[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 63 (Monday, April 1, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14239-14240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7838]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
9 CFR Part 92
[Docket No. 95-052-2]
Horses From Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands; Quarantine
Requirements
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are amending 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. 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.
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 1, 1996.
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, or e-mail: jbowling@aphis.usda.gov.
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
[[Page 14240]]
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 the
disease. Seven days is considered the length of time necessary to
ensure that any clinical signs of VEE manifest themselves.
On October 23, 1995, we published in the Federal Register (60 FR
54315-54316, Docket No. 95-052-1) a proposal 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 also proposed 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.
We solicited comments concerning our proposal for 60 days ending
December 22, 1995. We did not receive any comments. The facts presented
in the proposed rule still provide the basis for this final rule.
Therefore, based on the rationale set forth in the proposed rule,
we are adopting the provisions of the proposal as a final rule without
change. Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act
This 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 rule will 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.
There is a negligible risk of horses from Bermuda and the British
Virgin Islands introducing VEE into the United States because no cases
of VEE have ever been reported in Bermuda and the British Virgin
Islands, and, 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. In addition, we do not expect
that this action will 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 per 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 Sates, and then only for temporary stays for exhibitions and
racing. Under these circumstances, the imported horses will have no
impact on market prices.
The only parties that will 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. After the effective date of this
final rule, horses from Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands will
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 will
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities.
Executive Order 12778
This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778, 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 Act
This 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 is 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 continues 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 2.22, 2.80, 371.2(d).
2. In Sec. 92.308, paragraph (a)(1) is 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 26th day of March 1996.
Lonnie J. King,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 96-7838 Filed 3-29-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
