Summary

Pursuant to legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) new rule on the importation of pork from Sonora, Mexico. GAO noted that: (1) the rule would amend regulations concerning the importation of animal products to allow, under certain conditions, the importation of fresh, chilled, or frozen pork from the State of Sonora, Mexico, in keeping with provisions removing unnecessary trade restrictions on such importation; (2) APHIS will require an authorized Mexican government official to certify that pork exported from Sonora has not been in contact with pork from any region having more than a slight risk for hog cholera; and (3) APHIS complied with applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.