<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-06-09-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>0579-AC68</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>200910</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>0579</CODE>
            <NAME>Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>APHIS</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>0500</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Agriculture</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>USDA</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Importation of Bovines and Bovine Products</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[This rulemaking would amend the regulations regarding the importation of bovines and bovine products. Under this rulemaking, countries would be classified as either negligible risk, controlled risk, or undetermined risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Some commodities would be allowed importation into the United States regardless of the BSE classification of the country of export. Other commodities would be subject to importation restrictions or prohibitions based on the type of commodity and the BSE classification of the country. The criteria for country classification and commodity import would be closely aligned with those of the World Organization for Animal Health.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Other Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Proposed Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>9 CFR 92 to 96</CFR>
            <CFR>9 CFR 98</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>7 USC 450</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>7 USC 1622</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>7 USC 7701 to 7772</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>7 USC 8301 to 8317</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>21 USC 136 and 136a</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>31 USC 9701</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>Yes</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <RPLAN_INFO>
            <STMT_OF_NEED><![CDATA[We are proposing to amend the regulations after conducting a thorough review of relevant scientific literature and a comprehensive evaluation of the issues and concluding that the proposed changes would continue to guard against the introduction of BSE into the United States, while allowing the importation of additional animals and animal products into this country.]]></STMT_OF_NEED>
            <LEGAL_BASIS><![CDATA[Under the Animal Health Protection Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to promulgate regulations to prevent the introduction into the United States or dissemination of any pest or disease of livestock.]]></LEGAL_BASIS>
            <ALTERNATIVES><![CDATA[We could leave the current bovine regulations unchanged, but maintaining the status quo would not provide an opportunity to apply the latest scientific evidence to our BSE-related import conditions. Another alternative--modifying the BSE regulations related to the importation of bovines and bovine-derived products to precisely match the OIE guidelines without allowing for modification deemed necessary by APHIS--would not allow APHIS to independently interpret the scientific literature or reflect current USDA regulations and policies. Making no changes to the current regulations that govern the importation of cervids and camelids would perpetuate an unnecessary constraint on trade in those commodities, because cervids and camelids pose an extremely low BSE risk.]]></ALTERNATIVES>
            <COSTS_AND_BENEFITS><![CDATA[Undetermined.]]></COSTS_AND_BENEFITS>
            <RISKS><![CDATA[APHIS has concluded that the proposed changes would continue to guard against the introduction of BSE into the United States.]]></RISKS>
        </RPLAN_INFO>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>12/00/2009</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM Comment Period End</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>02/00/2010</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <ADDITIONAL_INFO>Additional information about APHIS and its programs is available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.</ADDITIONAL_INFO>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>Yes</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>Businesses</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Federal</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <PRINT_PAPER>Yes</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>Yes</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Christopher</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Robinson</LAST_NAME>
                <TITLE>Senior Staff Veterinarian, Technical Trade Services, National Center for Import and Export, VS</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>0579</CODE>
                    <NAME>Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>APHIS</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>301 851-3300</PHONE>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>4700 River Road, Unit 40,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Riverdale</CITY>
                    <STATE>MD</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20737-1231</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
