REGULATORY:
Notice of availability: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA; We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation of fresh jujube fruit from China into the continental United States. Based on the analysis, we have determined that the application of one or more phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh jujube fruit from China. We are making the pest risk analysis available to the public for review and comment. Info HERE
Notice and request for comments: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.; In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA), invites comments on this information collection for which the Agency intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Info HERE
Final rule: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA; We are amending the scrapie regulations by changing the risk groups and categories established for individual animals and for flocks, increasing the use of genetic testing as a means of assigning risk levels to animals, reducing movement restrictions for animals found to be genetically less susceptible or resistant to scrapie, and simplifying, reducing, or removing certain recordkeeping requirements. We are also providing designated scrapie epidemiologists with more alternatives and flexibility when testing animals in order to determine flock designations under the regulations. We are changing the definition of high-risk animal, which will change the types of animals eligible for indemnity, and to pay higher indemnity for certain pregnant ewes and does and early maturing ewes and does. The changes will also make the identification and recordkeeping requirements for goat owners consistent with those for sheep owners. These changes affect sheep and goat producers, persons who handle sheep and goats in interstate commerce, and State governments. Info HERE
Proposed rule: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to amend its regulations governing the voluntary grading and certification relating to meats, prepared meats, meat products, shell eggs, poultry products, and rabbit products. Proposed amendments include: Changing terminology to scheduled and non-scheduled, billing of holidays, billing excessive hours over and above agreement hours, and removing the administrative volume charge. The proposed amendments would standardize and align billing practices for services provided by the Livestock and Poultry Program. Info HERE