APHIS Finalizes New Standards for Recognizing Foreign 'Compartment' Animal Disease Status

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is finalizing new standards that would allow it to recognize “compartments” for animal disease status in foreign countries, it said in a notice. The final rule is the same as the proposed rule (see 1904030022), it said. “Our process will include information requirements for evaluating the animal health status of a compartment for which a market access request has been submitted,” APHIS said. “Under this rule, we will perform a risk assessment to evaluate the animal health status of a compartment. If after conducting the evaluation, we deem the risk of importing animals or animal products from that compartment to be acceptable, we will publish a Federal Register notice announcing the availability of the risk documentation for public review and comment.” The rule will take effect on March 30.