97-21797. Change in Disease Status of the Dominican Republic Because of Hog Cholera  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 159 (Monday, August 18, 1997)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 43924-43925]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-21797]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
    
    Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
    
    9 CFR Part 94
    
    [Docket No. 97-084-1]
    
    
    Change in Disease Status of the Dominican Republic Because of Hog 
    Cholera
    
    AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
    
    ACTION: Interim rule and request for comments.
    
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    SUMMARY: We are amending the regulations governing the importation of 
    swine and pork and pork products by removing the Dominican Republic 
    from the list of countries considered to be free from hog cholera. We 
    are taking this action based on reports we have received from the 
    Dominican Republic's Ministry of Agriculture that an outbreak of hog 
    cholera has occurred in the Dominican Republic. As a result of this 
    action, there will be additional restrictions on the importation of 
    pork and pork products into the United States from the Dominican 
    Republic, and the importation of swine from the Dominican Republic will 
    be prohibited.
    
    DATES: Interim rule effective August 4, 1997. Consideration will be 
    given only to comments received on or before October 17, 1997.
    
    ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to 
    Docket No. 97-084-1, 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. 97-084-1. 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. John Cougill, Senior Staff 
    Veterinarian, Products Program, National Center for Import and Export, 
    VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231, (301) 
    734-3399.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Background
    
        The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred to below as the 
    regulations) govern the importation into the United States of specified 
    animals and animal products in order to prevent the introduction of 
    various animal diseases, including rinderpest, foot-and-mouth disease, 
    African swine fever, hog cholera, and swine vesicular disease. These 
    are dangerous and destructive communicable diseases of ruminants and 
    swine. Section 94.9 of the regulations restricts the importation into 
    the United States of pork and pork products from countries where hog 
    cholera is known to exist. Section 94.10 of the regulations, with 
    certain exceptions, prohibits the importation of swine that originate 
    in or are shipped from or transit any country in which hog cholera is 
    known to exist. Sections 94.9(a) and 94.10(a) of the regulations 
    provide that hog cholera exists in all countries of the world except 
    for certain countries listed in those sections.
        Prior to the effective date of this interim rule, the Dominican 
    Republic was included in the lists in Secs. 94.9(a) and 94.10(a) of 
    countries in which hog cholera is not known to exist. On August 4, 
    1997, the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Agriculture reported that an 
    outbreak of hog cholera had occurred in that country. After reviewing 
    the reports submitted by the Dominican Republic's Ministry of 
    Agriculture, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has 
    determined that it is necessary to remove the Dominican Republic from 
    the list of countries considered to be free of hog cholera.
        Therefore, we are amending Secs. 94.9(a) and 94.10(a) by removing 
    the Dominican Republic from the list of countries in which hog cholera 
    is not known to exist. We are making this amendment effective 
    retroactively to August 4, 1997, because that is the day that an 
    outbreak of hog cholera was confirmed by the Dominican Republic's 
    Ministry of Agriculture. As a result of this action, the importation of 
    swine from the Dominican Republic is prohibited, and pork and pork 
    products from the Dominican Republic will not be eligible for entry 
    into the United States unless the pork or pork products are cooked or 
    cured and dried in accordance with the regulations.
    
    Emergency Action
    
        The Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
    has determined that an emergency exists that warrants publication of 
    this interim rule without prior opportunity for public comment. 
    Immediate action is necessary to prevent the introduction of hog 
    cholera into the United States.
        Because prior notice and other public procedures with respect to 
    this action are impracticable and contrary to the public interest under 
    these conditions, we find good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553 to make this 
    action effective on August 4, 1997. We will consider comments that are 
    received within 60 days of publication of this rule in the Federal 
    Register. After the comment period closes, we will publish another 
    document in the Federal Register. It will include a discussion of any 
    comments we receive and any amendments we are making to the rule as a 
    result of the comments.
    
    [[Page 43925]]
    
    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 action amends the regulations by removing the Dominican 
    Republic from the list of countries that are considered to be free of 
    hog cholera. We are taking this action based on reports we have 
    received from the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Agriculture, which 
    confirm that an outbreak of hog cholera has occurred in the Dominican 
    Republic.
        This emergency situation makes compliance with section 603 and 
    timely compliance with section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
    U.S.C. 601 et seq.) impracticable. If we determine that this rule would 
    have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
    entities, then we will discuss the issues raised by section 604 of the 
    Regulatory Flexibility Act in our Final Regulatory Flexibility 
    Analysis.
    
    Executive Order 12988
    
        This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
    Justice Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State and local laws and 
    regulations that are inconsistent with this rule; (2) has retroactive 
    effect to August 4, 1997; and (3) does not require administrative 
    proceedings before parties may file suit in court challenging this 
    rule.
    
    Paperwork Reduction Act
    
        This rule contains no new 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 94
    
        Animal diseases, Imports, Livestock, Meat and meat products, Milk, 
    Poultry and poultry products, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    
        Accordingly, 9 CFR part 94 is amended as follows:
    
    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
    
        1. The authority citation for part 94 continues to read as follows:
    
        Authority: 7 U.S.C. 147a, 150ee, 161, 162, and 450; 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 
    371.2(d).
    
    Sec. 94.9  [Amended]
    
        2. In Sec. 94.9, paragraph (a) is amended by removing the words 
    ``Dominican Republic,'.
    
    
    Sec. 94.10  [Amended]
    
        3. In Sec. 94.10, paragraph (a) is amended by removing the words 
    ``Dominican Republic,''.
    
        Done in Washington, DC, this 12th day of August 1997.
    Joan M. Arnoldi,
    Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
    [FR Doc. 97-21797 Filed 8-15-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
8/4/1997
Published:
08/18/1997
Department:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Interim rule and request for comments.
Document Number:
97-21797
Dates:
Interim rule effective August 4, 1997. Consideration will be given only to comments received on or before October 17, 1997.
Pages:
43924-43925 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 97-084-1
PDF File:
97-21797.pdf
CFR: (2)
9 CFR 94.9
9 CFR 94.10