Change in Disease Status of Germany, Italy, and Spain Because of BSE

We are amending the regulations by adding Germany, Italy, and Spain to the list of regions where bovine spongiform encephalopathy exists because the disease has been detected in native-born animals in those regions. Germany, Italy, and Spain are currently listed among the regions that present an undue risk of introducing bovine spongiform encephalopathy into the United States. Therefore, the effect of this action is a continued restriction on the importation of ruminants that have been in Germany, Italy, or Spain and meat, meat products, and certain other products of ruminants that have been in Germany, Italy, or Spain. This action is necessary in order to update the disease status of Germany, Italy, and Spain regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy.