02-17434. Change in Disease Status of Austria 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 Austria to the list of regions where bovine spongiform encephalopathy exists because the disease had been detected in a native-born animal in that region. Austria 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, meat, meat products, and certain other products of ruminants that have been in Austria. The interim rule was necessary in order to update the disease status of Austria regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

The interim rule became effective on December 13, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Gary Colgrove, Chief Staff Veterinarian, Sanitary Issues Management Staff, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

In an interim rule effective December 13, 2001, and published in the Federal Register on March 20, 2002 (67 FR 12833-12834, Docket No. 02-004-1), we amended the regulations in 9 CFR part 94 by adding Austria to the list of regions where bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) exists. Austria 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 a native-born animal in that region, the interim rule was necessary to update the disease status of Austria regarding BSE.

Comments on the interim rule were required to be received on or before May 20, 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 its review under 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 that amended 9 CFR part 94 and that was published at 67 FR 12833-12834 on March 20, 2002.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7711-7714, 7751, 7754, 8303, 8306, 8308, 8310, 8311, and 8315; 21 U.S.C. 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 5th day of July, 2002.

Richard L. Dunkle,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.