Change in Disease Status of Portugal Because of BSE

Resumen

We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that amended the regulations by adding Portugal to the list of countries where bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) exists, because the disease has been detected in native cattle in that country. The interim rule prohibited or restricted the importation of certain fresh, chilled, and frozen meat, and certain other animal products and animal byproducts from ruminants which have been in Portugal. The interim rule was necessary to reduce the risk that BSE could be introduced into the United States.