TSS-part8of8

TSS transcript / articles list, part 8 of 8

Terry

Meat and bonemeal is not specifically classified for overseas trade purposes. The nearest equivalent is listed as "flours and meals of meat or offals (including tankage), unfit for human consumption; greaves". UK exports of this to the US are listed below:

Country Tonnes
1980
1981    12
1982
1983
1984    10
1985      2
1986
1987
1988
1989    20
1990

Data for exports between 1975 and 1979 are not readily available. These can be obtained (at a charge) from data retailers appointed by HM Customs and Excise: BTSL (Tel: 01372 463121) or Abacus (01245 252222).

Best wishes
Simon Pearsall
Overseas trade statistics Stats (C&F)C

Simon
as discussed
thanks
Julie
---

Here are some facts about Germany, not from the EU application for
BSE-status, which I dont have, but an earlier document (january 1998)
from
the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry. I only have a
paper
copy.
The report gives details about previous risky imports to Germany.
During the period 1985 to 1989, 1140 tons of MBM were imported from the
UK
to Germany.
Between 1989 and 1994, Germany imported 11322 tons of MBM from France,
7544
from the Netherlands, 4960 tons from Switzerland, 273 tons from
Belgium-Luxembourg and 20 tons from Ireland.
We must hope that this went into poultry and pig feeds only. Germany did
not
traditionally feed ruminants with MBM. However, accidental feeding of
ruminants may have occurred. And cross contamination of feeds may also
have
occurred.
We also know that Switzerland probably was mostly ESB-contaminated by
MBM
imported from other countries than the UK. So even if Germany banned
imports from the UK in 1989, which was already too late... there was
still
a risk from imports of MBM from other european countries. This MBM may
have
been heavily contaminated MBM from the UK, maybe in new bags labelled
'Belgium' or 'France'... or may have been nationally produced MBM
contaminated by the first cases of undiscovered BSE in France or other
countries.

If I compare with the situation in Norway, we also have never produced
commercial feeds with MBM intended for ruminants, but only for pigs and
poultry. We have a potential problem of cross contaminations, like most
countries. However, we never imported any MBM from any country, so our
risk
is primarily a cross contamination of ruminant feeds with remnants of
batches of pig or poultry feed that did not contain imported MBM.

Germany also imported quite a lot of live ruminants from the UK and
other
BSE-infected countries. Slaughterwaste from these animals may have
contaminated Germany's nationally produced MBM. Germany had 41 renderers
using batch system. The report says nothing about the temperatures or
times
and pressures in earlier years. This is similar to the USDA reports
where
nothing is revealed about heat treatment parameters.
The EU requirement has been 133 degrees C, 3 bar, 20 minutes, but only
since
1997. Did Germany have this 133-3-20 requirement many years before ? I
doubt
it.

>From 1985 to 1992, Germany imported from the UK 2624 cattle for breeding
purposes, 688 for slaughter and 2706 for 'production'.
If I count all cattle imported from 1989-1994 from countries with BSE +
all
the UK cattle, Germany has imported 18.179 breeding cattle, 113.130
cattle
for slaughter and 715.609 cattle for production, according to this
German
report.

Germany destroyed surviving animals from the UK and Switzerland in 1996.
But most of the imported cattle from earlier years had of course already
been slaughtered - and probably waste from most of these animals had
been
already incorporated in German nationally produced MBM.
Germany also imported sheep from the UK - only 8 for breeding but
184.389
sheep for slaughter... and waste from these may also have contaminated
German MBM production. I suppose those sheep for slaughter were young
sheep,
but we know from SEAC reports that in the UK there were farms where
lambs
were fed MBM. So if some of these lambs were infected, at least the
intestine and probably the spleen would contain BSE prion.

If I compare with Norway, we only imported 10 cattle for breeding from
the
UK from 1982 to 1986. These were beef breeds from pure beef herds, and
the
last 3 of these animals were imported the first year of discovery of BSE
in
the UK, 1986. This would be Norway's major risk factor for BSE, since
these
animals had been slaughtered several years before 1996 and waste from
these
animals may have entered the pig-poultry feed system, and might
accidentally
have been consumed by Norwegian cattle. The EU has judged this risk to
be
negligible.

I was worried about surgical catgut and found out that we have only one
importer in Norway, who imports from Sweden. The Swedish exporter
confirmed
that the intestines raw material was sourced only from New Zealand. He
told
me that this would be the case for all European manufacturers of catgut.

I have also been worried about sheep intestines for sausage casings. We
import these to Norway from a lot of countries and the customs code
number
refers to _stomachs, bladders and intestines_ . Not very precise. Some
exporting firms collect casings from all over the world, and in such
cases
it would be impossible to know where the raw material comes from.

I think the USA still has a system of import permits. The important
thing
is not the code number, but the conditions required for an import. Among
these conditions, one of the most important is that the raw material
should
come only from countries approved by the USDA. This is what you should
look
at. Ask the USDA what are the conditions they require for various kinds
of
imports.

There are also a lot of errors with code numbers. The importers may
declare
a wrong code number because the system is so complicated. The code
number
and definitions may be inappropriate.

Best regards

Switzerland probably got most of the contaminated feed from France, the
Netherlands and Belgium. There have been stories about re-labelling of
UK
meat and bone meal as of Belgian origin.
In the text you gave us in yout mail 30. november, I noted the
following:

.....Cattle Imports from BSE Countries - Cattle have been imported to
the
U.S. from countries where BSE is endemic. According to the Department of
Agriculture, 499 cattle were imported from the U.K. between 1981 and
1989. As of January 22, 1996, 341 were known to be dead, most of whom
had
apparently been slaughtered and their carcasses used for meat and
offal.19
There is no apparent record of the distribution of meat or offal from
these
animals. Of the remainder, 8 were again exported, 34 were unaccounted
for,
and the remaining animals were killed and incinerated in 1996. In
addition, 12 tons of animal protein products were
shipped from the U.K. to the U.S. in 1984 and 1985,1 aside from products
intended for human use.....

This means that 499 - 341 = 158 animals - 34 not accounted for = only
124
british cattle still alive in the US in 1996 were _destroyed_. The
other
375 may have been used for US production of meat and bone meal. In
addition, they say that 12 tons of animal proteins not for human use
were
imported in 1984 and 1985 - which are relatively low risk years since
the
BSE epidemic was starting then, not at its peak.
However in the Inquiry DFA 25 about exports, paragraph 69, I found this:

... 69. On 14 February 1990, Mr Meldrum wrote a letter to
the
Chief Veterinary Officers of a number of countries. On 15 February 1990,
Mrs Attridge and other officials were sent a copy of the letter of 14
February 1990 and a list of the countries to which it had been sent.
They
were _stated to be the countries which had imported ruminant based meat
and
bone meal from the United Kingdom_. The countries listed were Norway;
Sweden, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Nigeria, Thailand, South
Africa, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Canada, _USA_,
Turkey, Kenya, Malta, Libera, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Puerto
Rico, Curacao, Finland.

