Press Release

Suzan Holl	(301) 734-6464
Jerry Redding	(2301) 720-6959

USDA AMENDS BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS REGULATIONS TO DESIGNATE PARTS OF MICHIGAN AS AN ACCREDITED-FREE ZONE

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2005–The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending its bovine tuberculosis regulations to designate the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as an accredited-free zone.

With regard to cattle and bison, state animal health officials in Michigan have demonstrated that the Upper Peninsula meets the criteria for accredited-free status set forth in APHIS’ regulations.

The Upper Peninsula has zero percent prevalence of TB-affected cattle or bison herds and has had no findings of TB in any cattle or bison herds for the last five years. Additionally, the state has complied with the conditions of the Uniform Methods and Rules (UMR).

Recognizing the Upper Peninsula as an accredited-free zone will allow cattle producers in that area to move their cattle without a TB test, saving time and money. This action will relieve restrictions that are no longer warranted, and facilitate further efforts of the national TB eradication program.

APHIS classifies each state according to its level of occurrence of bovine TB. There are five classification designations: accredited free; modified accredited advanced; modified accredited, accredited preparatory and nonaccredited. Tuberculosis is a disease caused by the organism Mycobacterium bovis, which infects cattle worldwide and is of major concern to the U.S. cattle industry. Bovine TB is a contagious, infectious and communicable disease. It affects cattle, bison, deer, elk, goats and other species including humans. Bovine TB in infected animals and humans manifests itself in lesions of the lung, bone and other body parts, causes weight loss and general debilitation and can be fatal.

This interim rule became effective Sept 30 and is scheduled for publication in the Oct. 6 Federal Register.

Consideration will be given to comments received on or before Dec. 5. Send an original and three copies of postal mail or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. 05-035- 1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. If you wish to submit a comment using the Internet, go to the Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov and, in the “Search for Open

Regulation” box, select “Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service” from the agency drop-down menu, then click on “Submit.” In the Docket ID column, select APHIS-2005-0094 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically.

Comments are posted on the Regulaitons.gov Web site and may also be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th St. and Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. To facilitate entry into the comment reading room, please call (202) 690 2817.

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