02-7776. Change in Disease Status of the Czech Republic Because of BSE

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Affirmation of interim rule as final rule.

SUMMARY:

We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that amended the regulations by adding the Czech Republic to the list of regions where bovine spongiform encephalopathy exists because the disease has been detected in native-born animals in that region. The Czech Republic had already been listed among the regions that present an undue risk of introducing bovine spongiform encephalopathy into the United States, so the effect of the interim rule was a continued restriction on the importation of ruminants that have been in the Czech Republic and meat, meat products, and certain other products of ruminants that have been in the Czech Republic. The interim rule was necessary in order to update the disease status of the Czech Republic regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

The interim rule became effective on June 8, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Donna Malloy, Senior Staff Veterinarian, National Center for Import and Export, Products Program, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

In an interim rule effective June 8, 2001, and published in the Federal Register on December 4, 2001 (66 FR 62913, Docket No. 01-062-1), we amended the regulations in 9 CFR part 94 by adding the Czech Republic to the list of regions where bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) exists. The Czech Republic had previously been listed in § 94.18(a)(2) as a region that presents an undue risk of introducing BSE into the United States. However, due to the detection of BSE in native-born animals in that region, the interim rule was necessary to update the disease status of the Czech Republic regarding BSE.

Comments on the interim rule were required to be received on or before February 4, 2002. We did not receive any comments. Therefore, for the reasons given in the interim rule, we are adopting the interim rule as a final rule.

This action also affirms the information contained in the interim rule concerning Executive Order 12866 and the Regulatory Flexibility Act, Executive Order 12988, and the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Further, for this action, the Office of Management and Budget has waived the review process required by Executive Order 12866.

List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 94

• Animal diseases
• Imports
• Livestock
• Meat and meat products
• Milk
• Poultry and poultry products
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

PART 94—RINDERPEST, FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE, FOWL PEST (FOWL PLAGUE), EXOTIC NEWCASTLE DISEASE, AFRICAN SWINE FEVER, HOG CHOLERA, AND BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY: PROHIBITED AND RESTRICTED IMPORTATIONS

Accordingly, we are adopting as a final rule, without change, the interim rule amending 9 CFR part 94 that was published at 66 FR 62913 on December 4, 2001.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7711, 7712, 7713, 7714, 7751, and 7754; 19 U.S.C. 1306; 21 U.S.C. 111, 114a, 134a, 134b, 134c, 134f, 136, and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 42 U.S.C. 4331 and 4332; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.

Done in Washington, DC, this 26th day of March 2002.

W. Ron DeHaven,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.