Now, would they need to send this letter to the USA, if the USA had
stopped
such imports after 1985 ?
(for your information, Norway and Sweden had only imported pet foods.
Dry
petfoods may be customs-coded as MBM.)

When assessing the potential BSE risks for the USA from imports of
ruminants or MBM, of course one should add up _all_ such imports from
_all_
countries that have reported cases of BSE in native born cattle before
or
after 1996, and as a precaution also add imports from risky countries
that
have _not yet_ reported cases of BSE. I would certainly classify Spain
as
such a country, they have imported lots of MBM and cattle. (This is a
personal opinion, of course).

European countries do exactly the same mistake. They are now publishing
documents on the so-called BASES system (see earlier mail from Marc
Barbier). Most of these countries give very little information about the
amount of risky imports and seem to consider only the risky imports from
the UK. We know that Switzerland has exported at least 2 cattle which
later showed BSE. I heard that the same happened at least once from
France
to ... the UK
... but no import of cattle with BSE from the UK to France has been
reported.
Switzerland imported less than 2 tons MBM driectly from the UK, but
probably got most of it indirectly from other countries such as Belgium.
Of course, much more serious and complete documents have been produced.
These are the applications for assessment of BSE-status that were sent
to
the EU Commission in 1998. I have had access only to the Norwegian,
Swedish
and New Zealand's reports. The USA must have sent a complete document.
The
EU Commission has had working groups working on this classification of
countries for many months. You should ask the USDA if you can have a
copy
of the US application. I am curious to see if you get it...

I remember we had to give very complete information for all imports to
Norway of MBM from all countries (easy, since there were none), and all
imports of cattle and sheep from all countries since 1980, and all
imports
of cattle semen and embryos, and all details about heat treatments of
MBM
in Norway - and so on.

Best regards

Her in Norway we have a Highland Cattle
Association, but we have imported these cattle only from Sweden and
Denmark, not from Scotland. You might ask such associations in the US
where
their cattle are derived from. If it was from imports long before 1980,
it
should be OK.
It might also help you to know that the ban on vaccination against foot
and
mouth disease in the whole EU entered into force in august 1991. Before
this date, and probably until one or two years later, the USDA would
probably not have given import permits to cattle, sheep or pigs from
european countries where vaccination against FMD was still allowed.
This
is because antibodies from vaccination might hide virus carriers. Before
1991, there were already some countries which had always had a
vaccination
prohibition policy: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Ireland and the
UK.
So, for Ireland, imports to the USA may have been possible from 1980
until
the first case of BSE in Ireland. For countries such as France,
Belgium,
Germany ... etc..., there would probably not have been any legal imports
of
live cattle to the US before 1992 at the earliest. Therefore, probably
no
imports from France, since France had its first BSE-case before 1992.
But
very possibly from Belgium, the Netherlands etc... since these countries
reported their first cases of BSE in 1997. Greece, Portugal and Spain
would
probably not have attractive breeds to export, but Italy may have a
possible cattle breed that might interest some importers. I dont know
the
name of that breed.
Norway had exactly the same policy as the USDA and before we had our EEA
agreement with the EU in 1994, we did not allow live cattle, pigs or
sheep
and goats, nor meat from these species, from any country where FMD
vaccination was still allowed. There were few possible countries for
cattle: New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Finland. We
did
not allow live cattle from the USA because of another list-A-disease,
bluetongue, present in the USA. Before 1987, we imported 10 cattle from
the
UK, none after 1986.

