[NHCOLL-L:5923] Re: USDA proposes changes to rules on import on bovine products

Thu Mar 22 03:29:26 EDT 2012

Dear Ellen,

as far as I know blood / tissue samples on FTA cards are treated by some 
(single) vet authorities as safe alternative, even for BSE risk 
materials, as the cell are inactivated after lysis of cells membranes 
and cell components are  bound to the matrix on the FTA cards. But this 
seems rather to be an exceptional view among vet authorities and not a 
generally accepted method for safe shipping of blood samples (especially 
of birds and cervids).

Enjoy vacation and best regards from Munich!

Dirk

Am 21.03.2012 19:30, schrieb Ellen Paul:
> I apologize. I did not mean to leave people hanging. Just trying to 
> get caught up after returning from vacation.
>
> The primary applicability of this rule to researchers entails the 
> import of blood. It is possible that some of you may also be importing 
> tissue from the particular organs of concern that are covered by this 
> proposed rule. The other issue of concern is the removal of 
> blood/tissue etc. from camelids and cervids from the restrictions 
> pertaining to BSE.
>
> As best I know, there is no approved treatment method for tissue that 
> is derived from animals in BSE regions, but I will ask and get back to 
> everyone.
>
> Ellen
> Ellen Paul
> Executive Director
> The Ornithological Council
> Email:ellen.paul at verizon.net
> Phone (301) 986 8568
> "Providing Scientific Information about Birds"
> http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET"
>
> On 3/20/12 12:42 PM, Dirk Neumann wrote:
>> Dear all,
>>
>> I went just briefly over this, but if I don't got this wrong, then 
>> import of fresh/blood samples (or other fresh samples of bovids or 
>> camelids) are still prohibited ?!?
>>
>> Dirk
>>
>>   29. Section 95.4 is revised to read as follows:
>>
>>
>> Sec.  95.4*Restrictions*  due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy on the
>> importation of processed animal protein, offal, tankage, fat, glands,
>> certain tallow other than tallow derivatives, and serum due to bovine
>> spongiform encephalopathy.
>>
>>      (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (c), (d), (e), (f), or (g) of
>> this section or in Sec.  95.15, any of the materials listed in
>> paragraph (b) of this section derived from animals, or products
>> containing such materials,*are prohibited importation into the United
>> States*  if paragraph (a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(3) of this section applies:
>>      (1) The animals have been in any region listed in paragraph (a)(4)
>> of this section;
>>      (2) The materials have been stored, rendered, or otherwise
>> processed in a region listed in paragraph (a)(4) of this section; or
>>      (3) The materials have otherwise been associated with a facility in
>> a region listed in paragraph (a)(4) of this section.
>>      (4)_*Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
>> Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Federal
>> Republic of Yugoslavia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, the
>> Republic of Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
>> the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Monaco, Norway, Oman, the
>> Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia,
>> Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.*_
>>      (b) Restricted materials: (1) Processed animal protein, tankage,
>> offal, and tallow other than tallow derivatives, unless in the opinion
>> of the Administrator, the tallow cannot be used in feed;
>>      (2) Glands, unprocessed fat tissue, and blood and blood products;
>>      (3) Processed fats and oils, and derivatives of processed animal
>> protein, tankage, and offal; or
>>      (4) Derivatives of glands and*blood and blood products*.
>>      (c) The import prohibition in paragraph (a) of this section does
>> not apply if the following conditions are met prior to importation:
>>      (1) The material is derived from one of the following:
>>      (i) A nonruminant species and the material is not ineligible for
>> importation under Sec.  95.13 or Sec.  95.14;
>>      (ii) Cervids or camelids;
>>      (iii) Bovines, and the material is not ineligible for importation
>> under the conditions of Sec.  95.5, Sec.  95.6, Sec.  95.7, Sec.  95.8,
>> Sec.  95.9, Sec.  95.10, or Sec.  95.12; or
>>
>>
>> Am 20.03.2012 15:59, schrieb Ellen Paul:
>>> Would also lift restrictions on import of cervid, camelid products.
>>>
>>> Full proposed rule rule here:
>>>
>>> http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-03-16/html/2012-6151.htm
>>>
>>> SUMMARY: We are proposing to amend the regulations that govern the
>>> importation of animals and animal products to revise the conditions for
>>> the importation of live bovines and products derived from bovines with
>>> regard to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). We are proposing to
>>> base importation conditions on the inherent risk of BSE infectivity in
>>> specified commodities, as well as on the BSE risk status of the region
>>> from which the commodities originate. We are proposing to establish a
>>> system for classifying regions as to BSE risk that is consistent with
>>> the system employed by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE),
>>> the international standard-setting organization for guidelines related
>>> to animal health. The conditions we are proposing for the importation
>>> of specified commodities are based on internationally accepted
>>> scientific literature and, except in a few instances, are consistent
>>> with guidelines set out in the OIE's Terrestrial Animal Health Code. We
>>> are also proposing to classify certain specified countries as to BSE
>>> risk and are proposing to remove BSE restrictions on the importation of
>>> cervids and camelids and products derived from such animals. We are
>>> proposing to make these amendments after conducting a thorough review
>>> of relevant scientific literature and a comprehensive evaluation of the
>>> issues and concluding that the proposed changes to the regulations
>>> would continue to guard against the introduction of BSE into the United
>>> States, while allowing the importation of additional animals and animal
>>> products into this country. In this document we are also affirming the
>>> position we took in removing the delay of applicability of certain
>>> provisions of the rule entitled ``Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy;
>>> Minimal-Risk Regions and Importation of Commodities,'' published in the
>>> Federal Register on January 4, 2005 (70 FR 460-553). The delay of
>>> applicability was removed in a final rule entitled ``Bovine Spongiform
>>> Encephalopathy; Minimal-Risk Regions; Importation of Live Bovines and
>>> Products Derived from Bovines,'' published in the Federal Register on
>>> September 18, 2007 (72 FR 53314-53379).
>>>
>>> DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May
>>> 15, 2012.
>>>
>>> ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
>>>        Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go tohttp://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail  <http://www.regulations.gov/#%21documentDetail>;D=APHIS-2008-0010-0001.
>>>        Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to
>>> Docket No. APHIS-2008-0010, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
>>> APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
>>> 1238.
>>>      Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may
>>> be viewed athttp://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail  <http://www.regulations.gov/#%21docketDetail>;D=APHIS-2008-
>>> 0010 or in our reading room, which is located in room 1141 of the USDA
>>> South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington,
>>> DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
>>> Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you,
>>> please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
>>>
>>> FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning live
>>> ruminants, contact Dr. Betzaida Lopez, Import Animal Staff
>>> Veterinarian, Technical Trade Services, Animals, Organisms and Vectors,
>>> and Select Agents, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS,
>>> 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-3364.
>>>      For information regarding ruminant products and for other
>>> information regarding this proposed rule, contact Dr. Christopher
>>> Robinson, Assistant Director, Technical Trade Services, Animal
>>> Products, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River
>>> Road Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-3277.
>>>
>>>
>>> -- 
>>> Ellen Paul
>>> Executive Director
>>> The Ornithological Council
>>> Email:ellen.paul at verizon.net
>>> Phone (301) 986 8568
>>> "Providing Scientific Information about Birds"
>>> http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET"
>>

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