Importation of Animal Products and Byproducts From Countries Where BSE Exists; Removal of Portugal

Resumen

We are amending our regulations by removing Portugal from the list of countries where bovine spongiform encephalopathy exists. Portugal had been added to the list in December 1993 after the disease was diagnosed in cattle in that country. We are now removing Portugal from the list of countries where bovine spongiform encephalopathy exists because epidemiological investigations have revealed that the cattle in which the disease was detected had been imported into Portugal from Great Britain, and that all suspect animals were destroyed. This action will relieve certain prohibitions or restrictions on the importation of certain fresh, chilled, and frozen meat, and certain other animal products and animal byproducts derived from ruminants that have been in Portugal.