On 14 February 1990, Mr Meldrum wrote a letter to the
Chief Veterinary Officers of a number of countries. [76] On 15
          February 1990, Mrs Attridge and other officials were sent a
copy of the letter of 14 February 1990 and a list of the
          countries to which it had been sent. They were stated to be
the countries which had imported ruminant based meat
          and bone meal from the United Kingdom. The countries listed
were Norway; Sweden, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia,
          Hungary, Nigeria, Thailand, South Africa, Malaysia, Taiwan,
Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Canada, USA,
          Turkey, Kenya, Malta, Libera, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Sri
Lanka, Puerto Rico, Curacao, Finland.[77] The letter from
          Mr Meldrum included the following:
   =91Although we have kept the Office Internationale des Epizooties (OIE=
)
fully informed about this new disease, and they will
   shortly be disseminating information and recommendations to member
countries, I am writing to you on a personal basis to
   ensure that you are aware of all the developments in relation to BSE,
including its likely cause. The majority of our findings
   have now been published in the Veterinary Record.=92[78] =20
70.            On 20 February 1990, Dr Pickles wrote to Ms Verity
(APS/CMO). Dr Pickles=92 minute included the following:
   =911.   Mr Meldrum is arguing that MAFF have already taken all the
necessary and responsible steps to warn importing countries
      of the BSE dangers in UK meat and bone meal. Yet the action taken
so far overseas suggest the message has not got
      through, or where it has this has been late. The first nation
that woke up to the danger did so a year after our own feed
      ban. It seems even now several EC countries neither ban our
imports or the general feeding of ruminant protein. It also
      seems the OIE and CVO have yet to inform the rest of the world.
   2.    I do not see how this can be claimed to be =91responsible=92. W=
e
do not need an expert group of the Scientific Veterinary
      Committee to tell us British meat and bone meal is unsafe for
ruminants. I fail to understand why this cannot be tackled
      from the British end which seems to be the only sure way of doing
it, preferably by banning exports. As CMO says in his
      letter of 3 January =91surely it is short sighted for us to risk
being seen in future as having been responsible for the
      introduction of BSE to the food chain in other countries.=92=92[79]
71.            Dr Pickles attached a draft reply for the CMO to send to
Mr Meldrum. The draft letter included the following:
   =91I was pleased to hear of your action to inform nations overseas
about the causation of BSE and the measures needed to prevent
   infection in their own cattle. But the evidence of action taken so
far suggests other nations have not fully appreciated the
   possible hazards from our meat and bone meal, since only a few
nations have either banned our imports or the more general
   feeding of ruminant material. It is in the knowledge that several
other nations have yet to take adequate steps that I questioned
   whether we should be restricting exports. Your reply does not
convince me that everything possible has already been done.
   [We are meeting on the 22nd February and our discussions are to
include BSE. We could debate this further then]. [We have
   discussed this matter further at our recent meeting. Our view
remains that restricting exports would be the right course of
   action.]=92[80]
72.            On 22 February 1990 Mr Andrews held a meeting with Sir
Christopher France, Sir Donald Acheson and Mr Heppell from
          the Department of Health; Mr Dickinson and Mr Meldrum from
MAFF were present. Mr Robinson (PS/Mr
          Andrews) minuted Mr Dickinson on 27 February 1990 about this
meeting.[81] The minute stated in paragraph 18:
   =91Sir Donald Acheson asked whether meat and bone meal that was
exported should be labelled. Mr Meldrum said that he had
   now written to his opposite number in our trading partners. He had
told them that the UK had imposed a ban, and importing
   countries must make their own decisions. We had not wanted to
introduce a ban on exports since we were content to feed it to
   pigs and poultry. He was certain that other countries were fully
aware of the situation in the UK.=92
73.            On 27 February 1990, Dr McInnes (PS/CMO) wrote to Dr
Pickles. The minute was entitled =91BSE and exports of Meat
          and Bone Meal=92 and contained the following:
   =91You very kindly provided a draft letter for CMO to sent to Mr
Meldrum on this subject. I understand from CMO that this was
   in fact discussed at their recent meeting and CMO has therefore
decided not to pursue this question.=92[82]
74.            When Dr Pickles gave oral evidence, the following
exchange took place:
   =91MR THOMAS: Do the points put forward by Mr Meldrum in that meeting
in this note answer the concerns you had put
   forward previously?
   DR PICKLES:   I do not think they do.
   MR THOMAS: Can I ask you to expand as to why not?
   DR PICKLES:   He was reiterating the same arguments I had had
previously. He was certain other countries were fully aware
   of the situation in the UK, or maybe their chief veterinary officers
were. I was more concerned to know whether the importers
   of MBM and their compounders and farmers knew about it.
   MR THOMAS: Do you recall any discussion of the CMO's decision not to
pursue the question further?
   DR PICKLES:   I do not think I had discussion, no.=92[83]
75.            A supplemental statement from Mr Meldrum includes the
following:
   =91=85 steps were taken to ensure that information was provided on an
international basis about BSE and the control measures
   introduced in the UK, including the ruminant feed ban. I was fully
aware that the reports of all the meetings of the OIE
   Commissions in the languages of the OIE were circulated to all the
member countries shortly after the meetings had taken
   place. Examples of countries reacting to the information about BSE
that was widely available can be seen in letters dated 21st
   June, 1988 (YB88/6.21/15.1) and 3rd February, 1989 (YB89/2.3/5.1)
from me to Israel's Director of Veterinary Services and
   Animal Health, a letter dated 11th October, 1988 (YB88/10.11/4.1-4.4)
from me to Cyprus' Director of Veterinary Services, a
   letter dated 3rd February, 1989 (YB89/2.03/6.1) from me to Finland's
Director of Veterinary Services and a letter dated 6th
   December, 1988 (YB88/12.6/5.1-5.2)from Mr Hawkins to the Dairy
Farmers' Association of Japan. I particularly wish to draw
   attention to the question and answer brief for importing countries
which is attached to the letter to Cyprus' Director of
   Veterinary Services (YB88/10.11/4.2-4.4). Also a minute dated 3rd
October, 1988 (YB88/10.3/7.1-7.4) from Mr Crawford to
   me describes a visit by Mr Crawford to the USA to meet staff at the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. As item
   number 7 of the minute shows, Mr Crawford gave a summary of BSE and
the measures taken by MAFF to =91investigate and
   eradicate it=92(YB88/10.3/7.3).=92[84]
76.            A supplemental statement provided by Mr Meldrum includes
a section relating to notification of the ruminant feed ban to
          non-EC countries which concludes with the following:
   =91=85 it can be seen that non-EC countries were kept informed of the
existence of BSE and the hypothesis on the role of meat and
   bone meal in the disease and of the subsequent introduction of the
ruminant feed ban in the UK. As I maintained throughout the
   period from when I took over as CVO (1st June, 1988) until my letter
to the CVOs of third countries on 14th February, 1990
   (YB90/2.15/3.1-3.4), importing third countries (both EC and non-EC)
had sufficient information to make their own decisions as
   to whether or not to impose their own restrictions on imports of meat
and bone meal from the UK. It is also pertinent to note
   that so far as I am aware none of the 25 countries to whom I wrote in
February 1990 banned the import of animal protein from
   the UK and none complained that they had not been informed of BSE
through the OIE. This is hardly surprising because one of
   the main reasons for the existence of the OIE is to disseminate
information about outbreaks of disease amongst the member
   countries. I had great faith in the OIE and believe that its record
in the dissemination of information about outbreaks of both
   established and emerging diseases is above criticism.=92[85]

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U.S. Imports for Consumption: December 1998 and 1998 Year-to-Date
 Subheading 300290:
HUMAN BLOOD; ANIMAL BLOOD PREPARED FOR THERAPEUTIC, ETC. USES; TOXINS, CULTURES OF MICRO-ORGANISMS (EXCLUDING YEASTS) AND SIMILAR PRODUCTS NESOI

