Source: https://www.regulations.gov/?_escaped_fragment_=documentDetail;D=APHIS-2007-0158-0017
Timestamp: 2016-08-27 08:28:22
Document Index: 484959478

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 92', '§ 92', '§ 92', '§ 92', 'art 94', '§ 92', '§ 92', '§ 92', 'art 92', 'art 92', 'art 92', '§ 92', 'art 92']

Skip Navigation HomeHelpResourcesContact Us Advanced Search Start of Main Content Information From Foreign Regions Applying for Recognition of Animal Health Status This Rule document was issued by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) For related information, Open Docket Folder Show agency attachment(s) DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
[Docket No. APHIS-2007-0158]
RIN 0579-AD30
SummaryWe are amending the regulations that govern the importation of animals and animal products by consolidating the list of factors APHIS considers when evaluating the animal health status of a foreign region and by setting out new factors APHIS will consider when evaluating a region as historically free of a specific disease. These changes will make clearer the types of information APHIS needs from a requesting region in order to conduct an evaluation.
Dates Effective Date: August 27, 2012.
For Further Information ContactDr. Kelly Rhodes, Regionalization Evaluation Services, Sanitary Trade Issues Team, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-3300.
Supplementary InformationBackgroundThe regulations in 9 CFR part 92, “Importation of Animals and Animal Products; Procedures for Requesting Recognition of Regions” (referred to below as the regulations), set forth the process by which a foreign government may request recognition of the animal health status of a region.
On December 28, 2011, we published in theFederal Register(76 FR 81404-81408, Docket No. APHIS-2007-0158) a proposal (1)
to amend the regulations by consolidating the 11 factors listed in § 92.2(b) that APHIS considers when evaluating the animal health status of a foreign region into 8 factors. We also proposed to establish criteria for recognizing a region as historically free of a specific disease. Our intent was to make clearer the types of information APHIS needs from a requesting region to conduct an evaluation. Additionally, although our regulations focus on requests from foreign regions, we noted that APHIS could initiate an evaluation of the disease status of a foreign region and, if we did, would conduct the evaluation using these same factors. We also proposed to remove a statement in § 92.2(d) that supporting information submitted with country requests will be made available to the public prior to initiation of rulemaking. We proposed to replace it with a statement that a list of regions that have requested recognition of their animal health status will be available to the public, and to leave in place a statement in § 92.2(f) that when APHIS makes its evaluation available for public comment, the public will have access to the information upon which APHIS based its evaluation, as well as the evaluation itself.
Our evaluations of regions for animal health closely consider a broad range of factors widely accepted by the international community for assessing the disease risks associated with a region. As discussed above, we provide an opportunity for the public to view and comment on our evaluations and the information upon which they are based prior to making a final determination. Finding that a region is free of a disease based on such an evaluation does not guarantee, however, that the region will always remain free of that disease. Our evaluations enable us to determine whether a disease is present in a region at a given time, ensure that the region has safeguards in place to protect against introduction of the disease, and ensure that the region is capable of detecting and containingthe disease should it be introduced despite these measures.
We are making no changes to the proposed rule in response to this comment. While this rulemaking addresses factors we consider when assessing the disease status of a geographic area, APHIS' regulations also include commodity-based requirements that allow for the importation of a variety of products from regions not considered free of diseases of concern. These requirements are contained largely in 9 CFR part 94. Inquiries regarding these requirements or requests for approval of new requirements may be directed to the National Center for Import and Export: Telephone (301) 851-3300 or email AskNCIE.Products@aphis.usda.gov. Additionally, several of the commenters addressed specific provisions of the proposal.
One commenter objected to our proposal to remove the statement in § 92.2(d) that supporting information submitted with country requests will be made available to the public prior to initiation of rulemaking. The commenter stated withholding such information will severely limit APHIS' transparency. Another commenter expressed concern that this change would reduce the amount of time that supporting information regarding a country's disease status is available to the public.
We agree with the suggestions. Paragraph § 92.2(d) in this final rule provides that APHIS will list on its Web site each region that has requested APHIS recognition of its animal health status, the disease(s) under evaluation, and, if the information is available, the animal(s) or product(s) the region wishes to export.
