Prohibition of Beef From Argentina

We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that amended 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 took those actions after the existence of foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed in Argentina. The effect of the interim rule was 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 took those actions as an emergency measure to protect the livestock of the United States from foot-and-mouth disease.