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<HR> 3002.90.1000: FERMENTS 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: December 1998 and 1998 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Kilograms)
<PRE>
 <--- Dec 1998 ---> <--- 1998 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . 36,178 643 250,982 11,604
Australia . . . . . . . . --- --- 20 3
Canada . . . . . . . . . 5,777 146 62,026 3,036
China (mainland) . . . . 25,600 164 76,800 494
Denmark . . . . . . . . . 3,874 263 38,969 3,641
Federal Rep. of Germany --- --- 1,184 74
France . . . . . . . . . 343 31 14,449 1,781
Hungary . . . . . . . . . --- --- 1,200 3
Ireland . . . . . . . . . --- --- 325 2
Japan . . . . . . . . . . --- --- 44,602 1,879
Sweden . . . . . . . . . --- --- 115 102
United Kingdom . . . . . 584 39 11,292 588
</PRE>
<HR> 3002.90.5010: WHOLE HUMAN BLOOD 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: December 1998 and 1998 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Kilograms)
<PRE>
 <--- Dec 1998 ---> <--- 1998 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . --- --- 509 144
Denmark . . . . . . . . . --- --- 2 2
Federal Rep. of Germany --- --- 67 58
Sweden . . . . . . . . . --- --- 440 84
</PRE>
<HR> 3002.90.5020: ANTIALLERGENIC PREPERATIONS 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: December 1998 and 1998 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Kilograms)
<PRE>
 <--- Dec 1998 ---> <--- 1998 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . 3 6 439 125
Finland . . . . . . . . . --- --- 125 28
Sweden . . . . . . . . . 3 6 115 68
Switzerland . . . . . . . --- --- 187 28
United Kingdom . . . . . --- --- 12 1
</PRE>
<HR> 3002.90.5050: TOXINS, CULTURES OF MICRO-ORGANISMS (EXCLUDING YEASTS) AND SIMILAR PRODUCTS 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: December 1998 and 1998 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Kilograms)
<PRE>
 <--- Dec 1998 ---> <--- 1998 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . 48,537 10,554 395,985 94,096
Argentina . . . . . . . . 2,033 163 7,066 704
Australia . . . . . . . . 49 155 1,255 551
Austria . . . . . . . . . --- --- 12,447 1,951
Belgium . . . . . . . . . 10 5 489 510
Brazil . . . . . . . . . --- --- 2 2
Canada . . . . . . . . . 6,860 91 50,491 1,301
China (mainland) . . . . --- --- 1,663 313
Denmark . . . . . . . . . --- --- 502 545
Estonia . . . . . . . . . 1 3 1 3
Federal Rep. of Germany 16 14 4,065 687
Finland . . . . . . . . . 16 18 1,133 790
France . . . . . . . . . 2 8 19,083 977
Hungary . . . . . . . . . --- --- 8 16
Ireland . . . . . . . . . 2,365 4,878 24,267 55,491
Israel . . . . . . . . . 4 22 2,086 376
Italy . . . . . . . . . . --- --- 68 22
Japan . . . . . . . . . . 81 32 2,671 1,844
Netherlands . . . . . . . 10 3 529 295
New Zealand . . . . . . . 394 129 79,454 1,185
Poland . . . . . . . . . --- --- 1 3
Republic Of South Africa --- --- 3 4
Singapore . . . . . . . . --- --- 19 11
Spain . . . . . . . . . . 145 21 1,250 3,072
Sweden . . . . . . . . . 1,626 759 5,047 2,076
Switzerland . . . . . . . 11,090 2,613 49,987 9,505
United Kingdom . . . . . 23,835 1,641 132,398 11,862
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<H3>U.S. Imports for Consumption: March 1999 and 1999 Year-to-Date</H3>
 Subheading 051199:
ANIMAL PRODUCTS, NESOI; DEAD HORSES AND OTHER EQUINE ANIMALS, BOVINE ANIMALS, SHEEP, GOATS AND POULTRY, UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, NESOI

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<HR> 0511.99.2000: PARINGS AND SIMILAR WASTE OF RAW HIDES OR SKINS; GLUE STOCK, NOT ELSEWHERE SPECIFIED OR INCLUDED 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: March 1999 and 1999 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Kilograms)
<PRE>
 <--- Mar 1999 ---> <--- 1999 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . 3,458,817 11,474 9,251,878 28,213
Argentina . . . . . . . . 105,594 479 282,333 1,224
Bhutan . . . . . . . . . --- --- 573 4
Brazil . . . . . . . . . 782,456 4,247 1,896,767 9,657
Canada . . . . . . . . . 573,336 439 1,516,872 1,147
China . . . . . . . . . . 255,296 772 680,519 1,803
Cocos (Keeling) Island --- --- 8,523 28
Colombia . . . . . . . . 408,331 1,654 823,742 3,237
Denmark . . . . . . . . . 76,551 551 179,787 1,387
Ecuador . . . . . . . . . --- --- 18,117 41
Ireland . . . . . . . . . --- --- 19,200 56
Korea, South . . . . . . 18,754 124 45,124 301
Mexico . . . . . . . . . 638,340 1,730 1,454,777 4,164
Paraguay . . . . . . . . 103,461 278 426,066 716
South Africa . . . . . . 12,974 35 43,973 118
Taiwan . . . . . . . . . 8,635 13 17,405 56
Thailand . . . . . . . . 470,409 1,131 1,799,763 4,171
Uruguay . . . . . . . . . --- --- 30,687 68
Venezuela . . . . . . . . 4,680 20 7,650 37
</PRE>
<HR> 0511.99.3030: ANTARCTIC KRILL (EUPHAUSIA SUPERBA) CHIEFLY USED AS FOOD FOR ANIMALS OR AS INGREDIENTS IN SUCH FOOD 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: March 1999 and 1999 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Kilograms)
<PRE>
 <--- Mar 1999 ---> <--- 1999 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . 756,974 196 3,799,446 1,101
Argentina . . . . . . . . 21,790 17 21,790 17
Australia . . . . . . . . --- --- 61,800 31
Canada . . . . . . . . . 688,352 134 3,420,619 816
China . . . . . . . . . . 9,410 25 9,410 25
Denmark . . . . . . . . . --- --- 18,099 22
Japan . . . . . . . . . . 37,422 20 149,688 94
New Zealand . . . . . . . --- --- 118,040 96
</PRE>
<HR> 0511.99.3060: PRODUCTS CHIEFLY USED AS FOOD FOR ANIMALS OR AS INGREDIENTS IN SUCH FOOD, NESOI 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: March 1999 and 1999 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Kilograms)
<PRE>
 <--- Mar 1999 ---> <--- 1999 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . 8,319,391 4,530 22198176 11,864
Argentina . . . . . . . . --- --- 21,280 16
Australia . . . . . . . . 663,334 354 2,404,015 1,137
Belgium . . . . . . . . . --- --- 1,080 7
Brazil . . . . . . . . . 7,718 38 28,981 122
Canada . . . . . . . . . 3,614,419 2,146 10407665 5,356
Chile . . . . . . . . . . 20,100 36 39,100 71
China . . . . . . . . . . 63,618 121 120,168 187
Colombia . . . . . . . . --- --- 62,523 257
Denmark . . . . . . . . . 17,558 129 84,130 292
Ecuador . . . . . . . . . 13,689 58 41,067 174
France . . . . . . . . . --- --- 49,079 124
Hong Kong . . . . . . . . --- --- 10,852 53
Italy . . . . . . . . . . --- --- 38,360 55
Japan . . . . . . . . . . 52 4 52 4
Korea, South . . . . . . --- --- 20,411 15
New Zealand . . . . . . . 3,908,275 1,573 8,833,637 3,751
Spain . . . . . . . . . . 10,628 73 33,435 238
Taiwan . . . . . . . . . --- --- 2,341 5
</PRE>
<HR> 0511.99.4024: DAIRY CATTLE EMBRYOS 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: March 1999 and 1999 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Number)
<PRE>
 <--- Mar 1999 ---> <--- 1999 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . --- --- 53 16
Canada . . . . . . . . . --- --- 9 3
France . . . . . . . . . --- --- 44 13
</PRE>
<HR> 0511.99.4028: CATTLE EMBRYOS, EXCEPT DAIRY CATTLE 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: March 1999 and 1999 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Number)
<PRE>
 <--- Mar 1999 ---> <--- 1999 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . 20 7 109 27
Australia . . . . . . . . 12 3 12 3
Canada . . . . . . . . . 8 4 8 4
Federal Rep. of Germany --- --- 89 20
</PRE>
<HR> 0511.99.4030: DRIED BLOOD 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: March 1999 and 1999 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: X)
<PRE>
 <--- Mar 1999 ---> <--- 1999 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . --- 118 --- 425
Canada . . . . . . . . . --- 118 --- 425
</PRE>
<HR> 0511.99.4050: ANIMAL PRODUCTS NOT ELSEWHERE SPECIFIED OR INCLUDED; DEAD ANIMALS OF CHAPTER 1, UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: March 1999 and 1999 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Kilograms)
<PRE>
 <--- Mar 1999 ---> <--- 1999 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . 718,476 2,313 2,206,867 4,739
Australia . . . . . . . . --- --- 9,704 50
Belgium . . . . . . . . . --- --- 13 18
Botswana . . . . . . . . 65 2 65 2
Canada . . . . . . . . . 601,219 1,526 1,672,568 2,265
China . . . . . . . . . . 36,480 58 129,028 220
Colombia . . . . . . . . 18,144 47 60,166 182
Costa Rica . . . . . . . --- --- 530 20
Denmark . . . . . . . . . --- --- 10,064 113
Ecuador . . . . . . . . . 13,689 58 96,174 407
El Salvador . . . . . . . 313 33 653 60
Federal Rep. of Germany 361 150 809 160
France . . . . . . . . . 1,088 14 1,489 20
Honduras . . . . . . . . --- --- 422 40
Hong Kong . . . . . . . . --- --- 18 3
Ireland . . . . . . . . . --- --- 10 21
Italy . . . . . . . . . . --- --- 1,186 68
Japan . . . . . . . . . . 4 3 1,993 186
Korea, South . . . . . . --- --- 864 6
Malaysia . . . . . . . . 85 104 85 104
Mexico . . . . . . . . . 31,212 262 83,970 593
Netherlands . . . . . . . 23 21 23 21
New Zealand . . . . . . . 15,429 13 133,650 84
Nicaragua . . . . . . . . --- --- 325 30
South Africa . . . . . . 338 8 574 21
Sweden . . . . . . . . . 15 10 15 10
Thailand . . . . . . . . --- --- 2,225 20
United Kingdom . . . . . 11 3 38 9
Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . --- --- 206 7
</PRE>
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U.S. Imports for Consumption: December 1998 and 1998 Year-to-Date
 Subheading 300210:
ANTISERA AND OTHER BLOOD FRACTIONS, AND MODIFIED IMMUNOLOGICAL PRODUCTS

