APHIS Adopts More Flexible Regulations on Livestock Exports

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Jan. 20 issued a final rule that removes requirements for exporting of live animals, hatching eggs, and animal germplasm. The final rule (here) eliminates "most of the requirements for export health certifications, tests, and treatments from the regulations," instead "directing exporters to follow the requirements of the importing country regarding such processes and procedure,” said APHIS. Export health certificate requirements remain in place for livestock, and for eggs and germplasm if mandated by the importing country. APHIS will also allow, in some cases, pre-export inspection to occur at facilities other than an export inspection facility at the port of export. The final rule takes effect Feb. 19.