Cattle Exportations; Tuberculosis and Brucellosis Test Requirements

We are amending the regulations concerning exportation of livestock by eliminating requirements for pre-export diagnostic tests for tuberculosis and brucellosis in certain cattle being exported from the United States directly to slaughter. Slaughter cattle affected will be those exported from States free of brucellosis or tuberculosis and those exported to countries that have a disease surveillance system equivalent to that of the United States and that agree to share with the United States any findings of brucellosis or tuberculosis in U.S. origin cattle. We believe that these test requirements can be eliminated without compromising the integrity of our brucellosis and tuberculosis surveillance systems. This rule will facilitate the movement of U.S. slaughter cattle to foreign countries.