USDA AMENDS REGULATIONS ESTABLISHING STANDARDS FOR PRIVATELY OWNED HORSE QUARANTINE FACILITIES
July 1, 2009
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending the regulations pertaining to the importation of horses to establish standards for the approval of permanent, privately owned quarantine facilities for horses. APHIS is taking this action because regional and seasonal demand for quarantine services for horses often exceeds the space available at existing facilities. Allowing imported horses to be quarantined in permanent, privately owned quarantine facilities that meet the criteria established in this rule will facilitate the importation of horses while continuing to protect against the introduction of communicable diseases of horses.
This final rule is scheduled for publication in July 2 Federal Register and becomes effective Aug. 3.
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Note to Reporters: Public notices and other APHIS information are available on the Internet. Go to the APHIS news release page at http://www.aphis.usda.gov and click on the “Newsroom” button. For additional information about this topic contact Cindy Ragin at (301) 734-7280 or by e-mail at cindy.n.ragin@aphis.usda.gov.