This action is being taken to harmonize our import requirement with recent changes to strengthen the tuberculosis eradication effort in the United States. The additional testing requirements will help us ensure that imported cattle are free of tuberculosis and will help us protect the U.S. cattle industry from the spread of this devastating disease. This rule applies to cattle imported from all countries of the world. However, existing tuberculosis testing requirements for cattle from Canada will not be affected by this rule.
Bovine tuberculosis is a contagious, infectious, and communicable disease.
It affects cattle, bison, deer, elk, goats, and other species including humans. Bovine tuberculosis in infected animals and humans manifests itself in lesions of the lung, bone, and other body parts, causes weight loss and general debilitation, and can be fatal. This interim rule is effective May 21 and is published in the April 20 Federal Register. Consideration will be given to comments received on or before June 19.