83 FR 2131 - Notice of Determination of the Classical Swine Fever Status of Mexico

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 10 (January 16, 2018)

Page Range		2131-2132
FR Document		2018-00576

We are advising the public of our determination that Mexico is free of classical swine fever (CSF). Based on our evaluation of the animal health status of Mexico, which we made available to the public for review and comment through a previous notice, the Administrator has determined that CSF is not present in Mexico and that live swine, pork, and pork products may safely be imported into the United States from Mexico subject to conditions in the regulations.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2131-2132]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00576]


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Notices
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 16, 2018 / 
Notices

[[Page 2131]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2016-0038]


Notice of Determination of the Classical Swine Fever Status of 
Mexico

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We are advising the public of our determination that Mexico is 
free of classical swine fever (CSF). Based on our evaluation of the 
animal health status of Mexico, which we made available to the public 
for review and comment through a previous notice, the Administrator has 
determined that CSF is not present in Mexico and that live swine, pork, 
and pork products may safely be imported into the United States from 
Mexico subject to conditions in the regulations.

DATES: This change in disease status will be recognized on January 16, 
2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Chip Wells, Senior Staff 
Veterinarian, Regionalization Evaluation Services, National Import 
Export Services, VS, APHIS, USDA, 4700 River Road, Unit 38, Riverdale, 
MD 20737-1231; [email protected]; (301) 851-3317.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
regulates the importation of animals and animal products into the 
United States to guard against the introduction of animal diseases not 
currently present or prevalent in this country. The regulations in 9 
CFR part 94 (referred to below as the regulations) prohibit or restrict 
the importation of specified animals and animal products to prevent the 
introduction into the United States of various animal diseases, 
including classical swine fever (CSF), foot-and-mouth disease, swine 
vesicular disease, and rinderpest. These are dangerous and communicable 
diseases of ruminants and swine.
    The regulations in Sec.  94.32 specify conditions for the 
importation of live swine, pork, and pork products from certain regions 
that APHIS currently recognizes as CSF-free but whose products may be 
at risk of commingling with products from CSF-affected regions due to 
common land borders or other factors. The conditions for such imports 
include, among others, a requirement for certification by a full-time 
salaried veterinary officer of the national government of the region of 
export that the pork or pork products originated in a CSF-free region, 
requirements that the pork or pork products be derived only from swine 
that were born and raised in such a region and never lived in a CSF-
affected region, a prohibition against the comingling of the pork or 
pork products with pork or pork products that have been in an affected 
region, and a requirement that any processing of the pork or pork 
products be done in a federally inspected processing plant in a CSF-
free region.
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 92 contain requirements for 
requesting the recognition of the animal health status of a region or 
for the approval of the export of a particular type of animal or animal 
product to the United States from a foreign region. If, after review 
and evaluation of the information submitted in support of the request 
APHIS believes the request can be safely granted, APHIS will make its 
evaluation available for public comment through a notice published in 
the Federal Register. Following the close of the comment period, APHIS 
will review all comments received and will make a final determination 
regarding the request that will be detailed in another notice published 
in the Federal Register.
    In response to a series of requests submitted by the Government of 
Mexico between 2007 and 2009, we conducted a qualitative risk 
evaluation to evaluate the CSF status of Mexican States other than the 
nine States already recognized at that time as CSF-free. The resulting 
risk evaluation document, ``APHIS Evaluation of the CSF Status of a 
Region in Mexico'' (referred to below as the ``2013 risk evaluation''), 
did not support CSF-free recognition of all of Mexico; however, it did 
support access to the U.S. domestic market under certain risk-
mitigating conditions. Based on the findings of the 2013 risk 
evaluation, on July 29, 2014, we published in the Federal Register (79 
FR 43974-43980, Docket No. APHIS-2013-0061) a proposal \1\ to amend the 
regulations by recognizing a new APHIS-defined low-risk CSF region 
consisting of all Mexican States except the nine CSF-free States and 
the State of Chiapas, which we did not recognize as CSF-free.
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    \1\ To view the 2013 risk evaluation, the proposed rule, and the 
comments we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0061.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In February 2015, Mexico received notice that the World 
Organization for Animal Health (OIE) recognized the country as CSF-
free. Citing the OIE decision, the Government of Mexico then requested 
that APHIS suspend its rulemaking and instead continue evaluating 
Mexico for CSF-free status.
    In response to this request, APHIS reopened its evaluation of the 
CSF status of Mexico. This reevaluation incorporated findings from a 
2015 APHIS site visit report, along with updated surveillance data and 
other information submitted by Mexico. These findings are documented in 
an April 2016 addendum to the 2013 risk evaluation.
    On August 8, 2017, we published in the Federal Register (82 FR 
37043-37044, Docket No. APHIS-2016-0038) a notice \2\ in which we 
announced the availability for review and comment of the April 2016 
addendum to the 2013 risk evaluation. In the addendum, we presented the 
results of our updated evaluation of the risk of introducing CSF into 
the United States via the importation of live swine, pork, and pork 
products from Mexico.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ To view the notice, the addendum, and the comment we 
received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-
2016-0038.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending on October 
10, 2017. We received one comment by that date, from a domestic pork 
industry group.
    The commenter supported our conclusion, as stated in the addendum, 
that the risk of introduction of CSF into the United States via the 
importation of live swine, pork, and pork products from Mexico is very 
low. Referencing a recommendation by our site visit team

