Any biologics that don't meet Federal standards are kept off the market. The volume and complexity of sanitary and phytosanitary issues surrounding trade and the workload associated with regulating imports and facilitating exports are increasing by leaps and bounds. NCIE accomplishes this goal by applying equitable, science-based standards of protection to and for agricultural commodities based on international standards, risk analysis, and the use of innovative risk management strategies. NCIE adopted risk-based regional import requirements in accordance with the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement. The concept of regionalization is founded on the idea that import requirements should be based on geography and science rather than politics.
Risk assessment consists of identifying risk factors and evaluating their seriousness.
The framework NCIE established allows for assessment of animals and animal products for import into the United States based on the status of a region, rather than the entire country. It also established procedures by which regions may request permission to export animals and animal products to the United States under specified conditions, based on the region's disease status. These new regulations have opened new world markets to U.S. agricultural industries as well as allowed farmers in foreign countries to sell their livestock and products to American consumers. Prior to the adoption of VS' regionalization policy, such an area would not have been able to export fresh pork to the United States. Previously, assessments were absolute, not allowing imports from countries that had any incidence of disease.