APHIS Delays Enforcement of Certification for CEM Imported Horses

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is delaying enforcement of its March 25, 2011 interim rule which amended the regulations regarding the importation of horses from countries affected with contagious equine metritis (CEM) by incorporating an additional certification requirement for imported horses 731 days of age or less and adding new testing protocols for test mares and imported stallions and mares more than 731 days of age. That interim rule became effective on March 25, 2011; however, APHIS is delaying the enforcement of the interim rule until July 25, 2011.