USDA amends meat import rules for U.K.’s Surrey County

USDA amends meat import rules for U.K.Æs Surrey County The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said it will amend regulations governing the imports of certain animals, meats and other related products into the United States by restoring Surrey County, England, to its list of world regions that are considered free of rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease, effective Jan. 8.
   However, these products from Surrey County will still be subject to certain restrictions because of its proximity to or trading relations with FMD-affected regions.
   In August 2007, APHIS placed import restrictions on Surrey County following confirmation of FMD. As a result of the interim rule, the import of any ruminant or swine, as well as fresh (chilled or frozen) meat or animal products of these animals, from Surrey County into the United States was restricted.
   APHIS said it 'recognizes that the United Kingdom immediately responded to the detection of the disease in Surrey County to ensure that it did not spread beyond its borders.'
   FMD is a contagious livestock disease. While it's not transmissible from animals to humans, it does have serious implications for animal agriculture in any country where the disease is detected.