CSMS Message: 01-001010

TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.

FROM : CARLA DONOFRIO

SUBJECT : USDA MESSAGE RE:BSE

DATE : 09/21/2001

PLEASE NOTE: THIS MESSAGE IS BEING ISSUED VIA U.S. CUSTOMS
ADMINISTRATIVE BULLETIN BOARDS AT THE REQUEST OF U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE, ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE.
QUESTIONS SHOULD BE REFERRED TO THE CONTACTS REFLECTED IN THIS
MESSAGE.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2001

SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW POLICY OF CERTIFICATIONS FOR
ANIMAL MATERIALS ENTERING THE UNITED STATES FROM
COUNTRIES NOT AFFECTED BY BOVINE SPONGIFORM
ENCEPHALOPATHY

TO : IMPORTERS, BROKERS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES

AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
(APHIS) IS TAKING EVERY PRECAUTION AGAINST THE INTRODUCTION OF
BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) INTO THE UNITED STATES.
ACCORDINGLY, VETERINARY SERVICES (VS) ON AUGUST 14, 2001,
ANNOUNCED ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS TO BE ENACTED THAT WILL ENSURE
PRODUCTS WHICH ARE PROHIBITED FROM BEING IMPORTED INTO THE
UNITED STATES DUE TO THEIR ORIGIN ARE NOT MOVED TO ANOTHER
COUNTRY AND THEN TO THE UNITED STATES. THIS POLICY IS AVAILABLE
IN A RECENTLY PUBLISHED INTERIM RULE THAT REVISES TITLE 19, CODE
OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 95.4.

THIS NEW POLICY REQUIRES THAT ALL SHIPMENTS OF PROCESSED OR
RENDERED ANIMAL MATERIALS FROM A COUNTRY NOT AFFECTED WITH BSE
BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE SIGNED BY A
VETERINARIAN OF THE AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANIMAL HEALTH IN THE
EXPORTING REGION. THE MATERIALS COVERED UNDER THIS REQUIREMENT
INCLUDE BULK SHIPMENTS OF PROCESSED ANIMAL PROTEINS, OFFAL,
TANKAGE, PROCESSED FATS AND OILS, GLANDS, UNPROCESSED RUMINANT
FAT TISSUE AND TALLOW, EXCLUDING TALLOW DERIVATIVES. PROCESSED
ANIMAL PROTEINS ARE DEFINED TO MEAN MEAT MEAL, BONE MEAL, MEAT
AND BONE MEAL, BLOOD MEAL, DRIED PLASMA AND OTHER BLOOD
PRODUCTS, HYDROLYZED PROTEINS, POULTRY MEAL, FEATHER MEAL, FISH
MEAL, AND OTHER SIMILAR PRODUCTS.

THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION:

- THE ANIMAL SPECIES FROM WHICH THE MATERIAL WAS
DERIVED;
- THE LOCATION OF THE FACILITY IN WHICH THE MATERIAL WAS
PROCESSED;
- A STATEMENT CERTIFYING THAT THE MATERIAL WAS DERIVED
ONLY FROM ANIMALS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN IN ANY REGION
LISTED IN TITLE 9,CFR PART 94.18(A);
- A STATEMENT CERTIFYING THAT THE MATERIAL DID NOT
ORIGINATE IN, AND WAS
NEVER STORED, RENDERED, OR OTHERWISE PROCESSED IN A
REGION LISTED IN
TITLE 9, CFR PART 94.18(A); AND
- A STATEMENT CERTIFYING THAT THE MATERIAL WAS NOT
OTHERWISE PHYSICALLY
ASSOCIATED WITH A FACILITY LOCATED IN A REGION LISTED
IN TITLE 9, CFR PART
94.18(A).

THE REGIONS LIST IN TITLE 9, CFR 94.18(A) SHOULD BE LISTED ON
THE CERTIFICATION. THE LIST OF THESE COUNTRIES CAN BE FOUND AT
HTTP:WWW.APHIS.USDA.GOVNCIE.COUNTRY.HTML.

THIS POLICY WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AT ALL U.S. PORTS OF ENTRY
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 12, 2001. THIS TIMEFRAME WAS ESTABLISHED TO
ALLOW IMPORTERS SUFFICIENT TIME TO MAKE THE NECESSARY
ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE THAT SHIPMENTS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE
APPROPRIATE CERTIFICATE. ON THIS DATE, ANY SHIPMENT COVERED BY
THIS NEW POLICY WILL BE REFUSED ENTRY IF NOT ACCOMPANIED BY HE
APPROPRIATE CERTIFICATE AND CERTIFICATION STATEMENTS. FOR THOSE
SHIPMENTS THAT ARE REFUSED ENTRY. IMPORTERS WILL BE GIVEN THE
OPTION OF RE-EXPORT OR DESTRUCTION UNDER APHIS SUPERVISION.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION IN ENSURING THAT THE UNITED
STATES IS KEPT FREE OF BSE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
CONCERNING THIS NEW POLICY CONTACT VS, NATIONAL CENTER FOR
IMPORT AND EXPORT AT 301-734-3277, OR PLANT PROTECTION AND
QUARANTINE'S VETERINARY MEDICAL OFFICE AT 301-734-7633.

-S-

LEE ANN THOMAS
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
PLANT PROTECTION AND QUARANTINE
VETERINARY MEDICAL OFFICE