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<HR> 3002.10.0010: HUMAN BLOOD PLASMA 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: December 1998 and 1998 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Kilograms)
<PRE>
 <--- Dec 1998 ---> <--- 1998 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . 25,740 1,827 270,357 20,476
Belgium . . . . . . . . . 14 8 145 60
Canada . . . . . . . . . 13,239 827 170,535 10,862
Denmark . . . . . . . . . --- --- 4 5
Federal Rep. of Germany 2,011 386 11,040 3,294
Finland . . . . . . . . . 1 7 94 61
France . . . . . . . . . --- --- 134 60
Japan . . . . . . . . . . 13 3 68 17
Korea, Republic Of . . . --- --- 260 71
Netherlands . . . . . . . --- --- 11 5
Republic Of South Africa --- --- 1,594 71
Russia . . . . . . . . . --- --- 27 3
Sweden . . . . . . . . . --- --- 9 10
Switzerland . . . . . . . 10,462 597 86,101 5,894
United Kingdom . . . . . --- --- 335 62
</PRE>
<HR> 3002.10.0020: NORMAL HUMAN BLOOD SERA, WHETHER OR NOT FREEZE-DRIED 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: December 1998 and 1998 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Kilograms)
<PRE>
 <--- Dec 1998 ---> <--- 1998 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . 1,039 817 19,056 22,678
Austria . . . . . . . . . --- --- 9,194 18,707
Belgium . . . . . . . . . --- --- 22 15
Denmark . . . . . . . . . --- --- 31 13
Federal Rep. of Germany 312 597 1,725 3,362
Japan . . . . . . . . . . --- --- 17 34
Netherlands . . . . . . . 353 2 6,733 41
New Zealand . . . . . . . --- --- 28 7
Republic Of South Africa --- --- 220 47
Russia . . . . . . . . . --- --- 1 7
Switzerland . . . . . . . 374 218 1,084 440
United Kingdom . . . . . --- --- 1 4
</PRE>
<HR> 3002.10.0030: HUMAN IMMUNE BLOOD SERA 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: December 1998 and 1998 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Kilograms)
<PRE>
 <--- Dec 1998 ---> <--- 1998 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . 1,926 461 14,484 3,563
Austria . . . . . . . . . --- --- 39 69
Canada . . . . . . . . . --- --- 27 4
Federal Rep. of Germany 2 13 13 103
India . . . . . . . . . . --- --- 77 130
Israel . . . . . . . . . --- --- 38 12
Italy . . . . . . . . . . --- --- 156 14
Korea, Republic Of . . . --- --- 1,145 212
Russia . . . . . . . . . --- --- 81 91
Spain . . . . . . . . . . 1,922 440 12,444 2,738
United Kingdom . . . . . 2 8 464 192
</PRE>
<HR> 3002.10.0040: FETAL BOVINE SERUM (FBS) 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: December 1998 and 1998 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Kilograms)
<PRE>
 <--- Dec 1998 ---> <--- 1998 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . 2,727 233 131,486 8,502
Australia . . . . . . . . --- --- 19,637 2,623
Austria . . . . . . . . . --- --- 2,400 191
Belgium . . . . . . . . . --- --- 17 32
Canada . . . . . . . . . 900 110 30,983 3,220
Costa Rica . . . . . . . 500 20 4,677 169
Federal Rep. of Germany --- --- 105 21
Finland . . . . . . . . . 1 8 9 83
France . . . . . . . . . --- --- 73 7
Guatemala . . . . . . . . --- --- 719 42
Honduras . . . . . . . . --- --- 1,108 88
Israel . . . . . . . . . --- --- 24 165
Netherlands . . . . . . . --- --- 1 5
New Zealand . . . . . . . 26 5 65,953 913
Panama . . . . . . . . . --- --- 1,195 64
Switzerland . . . . . . . 971 8 1,078 23
United Kingdom . . . . . 329 82 743 756
Uruguay . . . . . . . . . --- --- 2,764 98
</PRE>
<HR> 3002.10.0090: OTHER BLOOD FRACTIONS NOT ELSEWHERE SPECIFIED OR INCLUDED 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: December 1998 and 1998 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Kilograms)
<PRE>
 <--- Dec 1998 ---> <--- 1998 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . 88,467 27,343 944,412 309,947
Argentina . . . . . . . . --- --- 240 52
Australia . . . . . . . . 3,708 467 10,523 1,186
Austria . . . . . . . . . 5,280 5,949 12,547 23,560
Belarus . . . . . . . . . --- --- 3 15
Belgium . . . . . . . . . 13,337 1,718 157,651 64,905
Brazil . . . . . . . . . 47 21 215 114
Canada . . . . . . . . . 158 59 4,814 2,713
China (mainland) . . . . 510 66 4,799 579
Czech Republic . . . . . --- --- 97 11
Denmark . . . . . . . . . 22 4 196 239
Estonia . . . . . . . . . --- --- 1 3
Federal Rep. of Germany 765 815 20,430 12,998
Finland . . . . . . . . . 11 73 355 1,152
France . . . . . . . . . 3,909 402 18,592 2,687
Hungary . . . . . . . . . 3 14 4 28
India . . . . . . . . . . --- --- 1 3
Ireland . . . . . . . . . 12,889 6,176 105,486 70,500
Israel . . . . . . . . . 61 269 677 2,739
Italy . . . . . . . . . . --- --- 26 33
Japan . . . . . . . . . . 169 68 2,230 1,131
Korea, Republic Of . . . --- --- 62 33
Mexico . . . . . . . . . 4,343 241 39,533 2,524
Netherlands . . . . . . . 466 272 2,302 2,037
New Zealand . . . . . . . 650 38 63,788 2,302
Norway . . . . . . . . . 93 378 1,801 3,360
Russia . . . . . . . . . --- --- 50 48
Singapore . . . . . . . . --- --- 221 182
Sweden . . . . . . . . . 162 169 1,705 1,241
Switzerland . . . . . . . 39,997 7,845 469,240 89,988
United Kingdom . . . . . 1,887 2,300 26,823 23,585
</PRE>
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U.S. Imports for Consumption: December 1998 and 1998 Year-to-Date
 Subheading 300110:
GLANDS AND OTHER ORGANS, DRIED, WHETHER OR NOT POWDERED

