Change in Disease Status of The Netherlands Because of Hog Cholera and Swine Vesicular Disease

We are declaring The Netherlands free of hog cholera and swine vesicular disease. As part of this action, we are adding The Netherlands to the list of countries that, although declared free of swine vesicular disease, are subject to restrictions on pork and pork products offered for importation into the United States. Declaring The Netherlands free of hog cholera and swine vesicular disease is appropriate because there have been no confirmed outbreaks of hog cholera or swine vesicular disease in The Netherlands since 1992 and 1994, respectively. This rule relieves certain restrictions on the importation of pork and pork products into the United States from The Netherlands. However, because The Netherlands shares common land borders with countries affected by swine vesicular disease, the importation into the United States of pork and pork products from The Netherlands will continue to be restricted.