[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 204 (Monday, October 23, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54315-54316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26105]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
9 CFR Part 92
[Docket No. 95-052-1]
Horses From Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands; Quarantine
Requirements
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: We are proposing to amend the regulations regarding the
importation of horses from Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands to
remove the requirement that such horses be quarantined for not less
than 7 days upon arrival in the United States. We believe this action
is warranted because Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands have
reported no cases of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE), and it
appears that horses imported from Bermuda and the British Virgin
Islands with less than a 7-day quarantine would not pose a risk of
transmitting VEE to horses in the United States.
DATES: Consideration will be given only to comments received on or
before December 22, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to
Docket No. 95-052-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS,
Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please
state that your comments refer to Docket No. 95-052-1. Comments
received may be inspected 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 comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to
facilitate entry into the comment reading room.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Joyce Bowling, Staff Veterinarian,
Import/Export Animals, National Center for Import and Export, VS,
APHIS, Suite 3B08, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231,
(301) 734-6479.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The regulations in 9 CFR part 92, referred to below as the
regulations, govern the importation into the United States of specified
animals and animal products to prevent the introduction into the United
States of various animal diseases.
The regulations in Sec. 92.308(a)(1) now require horses imported
from all parts of the Western Hemisphere except Argentina, Canada, and
Mexico to be quarantined for not less than 7 days upon arrival in the
United States to prevent the introduction of Venezuelan equine
encephalomyelitis (VEE). VEE is an equine viral disease, transmitted
primarily by mosquitoes and other hematophagous (blood-feeding)
insects, particularly flying insects, that results in a high mortality
rate in animals infected with the disease. Although tests exist for the
presence of VEE in horses, the tests currently available may yield
positive results for horses that have been vaccinated for VEE but that
are not otherwise affected with the disease. The most efficient method
for initial identification of horses that may be infected with VEE is
observation of the horses for clinical signs of the disease. A horse
will usually exhibit signs of VEE within 2-5 days after contracting
[[Page 54316]]
the disease. Seven days is considered the length of time necessary to
ensure that any clinical signs of VEE manifest themselves.
The Governments of Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands have
requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture consider Bermuda and
the British Virgin Islands free of VEE and exempt horses imported into
the United States from those countries from the 7-day quarantine
requirement. No cases of VEE have ever been reported in Bermuda or the
British Virgin Islands. Furthermore, based on documentation submitted
by the Governments of Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands, it
appears that no horses in these countries are affected with VEE. (This
documentation is available, upon written request, from the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.) Therefore, we are
proposing to amend Sec. 92.308(a)(1) of the regulations to exempt
horses from Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands from the 7-day
quarantine requirement. We are also proposing to amend
Sec. 92.308(a)(1) of the regulations to specify that the purpose of
this 7-day quarantine is to evaluate the horses for signs of VEE.
This proposal would lessen, but not eliminate, restrictions on the
importation of horses from Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands into
the United States, thus making it somewhat easier to move horses from
these countries to the United States. Horses from Bermuda and the
British Virgin Islands would still have to be quarantined at a
designated port until they test negative to an official test for
dourine, glanders, equine piroplasmosis, equine infectious anemia, and
any other tests, inspections, disinfections, and precautionary
treatments that may be required by Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service.
Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act
This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866.
For this action, the Office of Management and Budget has waived its
review process required by Executive Order 12866.
This proposed rule would exempt horses imported into the United
States from Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands from the requirement
for a 7-day quarantine upon arrival. This action appears unlikely to
have any significant economic impact on U.S. entities.
The United States had a total population of 2,049,522 horses in
1992. There were 338,346 farms that kept horses. Over 98 percent of
these farms had a market value of less than $500,000, making them small
entities by Small Business Administration standards.
For reasons explained in the Supplementary Information section of
this document, there is a negligible risk of horses from Bermuda and
the British Virgin Islands introducing VEE into the United States. In
addition, we do not expect that this action would result in any
increase in the small number of horses imported into the United States
from Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands. The total horse population
in Bermuda is about 1,000, and only about 10 horses a year are imported
from Bermuda into the United States. There are only 50 to 100 horses in
the British Virgin Islands, and only a few of those are expected to be
imported into the United States, and then only for temporary stays for
exhibitions and racing. Under these circumstances, the imported horses
would have no impact on market prices.
The only parties that would benefit from this reduced restriction
are the potential importers of horses from Bermuda and the British
Virgin Islands and those who use the foreign horses in exhibition and
racing. The benefit to them arises from the reduced number of days
required for quarantine. At present, horses coming from Bermuda and the
British Virgin Islands are required to be quarantined for 7 days, while
horses from countries free of VEE and certain other equine diseases are
quarantined for only about 3 days. Under this proposed rule, horses
from Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands would spend approximately 4
fewer days in quarantine, saving approximately $427 per horse.
Furthermore the reduction in the waiting period may induce more
economic activity.
Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action would
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities.
Executive Order 12778
This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778,
Civil Justice Reform. If this proposed rule is adopted: (1) All State
and local laws and regulations that are inconsistent with this rule
will be preempted; (2) no retroactive effect will be given to this
rule; and (3) administrative proceedings will not be required before
parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This proposed rule contains no 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 92
Animal diseases, Imports, Livestock, Poultry and poultry products,
Quarantine, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Accordingly, 9 CFR part 92 would be amended as follows:
PART 92--IMPORTATION OF CERTAIN ANIMALS AND POULTRY AND CERTAIN
ANIMAL AND POULTRY PRODUCTS; INSPECTION AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR
CERTAIN MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS THEREON
1. The authority citation for part 92 would continue to read as
follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622; 19 U.S.C. 1306; 21 U.S.C. 102-105,
111, 114a, 134a, 134b, 134c, 134d, 134f, 135, 136, and 136a; 31
U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.17, 2.51, 371.2(d).
2. In Sec. 92.308, paragraph (a)(1) would be revised to read as
follows:
Sec. 92.308 Quarantine requirements.
(a) * * *
(1) Except as provided in Secs. 92.317 and 92.324, and except with
respect to horses from Argentina, Bermuda, and the British Virgin
Islands, horses intended for importation from the Western Hemisphere
shall be quarantined at a port designated in Sec. 92.303 for not less
than 7 days to be evaluated for signs of Venezuelan equine
encephalomyelitis.
* * * * *
Done in Washington, DC, this 11th day of October 1995.
Terry L. Medley,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 95-26105 Filed 10-20-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
