In March 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued an Emergency Action interim-rule, which amended some of the regulations regarding the importation of horses from countries affected with contagious equine metritis (CEM). The rule went into effect on the date of publication.
Upon publication of the Emergency Action rule the AHC, along with other organizations and state animal health officials, expressed concern to USDA about the lack of notice provided before the rule was immediately implemented. After hearing those concerns, USDA delayed the implementation of the interim rule for 120 days to accommodate CEM testing facilities and provide more time for those facilities to comply with the rule's new provisions. The interim rule will now take effect on July 22, 2011.
“We strongly support USDA in its efforts to help safeguard the health, welfare, and economic viability of the horse industry from infectious and foreign diseases,” said Dudley Hoskins, Director of Health & Regulatory Affairs for the AHC, “and we appreciate USDA delaying the immediate implementation to allow industry stakeholders to comment on and prepare for possible enhanced requirements.”
A summary of the proposed rule changes include an additional certification stating that weanlings and yearlings have never been bred and enhanced testing requirements in procedures. The proposed rule also provides further specificity to the anatomical location and timeframes associated with the collection and testing of the specimens.
On March 25, 2011, Dr. John Clifford, Deputy Administrator for USDA Veterinary Services explained that the Agency “…strengthened our testing and certification requirements to prevent another incursion of this disease. In 2006 and again in 2008, APHIS identified CEM outbreaks in U.S. horses. Resolving these outbreaks has been expensive and disruptive to the U.S. equine industry. In both outbreaks, the disease appears to have been introduced by imported horses. The disease was not detected during post entry CEM quarantine and testing of the horses.”
“CEM continues to be an area of great concern, and CEM has far reaching health, trade, and economic implications for the entire U.S. equine industry. We look forward to working with USDA to implement the most effective import and quarantine procedures while maintaining business continuity,” said Jay Hickey, President of the American Horse Council.
The AHC will be submitting comments on behalf of the horse industry. Anyone may submit comments directly to USDA. There are several avenues you can use, including an online Federal eRulemaking Portal, all of which can be found within the published proposal. To get a copy of the proposed rule, contact the American Horse Council.