02-264. States Approved To Receive Stallions and Mares From CEM-Affected Regions; Rhode Island

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Direct final rule; confirmation of effective date.

SUMMARY:

On November 1, 2001, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service published a direct final rule. (See 66 FR 55068-55071, Docket No. 01-055-1.) The direct final rule notified the public of our intention to amend the animal importation regulations by adding Rhode Island to the list of States approved to receive certain stallions and mares imported into the United States from regions affected with contagious equine metritis (CEM). We did not receive any written adverse comments or written notice of intent to submit adverse comments in response to the direct final rule.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

The effective date of the direct final rule is confirmed as December 31, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Barbara Bischoff, Staff Veterinarian, National Center for Import and Export, Technical Trade Services, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; [phone].

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622; 19 U.S.C. 1306; 21 U.S.C. 102-105, 111, 114a, 134a, 134b, 134c, 134d, 134f, 136, and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.

Done in Washington, DC, this 26th day of December 2001.

W. Ron DeHaven,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.