The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a final rule that will remove bovine spongiform encephalopathy-related import restrictions on sheep, goats, and most of their products after best available scientific information indicates that such restrictions are no longer warranted. However, APHIS is adding restrictions for the import of certain wild, zoological, and other non-bovine ruminant species in order to prevent transmission of BSE (colloquially referred to as “mad cow disease”). The changes, which bring APHIS’ regulatory regime into alignment with the World Organization for Animal Health’s Terrestrial Animal Health Code, will become effective January 3, 2022.
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