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<HR> 3001.10.0010: LIVER,DRIED,WHETHER OR NOT DRIED 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: December 1998 and 1998 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Kilograms)
<PRE>
 <--- Dec 1998 ---> <--- 1998 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . 13,000 61 240,500 941
Argentina . . . . . . . . 12,000 41 236,000 865
Denmark . . . . . . . . . 1,000 20 4,500 76
</PRE>
<HR> 3001.10.0050: OTHER GLANDS AND OTHER ORGANS, DRIED, WHETHER OR NOT POWDERED 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: December 1998 and 1998 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Kilograms)
<PRE>
 <--- Dec 1998 ---> <--- 1998 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . 26,320 1,148 235,208 11,249
Argentina . . . . . . . . 11,850 146 93,655 1,168
Australia . . . . . . . . --- --- 8 7
Canada . . . . . . . . . --- --- 17,850 30
China (mainland) . . . . 3,500 331 10,117 998
Denmark . . . . . . . . . 10,970 671 90,589 6,918
France . . . . . . . . . --- --- 7,703 741
Hungary . . . . . . . . . --- --- 117 65
Ireland . . . . . . . . . --- --- 4 14
Israel . . . . . . . . . --- --- 5 7
Italy . . . . . . . . . . --- --- 8,530 194
Netherlands . . . . . . . --- --- 17 5
New Zealand . . . . . . . --- --- 336 19
Spain . . . . . . . . . . --- --- 5,994 817
Sweden . . . . . . . . . --- --- 1 10
Switzerland . . . . . . . --- --- 278 253
United Kingdom . . . . . --- --- 4 5
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U.S. Imports for Consumption: December 1998 and 1998 Year-to-Date
 Subheading 300610:
STERILE SURGICAL CATGUT, SIMILAR STERILE SUTURE MATERIALS AND STERILE TISSUE ADHESIVES FOR SURGICAL WOUND CLOSURE; STERILE HAEMOSTATICS, ETC.

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<HR> 3006.10.0000: STERILE SURGICAL CATGUT, SIMILAR STERILE SUTURE MATERIALS AND STERILETISSUE ADHESIVES FOR SURGICAL WOUND CLOSURE; AND SIMILAR STERILE MATERIAL 
U.S. Imports for Consumption: December 1998 and 1998 Year-to-Date 
(Customs Value, in Thousands of Dollars) 
(Units of Quantity: Kilograms)
<PRE>
 <--- Dec 1998 ---> <--- 1998 YTD --->
Country Quantity Value Quantity Value
=================================================================
WORLD TOTAL . . . . . . . 10,801 3,116 143,058 40,068
Australia . . . . . . . . 3,925 1,024 37,373 10,507
Austria . . . . . . . . . 400 707 8,147 9,687
Belgium . . . . . . . . . --- --- 107 14
Brazil . . . . . . . . . --- --- 987 334
Canada . . . . . . . . . --- --- 138 4
Federal Rep. of Germany 1,795 356 16,878 3,741
France . . . . . . . . . 81 49 2,727 1,132
Hong Kong . . . . . . . . --- --- 525 2
India . . . . . . . . . . 57 13 329 37
Ireland . . . . . . . . . --- --- 151 22
Italy . . . . . . . . . . 12 9 12 9
Japan . . . . . . . . . . 170 167 835 661
Korea, Republic Of . . . 18 15 476 357
Mexico . . . . . . . . . --- --- 1,041 72
Netherlands . . . . . . . 2,985 494 34,833 5,794
Norway . . . . . . . . . 138 35 970 249
Panama . . . . . . . . . --- --- 10 5
Peru . . . . . . . . . . --- --- 52 6
Spain . . . . . . . . . . 32 5 428 60
Swaziland . . . . . . . . --- --- 2 3
Sweden . . . . . . . . . --- --- 679 115
Switzerland . . . . . . . --- --- 1,357 1,693
United Kingdom . . . . . 1,188 242 35,001 5,564
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More data could be loaded here to show how pervasive the use of potentially infected material is; but this file is already large enough to give you the picture!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 94

