USDA PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE RULES

USDA PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE RULES    The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed to amend Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s authority to pay 100 percent of the costs to buy, destroy and dispose of animals infected by foot-and-mouth disease, and other related clean-up expenses.
   The United States has had no cases of foot-and-mouth disease since 1929. However, the severe outbreak of the disease in the United Kingdom and other countries last year has encouraged the USDA to conduct an internal review of its regulations.
   “These changes would provide us with much needed flexibility to respond effectively to animal disease emergencies,” said Bill Hawks, undersecretary of agriculture for marketing and regulatory programs at the USDA.