Standards for Privately Owned Quarantine Facilities for Ruminants

We are amending the regulations for the importation of ruminants into the United States to establish standards for privately owned quarantine facilities. The regulations have authorized the establishment of privately operated quarantine facilities for ruminants, which are subject to approval and oversight by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, but have not provided specific standards for the approval, operation, and oversight of such facilities, with the exception of privately operated quarantine facilities for sheep or goats. Based on recent interest in establishing such facilities for cattle, we are adding standards for privately owned quarantine facilities covering all ruminants to ensure that any facilities that may be approved for this purpose operate in a manner that protects the health of the U.S. livestock population.