[Docket No. 00-038-1]

Importation of Bovine Parts From Argentina

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Interim rule and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are amending the regulations governing the importation of
certain animals, meat, and other animal products by prohibiting the
importation from Argentina of any bovine parts that are not, by
standard practice, part of a bovine carcass that is placed in a chiller
for maturation after slaughter. Items prohibited from importation
include all parts of bovine heads, feet, hooves, and internal organs.
Additionally, we are requiring that bovines slaughtered for the export
of fresh beef from Argentina to the United States undergo ante- and
post-mortem inspections for signs of foot-and-mouth disease and that
representatives of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service be
allowed access to the establishments where the bovines are slaughtered.
We are also clarifying some provisions of the regulations. We are
taking these actions as emergency measures to protect the livestock of
the United States from foot-and-mouth disease.

DATES: This interim rule is effective June 28, 2000. We invite you to
comment on this docket. We will consider all comments that we receive
by August 28, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Please send your comment and three copies to: Docket No. 00-
038-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03,
4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
 Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 00-038-1.
 You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our
reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of the USDA
South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,
DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you,
please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
 APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related
information, including the names of organizations and individuals who
have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at
<A HREF="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html">http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html</A>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Gary Colgrove, Director, National
Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 38,
Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-4356.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred to below as the
regulations) prohibit or restrict the importation of certain animals
and animal products into the United States to prevent the introduction
of various animal diseases, including rinderpest, foot-and-mouth
disease (FMD), African swine fever, hog cholera, and swine vesicular
disease. These are dangerous and destructive communicable diseases of
ruminants and swine. Section 94.21 of the regulations allows the
importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from Argentina, but only
under certain conditions, because fresh beef from Argentina that does
not meet the required conditions would present an unacceptable risk of
introducing FMD into the United States.

Maturation Process

Among the conditions for the importation of fresh beef from
Argentina is the requirement in Sec. 94.21(k) of this interim rule
(designated as Sec. 94.21(h) prior to this interim rule) that the meat
come from bovine carcasses that have been allowed to maturate at 40 to
50 deg.F (4 to 10 deg.C) for a minimum of 36 hours after slaughter
and that have reached a pH of 5.8 or less in the loin muscle at the end
of the maturation period. This provision goes on to state that if the
meat does not meet this pH level after 60 hours, it may not be exported
to the United States. This requirement is based on the fact that the
FMD virus in meat is inactivated by acidification, which occurs
naturally during maturation. An acid environment of a pH of 5.8 or less
destroys the virus quickly.
Section 94.21, paragraph (i), of this interim rule (designated as
Sec. 94.21(i) prior to this interim rule) provides that beef from
Argentina may not be exported to the United States unless all bone,
blood clots, and lymphoid tissue have been removed from the meat. The
removal of these parts is necessary because any FMD virus these parts
might potentially harbor may not be inactivated by the maturation
process described above.

[[Page 39783]]

It has come to our attention that, in some cases, among the bovine
parts being imported into the United States from Argentina are those
that are not, by standard practice, part of the carcass that is placed
in a chiller for maturation after slaughter. In the rule we published
in the Federal Register in June 1997 allowing the importation of fresh
(chilled or frozen) beef from Argentina (62 FR 34385-34394), it was
never our intent that such items be allowed entry into the United
States. When we referred to fresh (chilled or frozen) beef in
Sec. 94.21, we meant only the traditional cuts of meat obtained from a
bovine's carcass, not any part of the animal's head, its feet or
hooves, or its internal organs. While portions of a bovine's head,
feet, hooves, and internal organs may reach the necessary pH level
during the required maturation process, these items can contain lymph
tissue and blood clots that may potentially harbor FMD virus that is
not inactivated.
Therefore, we are amending Sec. 94.21 to prohibit the importation
of any bovine parts that are not, by standard practice, part of the
carcass that is placed in a chiller for maturation after slaughter.
Included in this prohibition are all parts of bovine heads, feet,
hooves, and internal organs.

Ante- and Post-Mortem Inspections

Because FMD has a short incubation period, if animals were infected
with FMD at a premises of origin, it is likely that lesions would be
visible in at least a few of those animals at the slaughtering
establishment prior to slaughter. Similarly, post-mortem inspection of
carcasses would be likely to identify any lesions and vesicles in
animals infected with FMD. At the time we published our 1997 rule
allowing the importation of fresh beef from Argentina, it was standard
practice in that country to conduct ante- and post-mortem inspections
of cattle at slaughtering establishments, in accordance with the Animal
Health Code of the Office International des Epizooties and European
Union requirements. Such inspections continue to be conducted as
routine procedure.
Because ante- and post-mortem inspections are carried out as
standard practice in Argentina, we did not specifically require such
inspections in the regulations. However, because of the importance of
these inspections in reducing disease risk, we are adding to Sec. 94.21
explicit requirements for ante- and post-mortem inspections of bovines
slaughtered for the export of fresh beef from Argentina to the United
States.

APHIS Inspection of Slaughtering Establishments

We are also adding to Sec. 94.21, as a condition for the
importation of fresh beef from Argentina, that establishments in which
the bovines are slaughtered allow periodic APHIS inspection of their
facilities, records, and operations. Prior to this interim rule,
Sec. 94.21 already required that an authorized official of Argentina
certify that the required conditions for importation have been met. We
continue to believe that, in the great majority of cases, certification
by an authorized official of Argentina that the requirements for
importation have been met will be sufficient verification. However,
because of the possibility of occasional differing interpretations of
the regulations, we consider it advisable to enable APHIS
representatives to have access to slaughtering establishments for
periodic inspections of the establishments and their records and
operations.

Meaning of ``Originate''

One of the conditions for the importation of fresh beef from
Argentina has been that the beef originate in Argentina. In order to
avoid any misunderstanding of our intent regarding the term
``originate,'' we are specifying in Sec. 94.21(a) that fresh (chilled
or frozen) beef to be imported from Argentina must originate from
bovines that were born, raised, and slaughtered in Argentina. We
consider this change necessary to make it clear that beef exported from
Argentina that comes from any animals born, raised, or slaughtered in a
country other than Argentina may not be imported into the United
States.

