Suzan Holl (301) 743-6464
Jerry Redding (202) 720-6959
USDA AMENDS REGULATIONS REGARDING MINNESOTA’S BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS STATUS
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2006–The U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending the bovine tuberculosis regulations regarding state and zone classifications by removing Minnesota from the list of accredited-free states and adding it to the list of modified accredited advanced states.
Prior to this interim rule, Minnesota was designated as accredited free. However, five tuberculosis-infected herds have recently been detected in Minnesota. Federal regulations require that if two or more cattle herds are detected in an accredited-free state or zone within a 48-month period, the state or zone will be removed from the list of accredited-free states or zones and will be reclassified as modified accredited advanced.
As a result of Minnesota’s reclassification as a modified accredited advanced state, the movement of cattle, bison and captive cervids moving from Minnesota will be restricted, according to federal regulations, in order to prevent the spread of tuberculosis, a contagious and infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis. The disease affects cattle, bison, deer, elk, goats and other warm-blooded species, including humans, and can be fatal.
The interim rule was effective on Jan. 24 and is published in the Jan. 30 Federal Register.
Consideration will be given to comments received on or before March 31. Send an original and three copies of postal mail or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. APHIS-2006-0004, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 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-2006-0004 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
Comments are posted on the Regulations.gov Web siteand may also be viewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th St. and Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:40 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. To facilitate entry into the comment reading room, please call (202) 690-2817.
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