[[Page 2132]]

that certain improvements should be made to slaughterhouse surveillance 
in Mexico, however, the commenter urged APHIS to ensure that those 
improvements were implemented before authorizing pork imports from 
Mexico.
    In the April 2016 risk evaluation addendum, we indicated that our 
recommended improvements notwithstanding, the design of Mexico's active 
surveillance system for CSF is adequate. We made no statement 
suggesting that recognition of Mexico as CSF-free or trade with Mexico 
would be contingent upon any action by the Mexican Government to 
improve slaughter surveillance.
    Based on the addendum and the reasons given in this document in 
response to comments, we are recognizing Mexico as free of CSF and 
adding it to the list of regions found on the APHIS website at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_disease_status.shtml 
that are considered to be free of CSF but from which live swine, pork, 
and pork products may only be imported into the United States under 
certain conditions. Copies of the list are also available via postal 
mail, fax, or email from the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701-7772, 7781-7786, and 8301-8317; 21 
U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.

    Done in Washington, DC, on January 10, 2018.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-00576 Filed 1-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P

2132 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 16, 2018 / Notices

that certain improvements should be existing treatment schedules, described • The use of a treatment schedule is
made to slaughterhouse surveillance in the new treatment schedules, and no longer authorized by the U.S.
Mexico, however, the commenter urged explained why these changes were Environmental Protection Agency or by
APHIS to ensure that those immediately added to the PPQ any other Federal entity.
improvements were implemented before Treatment Manual. Based on the In accordance with § 305.3(b)(2), we
authorizing pork imports from Mexico. treatment evaluation document and the published a notice 2 in the Federal
In the April 2016 risk evaluation comments we received, we are affirming Register on August 8, 2017 (82 FR
addendum, we indicated that our the addition of those new treatments to 37042–37043, Docket No. APHIS–2016–
recommended improvements the PPQ Treatment Manual. 0035), in which we announced the
notwithstanding, the design of Mexico’s DATES: The addition of the treatments is availability, for review and comment, of
active surveillance system for CSF is affirmed as of January 16, 2018. a treatment evaluation document (TED)
adequate. We made no statement FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. we prepared to discuss the existing
suggesting that recognition of Mexico as George Balady, Senior Regulatory Policy treatment schedules, describe the new
CSF-free or trade with Mexico would be Specialist, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River treatment schedules, and explain why
contingent upon any action by the Road Unit 133, Riverdale, MD 20737– certain changes were immediately
Mexican Government to improve 1231; (301) 851–2240. necessary.
slaughter surveillance. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The We solicited comments on the notice
Based on the addendum and the regulations in 7 CFR chapter III are for 60 days ending on October 10, 2017.
reasons given in this document in intended, among other things, to We received two comments by that date,
response to comments, we are prevent the introduction or from private citizens. Both commenters
recognizing Mexico as free of CSF and dissemination of plant pests and supported the addition of the treatment
adding it to the list of regions found on noxious weeds into or within the United schedules.
the APHIS website at http:// States. Under the regulations, certain Therefore, in accordance with the
www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/ plants, fruits, vegetables, and other regulations in § 305.3(b)(3), we are
animals/animal_disease_status.shtml articles must be treated before they may affirming our addition of the two new
that are considered to be free of CSF but be moved into the United States or treatment schedules (T409–a and T409–
from which live swine, pork, and pork interstate. The phytosanitary treatments b–3) for aircraft for regulated pests to
products may only be imported into the regulations contained in part 305 of 7 the PPQ Treatment Manual. The
United States under certain conditions. CFR chapter III (referred to below as the treatment schedules will be listed in the
Copies of the list are also available via regulations) set out standards for PPQ Treatment Manual, which is
