[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 220 (Thursday, November 14, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68327-68331]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27285]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 220 / Thursday, November 14, 2013 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 68327]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
9 CFR Part 94
[Docket No. APHIS-2008-0085]
RIN 0579-AD17
Importation of Ovine Meat From Uruguay
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are amending the regulations governing the importation of
certain animals, meat, and other animal products to allow, under
certain conditions, the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) ovine
meat from Uruguay. A risk assessment that we have prepared indicates
that fresh (chilled or frozen) ovine meat can safely be imported from
Uruguay under these conditions. This action will allow the importation
of fresh ovine meat from Uruguay into the United States while
continuing to protect the United States against the introduction of
foot-and-mouth disease.
DATES: Effective Date: November 29, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Silvia Kreindel, Senior Staff
Veterinarian, Regionalization Evaluation Services Staff, VS, APHIS,
4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-3313.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under the Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA, 7 U.S.C. 8301 et
seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture may prohibit or restrict the
importation of any animal or article if the Secretary determines that
the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the introduction
into or dissemination within the United States of any pest or disease
of livestock.
Pursuant to this Act, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
regulates the importation of animals and animal products into the
United States to guard against the introduction of animal diseases not
currently present or prevalent in this country. The regulations in 9
CFR part 94 (referred to below as the regulations) prohibit or restrict
the importation of specified animals and animal products to prevent the
introduction into the United States of various animal diseases,
including rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). These are
dangerous and destructive communicable diseases of ruminants and swine.
Section 94.1 of the regulations contains criteria for APHIS
recognition of foreign regions as free of rinderpest and FMD. Section
94.11 restricts the importation of ruminants and swine and their meat
and certain other products from regions that are declared free of
rinderpest and FMD but that nonetheless present a disease risk because
of the regions' proximity to or trading relationships with regions
affected with rinderpest or FMD. Regions APHIS has declared free of FMD
and/or rinderpest, and regions declared free of FMD and rinderpest that
are subject to the restrictions in Sec. 94.11, are listed on the APHIS
Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_disease_status.shtml.
Because vaccination for FMD may not provide complete protection to
livestock, and because it can be difficult to quickly detect FMD in
animals vaccinated for FMD, APHIS does not recognize regions that
vaccinate animals for FMD as free of the disease. Uruguay vaccinates
cattle for FMD. Therefore, although Uruguay has not had a case of FMD
since 2001, APHIS does not recognize Uruguay as a region free of FMD.
Based on a final rule effective and published in the Federal Register
on May 29, 2003 (68 FR 31940-31949, Docket No. 02-109-3), however,
APHIS allows the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from
Uruguay under certain conditions that mitigate the FMD risks associated
with this product. The conditions are set out in Sec. 94.22 of the
regulations.
In a proposed rule \1\ published in the Federal Register on
February 24, 2011 (76 FR 10266-10269, Docket No. APHIS-2008-0085), we
proposed to also allow the importation of fresh ovine (sheep) meat from
Uruguay under conditions identical to those currently required for the
importation of fresh beef, except for one change noted below. The
proposed conditions were as follows:
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\1\ To view the proposed rule and the comments we received, go
to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2008-0085.
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The meat is from animals that have been born, raised, and
slaughtered in Uruguay.
If FMD is detected anywhere in Uruguay, the export of beef
and ovine meat from all of Uruguay to the United States is prohibited
until at least 12 months have elapsed since the depopulation, cleaning,
and disinfection of the last infected premises. [The current
requirement for fresh beef is that FMD has not been diagnosed in
Uruguay within the previous 12 months.]
The meat came from animals that originated from premises
where FMD has not been present during the lifetime of any animals
slaughtered for the export of meat to the United States.
The meat came from animals that were moved directly from
the premises of origin to the slaughtering establishment without any
contact with other animals.
The meat came from animals that received ante-mortem and
post-mortem veterinary inspections, paying particular attention to the
head and feet, at the slaughtering establishment, with no evidence
found of vesicular disease.
