Page:News releases and other news material - United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Public Affairs. (IA CAT10619378046).pdf/14

Page 12 Release No. 0016.94 Kendra Pratt (301) 436-4898 Ron Hall (202) 720-3310 USDA TO REQUIRE UNIFORM EARTAGS ON IMPORTED MEXICAN CATTLE

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6--The U.S. Department of Agriculture is now requiring that all cattle imported from Mexico be identified with numbered blue eartags issued by the Mexican government.

At the request of Mexican officials, the amended regulations state that the official eartags are issued by the Secretaria de Agricultura y Recursos Hidraulicos (SARH), which is the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources.

This uniform eartag identification will help to ensure that APHIS can trace all imported cattle back to their original herds in Mexico. Previously, the import regulations did not standardize either the color or source of the eartags, although numbered metal tags have been required for identifying cattle imported into this country from Mexico since 1990.

Each year, about one million Mexican cattle are imported into the United States. About 99 percent of cattle imported are young steers consigned to feedlots before slaughter.

The final rule was published in the Dec. 28 Federal Register.

Release No. 0017.94 Kendra Pratt (301) 436-4898 Ron Hall (202) 720-3310 USDA TO CHARGE USER FEES FOR VETERINARY SERVICES PROVIDED FOR IMPORT & EXPORT

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6--The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that on Jan. 21, 1994, it will begin charging user fees for veterinary services it provides directly to importers and exporters of animals, animal products and biological materials.

The 1990 Farm Bill authorized USDA to collect fees to recover the costs of services it provides to carry out provisions of federal animal quarantine laws that relate to the importation, entry and exportation of animals, articles or means of conveyance. USDA'SUSDA's [sic] Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service conducts inspections and tests of animals and animal products moving internationally to prevent the spread of pests and diseases. These import/export-related user fees for veterinary services are expected to save taxpayers an estimated $3.4 to $4.5 million each year.

These fees will be charged to individuals receiving various USDA services, including the following:
 * --Import-related inspections and services provided at ports along the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada;

--Inspections and approval of facilities importing animals, animal products or biological materials;

--Inspections and processing of animals and animal products at U.S. ports of entry;

--Approval of slaughter establishments;

--Inspections of pet birds entering the United States and supervision of the quarantine and testing of these birds (except pet birds from Canada);

--Processing paperwork and endorsing export and import permits for germplasm; and

--Processing releases of animals and animal products from agricultural quarantine.

This final rule was published in the Dec. 22 Federal Register.

The final Regulatory Impact Analysis of these user fees is available for public review at USDA, Room 1141 South Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing access to the document are encouraged to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry to the comment reading room.