USDA CHANGES U.K.’s DISEASE STATUS

USDA CHANGES U.K.ÆS DISEASE STATUS    The U.S. Department of Agriculture will add the United Kingdom to its list of regions considered free of foot-and-mouth disease.
   “This rule relieves certain FMD-related prohibitions and restrictions on the importation of ruminants and swine and fresh (chilled or frozen) meat and other products of ruminants and swine into the United States from Great Britain,” USDA said.
   However, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will continue to monitor meat imports from the United Kingdom because of the country’s proximity to or trading relationships with rinderpest or FMD-affected regions.
   APHIS will also continue to prohibit the import of live ruminants from the United Kingdom, due to the known presence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or “mad cow” disease, in that country.
   “Other products derived from ruminants, such as fetal bovine serum, bonemeal, meat-and-bone meal, bloodmeal, offal, fats and glands, are also prohibited from entry, except under special conditions or under USDA permit for scientific or research purposes,” the USDA said.