Prohibition of Beef From Argentina

We are amending the regulations by removing the provisions for the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from Argentina and by removing the exemptions that allowed cured or cooked beef to be imported from Argentina under certain conditions without meeting the requirements of the regulations regarding cured and cooked meat from regions where rinderpest or foot-and-mouth disease exists. We are taking these actions because the existence of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in that country. The effect of these actions is to prohibit the importation of any fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from Argentina and to prohibit the importation of any cooked or cured beef from Argentina that does not meet the requirements of the regulations regarding cured and cooked meat from regions where rinderpest or foot- and-mouth disease exists. We are taking these actions as an emergency measure to protect the livestock of the United States from foot-and- mouth disease.