Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/02/11/2013-03024/importation-of-horses-from-contagious-equine-metritis-affected-countries
Timestamp: 2016-10-23 09:41:24
Document Index: 225242210

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 93', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', '§\u200993', 'art2']

:: Importation of Horses From Contagious Equine Metritis-Affected Countries
A Rule by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on 02/11/2013
9577-9581
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-03024
Dr. Ellen Buck, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Equine Imports, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 Start Printed Page 9578River Road Unit 36, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-3361.
The regulations in 9 CFR part 93 (referred to below as the regulations) prohibit or restrict the importation of certain animals into the United States to prevent the introduction of communicable diseases of livestock. Subpart C—Horses, §§ 93.300 through 93.326, pertains to the importation of horses into the United States. Sections 93.301 and 93.304 of the regulations contain specific provisions for the importation of horses from regions affected with contagious equine metritis (CEM), which is a highly contagious venereal disease of horses and other equines caused by infection or contamination with the bacterium Taylorella equigenitalis.
In an interim rule [1] effective and published in the Federal Register on March 25, 2011 (76 FR 16683-16686, Docket No. APHIS-2008-0112), we amended the regulations in § 93.301 regarding the importation of horses from countries affected with CEM by incorporating an additional certification requirement for imported horses 731 days of age or less and adding new testing protocols for test mares and imported stallions and mares more than 731 days of age.
Imported mares that test positive for CEM are not returned to their country of origin. Rather, as provided under § 93.301(e)(5), imported mares that test positive for CEM are treated and retested.
Previously, § 93.301(e)(3)(i) required stallions to be cultured for CEM and test bred to two test mares after negative results from the cultures are obtained. The March 2011 interim rule amended that requirement to require that, prior to test breeding, three sets of cultures be collected from imported stallions rather than one set. The interim rule allowed test breeding to take place only after the first two sets of cultures had yielded negative results.
We are making a change to the final rule based on these comments and the 2007 CEM Program Review, which determined that test breeding is a more sensitive test for CEM than pre-breeding cultures. This final rule amends paragraph (e)(3)(i) of § 93.301 to require that one set of cultures be collected from the stallion prior to breeding with negative results, consistent with our previous regulations. A stallion may be released from State quarantine only if all cultures and tests of specimens from the mares used for test breeding are negative for CEM and all cultures performed on specimens taken from the stallion are negative for CEM. If any culture or test is positive for CEM, the stallion would be treated for CEM as described in § 93.301(e)(3)(i)(A) and retested by being test bred to two mares no less than 21 days after the last day of treatment. Given the interim rule's enhancements to the testing process for test mares, we believe that requiring one set of cultures to be taken from imported stallions will be sufficient to prevent the introduction of CEM.
As stated in § 93.301(e)(3)(i), upon completion of the test breeding, stallions must be treated for 5 consecutive days in accordance with Start Printed Page 9579paragraph (e)(3)(i)(A) of § 93.301, regardless of their test status. If a test mare cultured for CEM shows positive results, then the stallion is treated again and retested. A stallion may be released from State quarantine only if all cultures and tests collected from test mares are negative for CEM and all cultures and tests collected from the stallion are negative for CEM.
We agree with the commenter and are making a change to the interim rule as a result. Specifically, we are no longer requiring that cultures from the distal cervix or endometrium be included with all three sets of cultures collected from the test mares. Instead, paragraphs (e)(3)(i)(B) and (e)(4)(ii) of § 93.301 now require that only the third set of cultures include a swab from the distal cervix or endometrium. In addition, we are amending paragraph (d)(1)(ii)(D), which contains similar requirement for the importation of Spanish Pure Breed horses and thoroughbred horses over 731 days, to require that only the third set of cultures from imported mares include a swab from the distal cervix or endometrium.