The meat consists only of parts of the animal's carcass
that are, by standard practice, placed in a chiller for maturation
after slaughter. No part of the animal's heads, feet, hooves, or
internal organs may be exported (and for bovines, the hump is also
excluded).
All bone and visually identifiable blood clots and
lymphoid tissue have been removed from the meat.
The meat has not been in contact with meat from regions
other than those APHIS recognizes as free of FMD.
The meat came from carcasses that were allowed to maturate
at 40 to 50 [deg]F (4 to 10 [deg]C) for a minimum of 36 hours after
slaughter and that reached a pH of 5.8 or less in the loin muscle at
the end
[[Page 68328]]
of the maturation period. Measurements for pH must be taken at the
middle of both longissimus dorsi muscles. Any carcass in which the pH
does not reach 5.8 or less may be allowed to maturate an additional 24
hours and be retested, and, if the carcass still has not reached a pH
of 5.8 or less after 60 hours, the meat from the carcass may not be
exported to the United States.
An authorized veterinary official of the Government of
Uruguay certifies on the foreign meat inspection certificate that the
above conditions have been met.
The establishment in which the animals are slaughtered
allows periodic on-site evaluation and subsequent inspection of its
facilities, records, and operations by an APHIS representative.
We solicited comments concerning the proposed rule for 60 days
ending April 25, 2011. We received 10 comments by that date. They were
from organizations representing Uruguayan meat packers, meat exporters,
and sheep producers; Uruguay's Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and
Fisheries (MGAP); organizations representing meat importers within the
United States and the U.S. sheep industry; and several private
citizens.
Four of the commenters supported the rule as written. Two
commenters objected to the proposal. The remaining commenters favored
the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) ovine meat from Uruguay
but requested clarifications or modifications to the rule or its
supporting documents. The issues raised by commenters are discussed
below, by topic.
The Risk Assessment
One commenter requested that we reexamine our risk assessment that
we prepared regarding the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen)
ovine meat from Uruguay. The same commenter and one other requested
that we conduct an additional site visit. They expressed concern that
changes may have occurred in Uruguay's risk factors for FMD and in
Uruguay's ability to prevent and mitigate FMD risk since we completed
the risk assessment. Neither commenter mentioned any specific changes
that should be investigated. One commenter also urged APHIS to specify
a schedule requiring follow-up and ongoing reporting from Uruguay on
FMD risk and the implementation of risk mitigation measures.
We have reevaluated the information in the assessment and have
determined that it still provides an appropriate basis for our
conclusion that the FMD risk from importing fresh (chilled or frozen)
maturated and deboned ovine meat from Uruguay is low and that such meat
may be safely imported into the United States. Based on our review of
the assessment, we do not think an additional site visit is warranted
prior to finalizing the proposed rule.
Regarding the need for ongoing reporting from Uruguay, as part of
the implementation of this final rule, we will require MGAP to submit
an operational workplan, subject to APHIS' approval, that details
activities that MGAP will carry out to meet the requirements of the
regulations. Additionally, paragraph (k) of Sec. 94.22 requires the
establishment in Uruguay in which the bovines and sheep are slaughtered
to allow an APHIS representative to make periodic on-site evaluations
and subsequent inspections of its facilities, records, and operations.
MGAP's operational workplan will have to specifically authorize the on-
site evaluations and inspections of facilities, records, and
operations. APHIS regulations in 9 CFR part 92 also address the
potential need for APHIS to obtain additional information from a region
after APHIS has granted the region animal health status. In particular,
under Sec. 92.2(g), a region may be required to submit additional
information pertaining to animal health status or allow APHIS to
conduct additional information collection activities in order for that
region to maintain its animal health status. We believe these
provisions, collectively, will enable APHIS to satisfactorily monitor
the fresh meat import program.
