Goats Imported From Mexico for Immediate Slaughter; Horse Quarantine Facilities

Samenvatting

We are proposing to revise the regulations concerning importation of animals into the United States to allow importation of goats from Mexico without a health certificate if the goats are imported for immediate slaughter within 2 weeks following importation. Goats imported from Mexico for immediate slaughter would have to be sprayed for ticks at the time of importation, would have to be inspected at the port of entry and found free from evidence of and exposure to both communicable animal disease and fever tick infestation, and would have to be moved directly from the port of entry to a recognized slaughtering establishment in a sealed vehicle. This change would allow goats from Mexico, that do not present a significant risk of spreading animal disease because they are bound for immediate slaughter, to be imported without meeting the health certificate requirements that are needed for goats not bound for immediate slaughter, which present a greater risk of spreading animal disease. We also propose to make a minor change for clarity in our regulations concerning horses subject to quarantine after importation into the United States.