Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2009/12/28/E9-30668/change-in-disease-status-of-the-republic-of-korea-with-regard-to-foot-and-mouth-disease-and
Timestamp: 2015-07-01 00:10:37
Document Index: 180956987

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 94', '§ 94', 'arts 1500', 'art 1', 'art 372', '§ 94', '§ 94', '§ 94']

Federal Register | Change in Disease Status of the Republic of Korea With Regard to Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Rinderpest
-68480 (3 pages)
Shorter URL: https://federalregister.gov/a/E9-30668 Related Topics
Dr. Julia Punderson, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Regionalization Evaluation Services, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-4356.
On March 30, 2009, we published in the Federal Register a proposal
(74 FR 14093-14097, Docket No. APHIS-2008-0147) to amend the regulations by adding the Republic of Korea (South Korea) to the list in § 94.1 of regions declared free of FMD and rinderpest. We also proposed to add the Republic of Korea to the list in § 94.11 of regions that are declared to be free of these diseases, but that are subject to certain restrictions because of their proximity to or trading relationships with rinderpest or FMD-affected regions. In addition, we published a notice of availability of an environmental assessment (74 FR 17115) on April 14, 2009 (see footnote 1).
This rule amends the regulations by adding the Republic of Korea to the list of regions considered to be free of rinderpest and FMD. This action, which was requested by the Republic of Korea, follows a risk assessment conducted by APHIS concluding that the Republic of Korea is free of both diseases and has the veterinary infrastructure in place to detect and effectively eradicate the diseases if necessary. The effect of the rule will be to remove certain rinderpest and FMD-related prohibitions and restrictions on the importation into the United States of ruminants, or fresh (chilled or frozen) meat or other products of ruminants, from the Republic of Korea. APHIS imposes such restrictions because an FMD or rinderpest outbreak in the United States has the potential for severe economic consequences. Although imports of swine and swine products typically would be allowed under APHIS’ FMD and rinderpest regulations, those commodities are not eligible for importation from the Republic of Korea due to USDA regulations designed to prevent the introduction of diseases other than FMD and rinderpest.
We do not anticipate that changing the FMD and rinderpest status of the Republic of Korea will have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of U.S. entities, large or small, because the volume of currently prohibited/restricted animals and animal products imported into the United States from the Republic of Korea is likely to be very small relative to overall U.S. supply of those commodities (production and net imports from all foreign sources). There are several reasons for this. First, the volume of U.S. imports from the Republic of Korea prior to March 20, 2000 (the date the Republic of Korea was removed from the list of regions considered to be free of FMD and rinderpest) was negligible. During the 3-year period from 1997 to 1999, the United States did not import any reportable amounts of ruminants or fresh (chilled or frozen) meat or other products of ruminants from the Republic of Korea, other than 1.3 metric tons of dairy products in 1998.
The environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact were prepared in accordance with: (1) The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), (3) USDA regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).
Copies of the environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact are also available for public inspection at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to inspect copies are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the reading room. In addition, copies may be obtained by writing to the individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
2.In § 94.1, paragraph (a)(2) is amended by adding the words “Republic of Korea,” after the word “Japan,”. § 94.11 [Amended]
3.In § 94.11, paragraph (a) is amended by adding the words “Republic of Korea,” after the word “Japan,”. end regulatory text
Done in Washington, DC, this 16
1. To view the proposed rule, the risk evaluation, the environmental assessment and notice, and the finding of no significant impact, go to (http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetaild=APHIS-2008-0147).
2. APHIS’ risk evaluation states that the animal health status of swine for diseases other than FMD has not been evaluated. In the absence of a favorable evaluation, live swine and swine-derived products will not be eligible to be imported from the Republic of Korea.