USDA Amends Cattle Import Regulations
US - The United States Department of Agriculture(USDA) recently announced their final non-substantial changes to regulations regarding the importation of animals products from regions that present a minimal risk of introducing bovine spongiform encephalopathy into the United States.
29 January 2008
1 minute read
The USDA is amending its regulations to remove several restrictions regarding animal identification animals and the processing of ruminant materials from BSE minimal-risk regions. Currently Canada is the only minimal-risk country designated by the United States.
Effective February 19, 2008 the final changes will update the proposed rule published on August the 9th. Under the amended rule, USDA removes the restrictions “because they are not necessary to prevent the introduction of BSE into the United States” and will allow:
- The unique individual identification of animals by means other than ear tags, provided the APHIS Administrator has approved the manner of identification for the type of animal intended for importation and the identification is traceable to the premises of origin of the animal;
- The importation of hide-derived--in addition to bone-derived--gelatin for any use, provided certain conditions are met; and
- Nonruminant material that is processed in BSE minimal-risk regions to be processed in facilities that also process material derived from ruminants from the minimal-risk region.
TheCattleSite News Desk