We agree with this comment. If a test mare becomes CEM positive after breeding, the CF test titer begins to rise at day 15 post breeding, and would be expected to continue rising between days 21 and 28. Therefore, we are amending paragraph (e)(3)(i)(B) of § 93.301 to state that a CF test for CEM must be done with negative results between the twenty-first and twenty-eighth day after the breeding. This change will provide additional flexibility in test scheduling, without compromising the ability to detect infection.
The regulations in paragraph (c)(2) of § 93.301 exempts recently castrated stallions (geldings) from CEM-related importation requirements. Several commenters suggested that geldings be tested and treated for CEM, as recommended by the 2007 CEM Program Review. A concern was expressed that recently castrated stallions could maintain stallion-like behavior and attempt and achieve intromission with mares in estrus, thereby creating a risk for CEM transmission.
Each horse is accompanied at the time of importation by an import permit issued in accordance with § 93.304. We acknowledge that it is possible for a stallion to be misidentified; however, the risk is low and does not justify testing and treating every male horse that is imported into the United States.
If an imported mare 731 days of age or younger is pregnant upon arrival to the port of entry, the mare will be tested and treated in accordance with § 93.301(e).
As stated in § 93.301(f), horses temporarily imported into the United States for competition or entertainment purposes are not subject to CEM testing upon entry. Stallions and mares imported for permanent entry into the United States must be tested for CEM even if importers plan to use those horses solely for competition at the time of import because the horses may be used for breeding after competition.
Horses imported into the United States temporarily under § 93.301(f) for either competition or entertainment purposes are not required to be tested for CEM in the United States. Horses entering temporarily for entertainment purposes must be tested in the country of origin. Horses entering temporarily for competition for periods of 90 days or less do not need to be tested in the country of origin. Mares and stallions imported permanently must be tested in the United States and in the country of origin.
We cooperate with State officials to ensure compliance and accountability at each facility. At present, we are drafting a policy document that provides minimum standards of operation for each stage of the post-arrival quarantine process. We have conducted training courses for testing officials and laboratory personnel, and will conduct training in the future as resources become available. Therefore, it is not necessary to amend the regulations by adding minimum standards for Start Printed Page 9580quarantine facilities, testing protocols, and recordkeeping.
As stated in § 93.301(f), any horse temporarily imported would be monitored by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to ensure that the horse is moved according to the itinerary and methods of transport specified by the import permit. The regulations clearly state that a horse imported temporarily for competition or entertainment must not be used for breeding. If an owner or importer subsequently seeks permission to keep the horse in the United States, the horse would be transported to a State quarantine facility to undergo the post-arrival quarantine testing and treatment procedures.
One commenter stated that APHIS' list of CEM-affected countries in § 93.301 is different from the list established by Canadian officials.
We recognize that each country has its own system of identifying the required culture sites. We cannot include color pictures within the regulations, which are essential for accurately identifying the culture sites. However, we provide that information in policy documents and on our Web site.[2] Paragraph (e)(1)(iii) of § 93.301 provides the testing requirements for horses prior to exportation from their country of origin. We neglected to amend this paragraph in the interim rule by adding the additional culture sites for stallions and mares that the interim rule required for horses tested in domestic CEM quarantine. Therefore, we are amending § 93.301(e)(1)(iii) by adding the distal urethra as a culture site for stallions and the distal cervix or the endometrium as a culture site for mares imported into the United States. The addition of the culture sites will make the regulations consistent with the changes made in the interim rule.
Start Amendment Part2. Section 93.301 is amended as follows:End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Parta. By revising the first sentence of paragraph (d)(1)(ii)(D); andEnd Amendment Part
Start Amendment Partb. By revising paragraphs (e)(1)(iii), (e)(3)(i) introductory text, (e)(3)(i)(B), and (e)(4)(ii).End Amendment Part
To view the interim rule, the two documents delaying enforcement, and the comments we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/​#!docketDetail;​D=​APHIS-2008-0112.
For more information, go to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/​import_​export/​animals/​live_​animals.shtml.