United States Veterinary 
Permit for Importation and Transportation of Controlled Materials and 
Organisms and Vectors (VS Form 16-6). An application for the permit may 
be obtained from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 
Veterinary Services, National Center for Import-Export, 4700 River Road 
Unit 38, Riverdale, Maryland 20737-1231.
    (2) The poultry carcasses, parts, or products are packaged at a 
Tipo Inspeccion Federal plant in Baja California, Baja California Sur, 
Campeche, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo Leon, Quintana Roo, 
Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, or Yucatan, Mexico, in leakproof 
containers with serially numbered seals of the Government of Mexico, 
and the containers remain sealed during the entire time they are in 
transit across Mexico and the United States.
    (3) The person moving the poultry carcasses, parts, or products 
through the United States notifies, in writing, the Plant Protection 
and Quarantine Officer at the U.S. port of arrival prior to such

[[Page 6044]]

transiting. The notification must include the following information 
regarding the poultry to transit the United States:
    (i) Permit number;
    (ii) Times and dates of arrival in the United States;
    (iii) Time schedule and route to be followed through the United 
States; and
    (iv) Serial numbers of the seals on the containers.
    (4) The poultry carcasses, parts, or products transit the United 
States under Customs bond and are exported from the United States 
within the time limit specified on the permit. Any poultry carcasses, 
parts, or products that have not been exported within the time limit 
specified on the permit or that have not transited in accordance with 
the permit or applicable requirements of this part will be destroyed or 
otherwise disposed of as the Administrator may direct pursuant to 
section 2 of the Act of February 2, 1903, as amended (21 U.S.C. 111).
* * * * *

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control 
number 0579-0145)


    Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of February 2000.
Bobby R. Acord,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 00-2778 Filed 2-7-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-U