Prohibitions on the Importation of Meat Following an FMD Outbreak
One commenter stated that the proposed prohibition on the export of
fresh beef or ovine meat to the United States until 12 months after
depopulation, cleaning, and disinfection of the last premises involved
in an FMD outbreak does not merely clarify existing policy, as APHIS
stated in its proposed rule. Rather, since the current requirement for
fresh beef from Uruguay is 12 months following the last diagnosis of
FMD, the proposed change would impose new, more stringent requirements
for the importation of beef from Uruguay. The commenter also stated
that, to be consistent with standards of the World Organization for
Animal Health (OIE) and the principle of regionalization, the
prohibition on exports should be limited to 6 months and apply only to
exports from restricted zones for FMD that would be established by MGAP
in response to a limited outbreak in Uruguay, rather than to exports
from anywhere in the country.
FMD is a significant disease of livestock, and its introduction
into the United States could have a lasting deleterious effect on the
U.S. agricultural economy. In regions that vaccinate animals for FMD,
it can be difficult to detect the disease, and APHIS believes that
sufficient time must pass to ensure that ruminant products exported
from the region will not be a vector of the FMD virus. Depopulation,
cleaning, and disinfection of infected premises are standard practices
in stamping out FMD. After considering this comment, though, we have
decided that there is no need to build this language into the rule. If
a country experiences an outbreak of FMD and there is no diagnosis of
the disease in a 12-month period following the last case, APHIS
considers this to be sufficient reason to conclude that the disease did
not spread. Therefore, we will leave the provision as it is currently
worded in the provisions for fresh beef: Foot-and-mouth disease has not
been diagnosed in Uruguay within the previous 12 months.
Consistent with the OIE principle of regionalization, APHIS
regulations in 9 CFR part 92 explain how a country may request APHIS
recognition of regions within its borders. In requesting to export
fresh (chilled or frozen) ovine meat to the United States, Uruguay did
not ask APHIS to recognize restricted zones as regions in the event of
an FMD outbreak, or provide sufficient information for us to evaluate
the risk of disease spread from such zones in order to allow for
regionalization at that level.
The Maturation Process
One commenter questioned the need for a minimum 36-hour maturation
period. Noting that the key indicator for ensuring deactivation of the
FMD virus is a pH of 6.0 or lower, the commenter stated that if a pH of
5.8 is reached within 24 hours, then the virus will be deactivated and
there is no need for an additional holding period. The commenter stated
that the 36-hour holding period creates logistical problems for the
packinghouses, which must hold carcasses in chillers, and is
inconsistent with the requirements of other countries that apply a pH
requirement of either 5.8 or 6.0, with a required holding period of 24
hours, for the export of Uruguayan meat to their markets. The commenter
urged to require a minimum holding period of 24 hours.
We agree with the commenter that the acidification necessary to
inactivate the FMD virus can be achieved within 24 hours and are
modifying Sec. 94.22(i) in this final rule accordingly. Twenty-four
[[Page 68329]]
hours will be the minimum time required for maturation. If the required
pH is not achieved during 24 hours, the meat may continue to maturate
for up to an additional 24 hours (48 hours total). Any meat that has
not achieved the required pH level in that amount of time may not be
exported to the United States.
We have also determined that a pH lower than 6.0 in the longissimus
dorsi, in conjunction with other conditions included in this final
rule, is a good indicator of FMD virus inactivation. Our review of the
literature revealed that acidification at that level is sufficient to
inactivate FMD virus in muscle tissue of viremic cattle. Furthermore,
over 30 years of epidemiological data show that there is no evidence
that importation of fresh beef that reached a pH of less than 6.0 under
conditions that are already incorporated into the regulations and that
are analogous to those contained in this final rule (e.g., antemortem
and postmortem inspection, lymph node removal, deboning, and
maturation) have been associated with outbreaks of FMD. Therefore, in
Sec. 94.22(i) of this final rule, the meat will be required to reach a
pH of less than 6.0, rather than 5.8 or less, as we had originally
proposed.
