USDA considers uniform pork import policy for 15 EU members
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has proposed a regulation to establish a uniform policy for imports of live hogs and pork products from 15 European Union member countries.
The agency conducted two studies in recent years that concluded this new policy would be acceptable in its efforts to control the introduction of classical swine fever from overseas sources.
The EU member countries included in the proposed rule are: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. Five other EU member countries — Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom — were already recognized by USDA as being free of classical swine fever.
The USDA will take comments regarding its proposed rule through June 7. For more information, access online: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-7013.htm .