One commenter asked what we mean by the wording “safely granted” in proposed § 92.2(e), which says: “If, after review and evaluation of the information submitted in accordance with paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, APHIS believes the request can be safely granted, APHIS will indicate its intent and make its evaluation available for public comment through a document published in theFederal Register.”
A few commenters also made suggestions or raised issues not directlyrelated to the changes we proposed, including expanding APHIS' oversight of other animals, including rodents; data sharing among regulatory agencies; conducting post-mortem examinations of a representative sample of imported livestock to rule out “potential disease”; and the agreement between the European Commission and the United States on sanitary measures. Because these matters are outside the scope of this rulemaking, we are not addressing them here.
Therefore, for the reasons given in the proposed rule and in this document, we are adopting the proposed rule as a final rule, with the change discussed above.Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility ActThis final 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.
Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.Executive Order 12988This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State and local laws and regulations that are inconsistent with this rule; (2) has no retroactive effect; and (3) does not require administrative proceedings before parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.Paperwork Reduction ActThis final rule contains no new information collection or recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 92Animal diseases, Imports, Livestock, Poultry and poultry products, Region, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Accordingly, we are amending 9 CFR part 92 as follows:Regulatory TextPart 92 Importation of Animals and Animal Products Procedures for Requesting Recognition of Regions
Authority:7 U.S.C. 1622 and 8301-8317; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.
2. In § 92.2, paragraphs (a) through (f) are revised to read as follows:
(a) The representative of the national government(s) of any country or countries who has the authority to make such a request may request that APHIS recognize the animal health status of a region. (1)
Such requests must be made in English and must be sent to the Administrator, c/o National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231. (Where possible, include a copy of the request and accompanying information in electronic format.)
(d) A list of those regions that have requested APHIS' recognition of their animal health status, the disease(s) under evaluation, and, if available, the animal(s) or product(s) the region wishes to export, is available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/reg_request.shtml. (e) If, after review and evaluation of the information submitted in accordance with paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, APHIS believes the request can be safely granted, APHIS will indicate its intent and make its evaluation available for public comment through a document published in theFederal Register.
(f) APHIS will provide a period of time during which the public may comment on its evaluation. During the comment period, the public will have access to the information upon which APHIS based its evaluation, as well as the evaluation itself. Once APHIS has reviewed all comments received, it will make a final determination regardingthe request and will publish that determination in theFederal Register.
[FR Doc. 2012-18324 Filed 7-26-12; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 3410-34-PFootnotes
To view the proposed rule and the comments we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2007-0158. (1)
Additionally, APHIS may choose to initiate an evaluation of the animal health status of a foreign region on its own initiative. In such cases, APHIS will follow the same evaluation and notification procedures set forth in this section.
Attachments View All (0) View document: No documents available. Attachments View All (0) Comment Now! Comment Period Closed ID: APHIS-2007-0158-0017 Tracking Number: View original printed format: Document Information Date Posted: Jul 27, 2012RIN: 0579-AD30CFR: 9 CFR Part 92Federal Register Number: 2012-18324 Show More Details Submitter Information Comments0 Comments Received* Docket Information This document is contained in APHIS-2007-0158 Related Dockets: NoneRelated RINs: NoneRelated Documents: Information from Foreign Regions Applying for Recognition of... Related Comments: View all * This count refers to the total comment/submissions received on this document, as of 11:59 PM yesterday. Note: Agencies review all submissions, however some agencies may choose to redact, or withhold, certain submissions (or portions thereof) such as those containing private or proprietary information, inappropriate language, or duplicate/near duplicate examples of a mass-mail campaign. This can result in discrepancies between this count and those displayed when conducting searches on the Public Submission document type. For specific information about an agency’s public submission policy, refer to its website or the Federal Register document. Document text and images courtesy of the Federal Register Home Search Advanced Search Browse By Category Learn About Us eRulemaking Program Media Toolkit Agencies Awards & Recognition Enhancements & Fixes Resources Site Data Regulatory Agenda Agency Reports Required by Statute API Overview Developers Help How to use Regulations.gov FAQs Glossary Connect With Contact Us Privacy and Security Notice User Notice Accessibility Statement Partner Sites We the People Federal Register Reginfo Congress.gov USA.gov E-Gov Opengov Participate Today!