Removal of Bones
One commenter stated that there is no basis for limiting approval
for export of ovine meat to boneless products because there has been no
evidence of FMD in sheep in Uruguay since the country requested access
for fresh beef exports in 2003.
We proposed to require that all bone, as well as visually
identifiable blood clots and lymphoid tissue, be removed from fresh
ovine meat prior to export to the United States from Uruguay. The same
requirement has been in place for fresh beef exported from Uruguay.
As we noted in both our risk assessment and in the proposed rule,
although the last case of FMD in Uruguay was in 2001, FMD is endemic in
areas of South America surrounding Uruguay, and there is, accordingly,
a risk that FMD will be reintroduced into the country. Uruguay
vaccinates cattle for FMD in recognition of that risk. Each of the
conditions we proposed, including this one, addresses a critical point
in the pre-export process, from selection of an animal for slaughter to
carcass processing and maturation, where FMD risk can be mitigated. The
conditions were selected based on known modes of transmission and
physical characteristics of the FMD virus. Maturation of the meat
addresses the risk, however small, of FMD virus being present in the
animal at slaughter. The removal of bones and visually identifiable
blood clots and lymphoid tissue is necessary because any FMD virus
these parts might potentially harbor may not be inactivated by the
maturation process.
Certification by Veterinary Officials in Uruguay
One commenter expressed concern about our proposed requirement that
an authorized veterinary official of the Government of Uruguay certify
that all conditions for the importation of beef and ovine meat have
been met. The commenter stated that veterinary officials could be
bribed or otherwise induced to falsely certify meat as meeting the
conditions for importation, which could pose a risk of introducing FMD
into the United States.
As explained in response to another comment, APHIS will be
monitoring the fresh meat export program. If we determine that
inspection certificates are being deliberately falsified, we may take
measures pursuant to our authority under the AHPA to ensure that beef
or ovine meat from Uruguay does not present a risk of introducing FMD
into the United States. Such measures may include prohibiting the
importation of fresh beef and ovine meat from Uruguay.
Labeling of Ovine Meat
One commenter asked whether ovine meat imported as proposed would
be labeled and marketed in the United States as ``fresh.'' The
commenter stated that, because the product would have been chilled or
frozen, it would not meet the average U.S. consumer's definition of
``fresh'' and should not be marketed as such. The commenter also asked
whether ovine meat imported from Uruguay into the United States would
be subject to country-of-origin labeling.
As used in the regulations, the term ``fresh'' simply means that
the meat is imported without having been cooked or cured as otherwise
required of beef or ovine meat from regions not recognized as free of
FMD. APHIS does not regulate the marketing of meat in the United
States. Regarding country-of-origin labeling, the Country of Origin
Labeling (COOL) law requires retailers to notify their customers of the
country of origin for all commodities covered under this law. Muscle
cuts of beef and lamb, as well as ground beef and ground lamb, are
covered. The COOL law is enforced by USDA's Agricultural Marketing
Service and Food Safety and Inspection Service. The COOL law is not
related to animal health, but rather, is a consumer information
program, and thus has no bearing on this rulemaking.
Goat Meat
One commenter expressed concern that inspectors may not know the
difference between a goat kid carcass and a lamb kid carcass.
Establishments in Uruguay that prepare ovine meat for export
slaughter the sheep. Live sheep are easily distinguishable from live
goats. It is unlikely that a facility would slaughter a goat and
present its meat as ovine meat. As discussed previously, APHIS will be
monitoring the fresh meat export program, including through on-site
evaluations and inspections of facilities, records, and operations.
Chronic Wasting Disease
One commenter objected to the lack of inspection for chronic
wasting disease.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform
encephalopathy of cervids (members of Cervidae, the deer family).
Species known to be susceptible to CWD via natural routes of
transmission include Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer,
black-tailed deer, and moose. There is no evidence that CWD is
transmissible under natural conditions to any other ruminant species,
including cattle and sheep, and, therefore, no need for any CWD-related
safeguards.
