Importation of Horses from CEM Countries

We are amending the regulations regarding the importation of horses from countries affected with contagious equine metritis by incorporating new testing and treatment protocols for mares and stallions, providing for the use of accredited veterinarians to monitor horses temporarily imported into the United States for competition purposes, incorporating a new testing protocol for thoroughbred horses in training in their country of origin, and removing the requirements for endometrial cultures and clitoral sinusectomies in mares. These changes will update, clarify, and streamline the existing regulations and will simplify the requirements for importing horses from countries affected with contagious equine metritis without increasing the risk of the disease being introduced into or disseminated within the United States.