Change in Disease Status of Japan Because of Rinderpest and Foot-and-Mouth Disease

We are amending the regulations governing the importation of certain animals, meat, and other animal products by removing Japan from the list of regions declared free of rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease. We are taking this action because the existence of foot-and- mouth disease has been confirmed there. The effect of this action is to prohibit or restrict the importation into the United States from Japan of any ruminant or swine, or any fresh, chilled, or frozen meat of any ruminant or swine. We are taking this action as an emergency measure to protect the livestock of the United States from foot-and-mouth disease.