postal mail, fax, or email from the treatments required in parts 301, 318, available as described in footnote 1.
person listed under FOR FURTHER and 319 of 7 CFR chapter III for fruits, Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772 and 7781–
INFORMATION CONTACT. vegetables, and other articles. 7786; 21 U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 7 CFR 2.22,
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701–7772, 7781– In § 305.2, paragraph (b) states that 2.80, and 371.3.
7786, and 8301–8317; 21 U.S.C. 136 and approved treatment schedules are set Done in Washington, DC, on January 10,
136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and out in the Plant Protection and 2018.
371.4. Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment Manual.1 Kevin Shea,
Done in Washington, DC, on January 10, Section 305.3 sets out the processes for
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
2018. adding, revising, or removing treatment
Inspection Service.
Kevin Shea, schedules in the PPQ Treatment
[FR Doc. 2018–00569 Filed 1–12–18; 8:45 am]
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Manual. In that section, paragraph (b)
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
Inspection Service. sets out the process for adding, revising,
[FR Doc. 2018–00576 Filed 1–12–18; 8:45 am] or removing treatment schedules when
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P there is an immediate need to make a
change. The circumstances in which an COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
immediate need exists are described in
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE § 305.3(b)(1). They are: Notice of Public Meeting of the
• PPQ has determined that an Alabama Advisory Committee To
Animal and Plant Health Inspection approved treatment schedule is Discuss Proposed Panelists for a
Service ineffective at neutralizing the targeted Hearing on Access To Voting in the
[Docket No. APHIS–2016–0035]
plant pest(s). State of Alabama
• PPQ has determined that, in order
Notice of Affirmation of Addition of to neutralize the targeted plant pest(s), AGENCY: U.S. Commission on Civil
Treatments for Aircraft for Certain the treatment schedule must be Rights.
Hitchhiking Pests administered using a different process ACTION: Announcement of meeting.
than was previously used.
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health • PPQ has determined that a new SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given,
Inspection Service, USDA. treatment schedule is effective, based on pursuant to the provisions of the rules
ACTION: Notice. efficacy data, and that ongoing trade in and regulations of the U.S. Commission
a commodity or commodities may be on Civil Rights (Commission) and the
SUMMARY: We are affirming our earlier adversely impacted unless the new Federal Advisory Committee Act that
determination that is was necessary to treatment schedule is approved for use. the Alabama Advisory Committee
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

immediately add two new treatment (Committee) will hold a meeting on
schedules for aircraft for regulated pests 1 The PPQ Treatment Manual is available at
Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at 11:00 a.m.
to the Plant Protection and Quarantine http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/ (Central) for the purpose of a discussion
(PPQ) Treatment Manual. In a previous manuals/index.shtml or by contacting the Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant
notice, we made available to the public Protection and Quarantine, Manuals Unit, 92 2 To view the notice, the TED, and the comments
for review and comment a treatment Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 200, Frederick, MD we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/
evaluation document that discussed the 21702. #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0035.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:48 Jan 12, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\16JAN1.SGM 16JAN1

Document Created: 2018-01-13 02:02:36
Document Modified: 2018-01-13 02:02:36

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		This change in disease status will be recognized on January 16, 2018.
Contact		Dr. Chip Wells, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Regionalization Evaluation Services, National Import Export Services, VS, APHIS, USDA, 4700 River Road, Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; [email protected]; (301) 851-3317.
FR Citation		83 FR 2131

83 FR 2131 - Notice of Determination of the Classical Swine Fever Status of Mexico

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 10 (January 16, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service