Blood Clots and Lymphoid Tissue

As discussed above, one of the requirements for importing fresh
beef from Argentina has been the removal from the meat of all bone,
blood clots, and lymphoid tissue. Although we continue to consider the
removal of these parts necessary, we recognize that meat may contain
small portions of blood clots or lymphoid tissue that are not visually
identifiable as such. Because such small parts are unlikely to harbor
any FMD virus that is not inactivated by the process described above
under the heading ``Maturation Process,'' and because we recognize that
it would be difficult, if not impossible, to remove parts of blood
clots or lymphoid tissue that are not recognizable as such, we are
clarifying in Sec. 94.21(i) that for fresh beef to be imported from
Argentina, all bone and visually identifiable blood clots and lymphoid
tissue must have been removed from the meat.

Nonsubstantive Changes

In addition to the changes to the regulations discussed above, we
are making some nonsubstantive changes to Sec. 94.21. In Sec. 94.21(e)
(designated as Sec. 94.21(g) prior to this interim rule), we are
simplifying the wording of a condition for importation to state that
``[t]he meat came from bovines that have never been vaccinated for
rinderpest,'' rather than ``[t]he meat came from bovines that have not
been vaccinated for rinderpest at any time during the lifetime of any
of the bovines slaughtered for export of meat,'' as was stated prior to
this interim rule.
Additionally, we are reordering the sequence of the provisions in
Sec. 94.21 as follows: Paragraph (b) as set forth prior to this interim
rule becomes paragraph (f); paragraph (c) becomes paragraph (j);
paragraph (d) becomes paragraph (c); paragraph (e) becomes paragraph
(b); paragraph (f) becomes paragraph (d); paragraph (g) becomes
paragraph (e); paragraph (h) becomes paragraph (k); and paragraph (j)
becomes paragraph (l).

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 protect the livestock of the United
States from FMD.
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 less than 30 days after publication. 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. The document will
include a discussion of any comments we receive and any amendments we
are making to the rule as a result of the comments.

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866. The rule
has been determined to be not significant for the purposes of Executive
Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been reviewed by the Office of
Management and Budget.
This interim rule prohibits the importation of any bovine parts
that are not, by standard practice, part of the carcass that is placed
in a chiller for

[[Page 39784]]

maturation after slaughter. It additionally requires ante- and post-
mortem inspections of animals from which fresh beef intended for
importation into the United States comes, requires that APHIS
representatives be allowed access to slaughtering establishments for
periodic inspections, and clarifies certain provisions of the
regulations.

Bovine Parts

There are many byproducts of beef production, including hide,
hooves, tallow, blood meal, bone meal, head meat, tongue, lungs, tripe,
and other organs. Parts used as food can be collectively termed edible
offal. Exports of edible offal from the United States are over 10 times
greater than U.S. imports of these products. This position as a strong
net exporter reflects a domestic market in which prices are affected
minimally, if at all, by the limited U.S. demand for imports. Canada,
Australia, and New Zealand are the major foreign sources of edible
offal for the United States, supplying more than 95 percent of the
products imported.
Edible offal imports from Argentina in 1998 and 1999, the only
years for which such imports are recorded, are relatively small. They
totaled 13.8 metric tons and 460.2 metric tons, respectively, and had
values of $41,000 and $1,052,000. Although the amount and value of the
importations for 1999 show significant increases over 1998, they
represent only 1.3 percent of U.S. edible offal imports.

Entities Affected

The entities in the United States most likely to be directly
affected by this rule are meatpacking plants that import edible offal
from Argentina. While there may be small entities affected by this
rule, their number is not known. However, because edible offal imports
from Argentina constitute a very small fraction of edible offal imports
overall, and because U.S. imports of these products represent less than
10 percent of U.S. exports of such products, the effects of this rule
on all entities, large or small, is expected to be insignificant.
Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action will
not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small
entities.

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 no
retroactive effect; and (3) does not require administrative proceedings
before parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This interim 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 94

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

Accordingly, we are amending 9 CFR part 94 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).

2. Section 94.21 is revised to read as follows:

Sec. 94.21 Restrictions on importation of beef from Argentina.

    Notwithstanding any other provisions of this part, fresh (chilled
or frozen) beef from Argentina may be exported to the United States
under the following conditions:
    (a) The meat is beef from bovines that have been born, raised, and
slaughtered in Argentina.
    (b) Foot-and-mouth disease has not been diagnosed in Argentina
within the previous 12 months.
    (c) The meat came from bovines that originated from premises where
foot-and-mouth disease and rinderpest have not been present during the
lifetime of any bovines slaughtered for the export of meat to the
United States.
    (d) The meat came from bovines that originated from premises on
which ruminants and swine had not been vaccinated with modified or
attenuated live viruses for foot-and-mouth disease at any time during
the lifetime of the bovines slaughtered for export of meat to the
United States.
    (e) The meat came from bovines that have never been vaccinated for
rinderpest.
    (f) The meat came from bovines that were moved directly from the
premises of origin to the slaughtering establishment without any
contact with other animals.
    (g) The meat came from bovines that received ante-mortem and post-
mortem veterinary inspections at the slaughtering establishment, with
no evidence found of foot-and-mouth disease.
    (h) The beef consists only of bovine parts that are, by standard
practice, part of the animal's carcass that is placed in a chiller for
maturation after slaughter. Bovine parts that may not be imported
include all parts of bovine heads, feet, hooves, and internal organs.
    (i) All bone and visually identifiable blood clots and lymphoid
tissue have been removed from the meat.
    (j) The meat has not been in contact with meat from regions other
than those listed in Sec. 94.1(a)(2).
    (k) The meat came from bovine carcasses that were allowed to
maturate at 40 to 50 Sec. F (4 to 10 Sec. C) for a minimum of 36 hours
after slaughter and that reached a pH of 5.8 or less in the loin muscle
at the end of the maturation period. Any carcass in which the pH does
not reach 5.8 or less may be allowed to maturate an additional 24 hours
and be retested, and, if the carcass still does not reach a pH of 5.8
or less after 60 hours, the meat from the carcass may not be exported
to the United States.
    (l) An authorized official of Argentina certifies on the foreign
meat inspection certificate that the above conditions have been met.
    (m) The establishment in which the bovines are slaughtered allows
periodic APHIS inspection of its facilities, records, and operations.

Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of June 2000.
Bobby R. Acord,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 00-16314 Filed 6-27-00; 8:45 am]

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