[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9632-9633]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4179]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
9 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. 93-084-3]


Interstate Movement of Mexican-Origin Cattle; Certification 
Requirements

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: We are withdrawing a proposed rule that would have amended the 
regulations concerning the interstate transportation of animals to 
require that all Mexican-origin cattle moved in interstate commerce be 
accompanied by a certificate on which each animal is individually 
identified. We are taking this action after reevaluating the proposed 
rule in light of the comments we received following the publication of 
the proposed rule.

DATES: The proposed rule is withdrawn February 21, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. James P. Davis, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary 
Services, Cattle Diseases and Surveillance Staff, 4700 River Road Unit 
36, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-4923.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On November 12, 1993, we published in the Federal Register (58 FR 
59959-59962, Docket No. 93-084-1) a proposal to amend the regulations 
concerning the interstate transportation of animals in 9 CFR part 71 to 
require all Mexican-origin cattle moved in interstate commerce to be 
accompanied by a certificate on which each animal is individually 
identified. The certificate would have been issued by an Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) representative, State 
representative, or accredited veterinarian in the State from which the 
cattle were to be moved. We also proposed to make several 
nonsubstantive changes to the regulations in part 71 for the sake of 
clarity and accuracy.
    We initially solicited comments concerning our proposal for 30 days 
ending December 13, 1993. We received several requests for an extension 
of the comment period to give interested parties additional time to 
prepare comments on the proposal. In response to those requests, we 
published in the Federal Register on December 22, 1993 (58 FR 67708-
67709, Docket No. 93-084-2), a document reopening and extending the 
comment period until February 14, 1994.
    We received a total of 41 comments by the close of the extended 
comment period. The comments were submitted by State departments of 
agriculture and animal health agencies, veterinarians, private 
citizens, cattle industry associations, cattle-oriented businesses, and 
a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Eight commenters 
supported the proposed rule as written, while another five commenters 
offered some support but suggested changes. The remaining 28 commenters 
opposed the proposed rule.
    Some of the commenters questioned the need for individual 
identification on a certificate, asserting that State veterinarians 
could be notified by other means of the arrival of Mexican-origin 
cattle in their States. Many commenters believed that the proposed rule 
would place a huge new burden on the cattle industry, bringing 
excessive paperwork requirements, increased labor costs, and expensive 
time delays. Many of the commenters also believed that APHIS had 
seriously underestimated the costs that would be associated with 
completing, handling, and filing the certificates on which the cattle 
would be individually identified.
    We carefully considered all of the comments we received. In light 
of the issues raised by many of the commenters, we have concluded that 
additional research is necessary to determine if the proposed rule 
would likely impose greater logistical and financial burdens on those 
entities that [[Page 9633]] would be affected by its provisions than we 
had initially anticipated. Therefore, we are withdrawing the November 
12, 1993, proposed rule referenced above. The concerns and 
recommendations of all the commenters will be considered during the 
development of any new proposed regulations that would affect the 
interstate movement of Mexican-origin cattle.

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 111-113, 114a, 114a-1, 115-117, 120-126, 
134b, and 134f; 7 CFR 2.17, 2.51, and 371.2(d).

    Done in Washington, DC, this 13th day of February 1995.
Lonnie J. King,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 95-4179 Filed 2-17-95; 8:45 am]
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