Miscellaneous
We have made minor editorial changes to the regulatory text in
Sec. 94.22 for clarity. These include replacing ``and'' with ``or'' in
the following phrases: ``beef and ovine meat,'' ``bovines and sheep,''
and ``bovine parts and ovine parts,'' and changing ``infected
premises'' to ``affected premises.''
Therefore, for the reasons given in the proposed rule and in this
document, we are adopting the proposed rule as a final rule, with the
changes discussed in this document.
Effective Date
This is a substantive rule that relieves restrictions and, pursuant
to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553, may be made effective less than 30
days after publication in the Federal Register. This rule will allow
the importation of fresh ovine meat from Uruguay into the United States
under conditions that will continue to protect the United States
against the introduction of FMD. We have determined that approximately
2 weeks are needed to ensure that APHIS and Department of Homeland
Security, Bureau of Customs and Border
[[Page 68330]]
Protection, personnel at ports of entry receive official notice of this
change in the regulations. Therefore, the Administrator of the Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this rule
should be effective 15 days after publication in the Federal Register.
Executive Order 12866 and the Regulatory Flexibility Act
This final rule has been determined to be not significant for the
purposes of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been reviewed
by the Office of Management and Budget.
In accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, we have analyzed
the potential economic effects of this action on small entities. The
analysis is summarized below. Copies of the full analysis are available
on the Regulations.gov Web site (see footnote 1 in this document for a
link to Regulations.gov) or by contacting the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
This rule will allow the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen)
lamb and mutton from Uruguay under certain conditions. U.S. entities
potentially affected by the rule would be sheep farmers and
establishments primarily engaged in processing meat and meat products
from purchased meat, most of which are small entities under Small
Business Administration standards.
U.S. production of lamb and mutton averaged 79,561 metric tons (MT)
over the 5 years, 2006-2010. Over this same period, imports averaged
almost 75,100 MT (equivalent to about 94 percent of U.S. production).
Uruguay expects its annual lamb and mutton exports to the United States
not to exceed 2,000 MT. This quantity is equivalent to less than 3
percent of U.S. lamb and mutton imports and less than 2 percent of U.S.
domestic supply of these commodities. A percentage of the imports from
Uruguay are likely to displace some of the lamb and mutton imported
from existing foreign suppliers, further dampening any possible effects
for U.S. businesses.
Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action will
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities.
Executive Order 12988
This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988,
Civil Justice Reform. This rule: (1) Preempts all State and local laws
and regulations that are inconsistent with this rule; (2) has no
retroactive effect; and (3) does not require administrative proceedings
before parties may file suit in court challenging this rule.
National Environmental Policy Act
An environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact
have been prepared for this final rule. The environmental assessment
provides a basis for the conclusion that the importation of ovine meat
from Uruguay under the conditions specified in the rule will not have a
significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Based on
the finding of no significant impact, the Administrator of the Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that an
environmental impact statement need not be prepared.
The environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact
were prepared in accordance with: (1) The National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2)
regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality for implementing
the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), (3) USDA
regulations implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS' NEPA
Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part 372).
The environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact
may be viewed on the Regulations.gov Web site.\2\ Copies of the
environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact are also
available for public inspection at USDA, room 1141, South Building,
14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing
to inspect copies are requested to call ahead on (202) 799-7039 to
facilitate entry into the reading room. In addition, copies may be
obtained by writing to the individual listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
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\2\ Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-
2008-0085. The environmental assessment and finding of no
significant impact will appear in the resulting list of documents.
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Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3501 et seq.), the information collection or recordkeeping requirements
included in this rule have been approved by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) under OMB control number 0579-0372.
E-Government Act Compliance
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is committed to
compliance with the E-Government Act to promote the use of the Internet
and other information technologies, to provide increased opportunities
for citizen access to Government information and services, and for
other purposes. For information pertinent to E-Government Act
compliance related to this rule, please contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles,
APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2908.
List of Subjects in 9 CFR Part 94
Animal diseases, Imports, Livestock, Meat and meat products, Milk,
Poultry and poultry products, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Accordingly, we are amending 9 CFR part 94 as follows:
PART 94--RINDERPEST, FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE, NEWCASTLE DISEASE,
HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA, AFRICAN SWINE FEVER, CLASSICAL
SWINE FEVER, SWINE VESICULAR DISEASE, AND BOVINE SPONGIFORM
ENCEPHALOPATHY: PROHIBITED AND RESTRICTED IMPORTATIONS
0
1. The authority citation for part 94 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 450, 7701-7772, 7781-7786, and 8301-8317; 21
U.S.C. 136 and 136a; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4.
0
2. Section 94.1 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(4) and the
introductory text of paragraph (d) to read as follows:
Sec. 94.1 Regions where rinderpest or foot-and-mouth disease exists;
importations prohibited.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(4) Except as provided in Sec. 94.22 for fresh (chilled or frozen)
beef and ovine meat from Uruguay.
* * * * *
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this part, fresh (chilled or
frozen) meat of ruminants or swine raised and slaughtered in a region
free of foot-and-mouth disease and rinderpest, as designated in
paragraph (a) of this section, and fresh (chilled or frozen) beef and
ovine meat exported from Uruguay in accordance with Sec. 94.22, which
during shipment to the United States enters a port or otherwise
transits a region where rinderpest or foot-and-mouth disease exists,
may be imported provided that all of the following conditions are met:
* * * * *
0
3. Section 94.22 is revised to read as follows:
[[Page 68331]]
Sec. 94.22 Restrictions on importation of beef and ovine meat from
Uruguay.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this part, fresh (chilled
or frozen) beef and ovine meat from Uruguay may be exported to the
United States under the following conditions:
(a) The meat is beef or ovine meat from animals that have been
born, raised, and slaughtered in Uruguay.
(b) Foot-and-mouth disease has not been diagnosed in Uruguay within
the previous 12 months.
(c) The meat comes from bovines or sheep that originate from
premises where foot-and-mouth disease has not been present during the
lifetime of any bovines and sheep slaughtered for the export of beef
and ovine meat to the United States.
(d) The meat comes from bovines or sheep that were moved directly
from the premises of origin to the slaughtering establishment without
any contact with other animals.
(e) The meat comes from bovines or sheep that received ante-mortem
and post-mortem veterinary inspections, paying particular attention to
the head and feet, at the slaughtering establishment, with no evidence
found of vesicular disease.
(f) The meat consists only of bovine parts or ovine parts that are,
by standard practice, part of the animal's carcass that is placed in a
chiller for maturation after slaughter. The bovine and ovine parts that
may not be imported include all parts of the head, feet, hump, hooves,
and internal organs.
(g) All bone and visually identifiable blood clots and lymphoid
tissue have been removed from the meat.
(h) The meat has not been in contact with meat from regions other
than those listed as free of foot-and-mouth disease and rinderpest
under Sec. 94.1(a).
(i) The meat comes from carcasses that were allowed to maturate at
40 to 50 [deg]F (4 to 10 [deg]C) for a minimum of 24 hours after
slaughter and that reached a pH below 6.0 in the loin muscle at the end
of the maturation period. Measurements for pH must be taken at the
middle of both longissimus dorsi muscles. Any carcass in which the pH
does not reach less than 6.0 may be allowed to maturate an additional
24 hours and be retested, and, if the carcass still has not reached a
pH of less than 6.0 after 48 hours, the meat from the carcass may not
be exported to the United States.
(j) An authorized veterinary official of the Government of Uruguay
certifies on the foreign meat inspection certificate that the above
conditions have been met.
(k) The establishment in which the bovines and sheep are
slaughtered allows periodic on-site evaluation and subsequent
inspection of its facilities, records, and operations by an APHIS
representative.
(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control
number 0579-0372)
Done in Washington, DC, this 7th day of November 2013.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-27285 Filed 11-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P