(a) Importation of certain ruminants prohibited. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, ruminants that are known to be infected with or exposed to tuberculosis and ruminants that have had a non-negative response to any test for tuberculosis at any time are prohibited importation into the United States.

(b) Identification of bovines imported for any purpose. Unless otherwise specified by the Administrator, bovines imported into the United States for any purpose must be officially identified and accompanied by a certificate, issued in accordance with §93.405(a), that lists the official identification of the animals presented for import.

(c) Importation of bovines from a Level I region. Unless specified otherwise by the Administrator, bovines may be imported into the United States from a Level I region for tuberculosis in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section.12

(d) Importation of bovines from a Level II region.

(1) Sexually intact bovines may be imported into the United States from a Level II region for tuberculosis for purposes other than immediate slaughter provided that the bovines are subjected to an individual test for tuberculosis at the port of entry into the United States or during post-arrival quarantine in accordance with §93.411, with negative results.

(2) Steers or spayed heifers may be imported into the United States from a Level II region for tuberculosis for purposes other than immediate slaughter in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section.

(e) Importation of bovines from a Level III region.

(1) Bovines directly from currently accredited herds for tuberculosis. Bovines may be imported into the United States for purposes other than immediate slaughter directly from a currently accredited herd for tuberculosis in a Level III region for tuberculosis, provided that:

(i) The bovines are accompanied by a certificate, issued in accordance with §93.405(a), with an additional statement that the bovines originate directly from a currently accredited herd for tuberculosis; and

(ii) If sexually intact, the bovines are subjected to an individual test for tuberculosis at the port of entry into the United States or during post-arrival quarantine in accordance with §93.411, with negative results.

(2) Sexually intact bovines that do not originate directly from a currently accredited herd for tuberculosis may be imported into the United States from a Level III region for tuberculosis for purposes other than immediate slaughter, provided that:

(i) The bovines originate from a herd that was subjected to a whole herd test for tuberculosis on its premises of origin no more than 1 year prior to the export of the bovines to the United States, with negative results; and

(ii) The bovines are subjected to an individual test for tuberculosis at the port of entry into the United States or during post-arrival quarantine in accordance with §93.411, with negative results; and

(iii) The bovines are accompanied by a certificate, issued in accordance with §93.405(a), with an additional statement that the animals meet the conditions for importation in paragraph (e)(2)(i) of this section.

(3) Steers or spayed heifers that do not originate directly from a currently accredited herd for tuberculosis may be imported into the United States from a Level III region for tuberculosis for purposes other than immediate slaughter provided that:

(i) The steers or spayed heifers are subjected to an individual test for tuberculosis no more than 60 days prior to export of the bovines to the United States, with negative results; and

(ii) The steers or spayed heifers are accompanied by a certificate, issued in accordance with §93.405(a), with an additional statement that the animals meet the conditions for importation in paragraph (e)(3)(i) of this section.

(f) Importation of bovines from a Level IV region.

(1) Bovines may be imported into the United States for purposes other than immediate slaughter directly from a currently accredited herd for tuberculosis in a Level IV region for tuberculosis, provided that:

(i) The bovines are accompanied by a certificate, issued in accordance with §93.405(a), with an additional statement that the bovines originate directly from a currently accredited herd for tuberculosis and, if steers or spayed heifers, meet the conditions for importation in paragraph (f)(1)(iii) of this section; and

(ii) If sexually intact, the bovines are subjected to an individual test for tuberculosis at the port of entry into the United States or during post-arrival quarantine in accordance with §93.411, with negative results; and

(iii) If steers and spayed heifers, the bovines are subjected to an individual test for tuberculosis no more than 60 days prior to export of the bovines to the United States, with negative results.

(2) Sexually intact bovines that do not originate directly from a currently accredited herd for tuberculosis may be imported into the United States from a Level IV region for tuberculosis for purposes other than immediate slaughter, provided that:

(i) The bovines originate from a herd that was subjected to two whole herd tests for tuberculosis on its premises of origin and conducted no less than 9 months and no more than 15 months apart, with the second whole herd test conducted no less than 60 days and no more than 12 months prior the export of the bovines to the United States, with negative results each time; and

(ii) The bovines are subjected to an additional individual test for tuberculosis at the port of entry into the United States or during post-arrival quarantine in accordance with §93.411, with negative results; and

(iii) The bovines are accompanied by a certificate, issued in accordance with §93.405(a), with an additional statement that the bovines meet the requirements in paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section.

(3) Steers or spayed heifers that do not originate directly from a currently accredited herd for tuberculosis may be imported into the United States from a Level IV region for tuberculosis for purposes other than immediate slaughter provided that:

(i) The bovines originate from a herd that was subjected to a whole herd test for tuberculosis on its premises of origin no more than 1 year prior to the export of the bovines, with negative results; and

(ii) The bovines are subjected to an additional individual test for tuberculosis no more than 60 days prior to export of the bovines to the United States, with negative results, except that the individual test is not required if the bovines are exported within 60 days of the whole herd test and were included in that test; and

(iii) The bovines are accompanied by a certificate, issued in accordance with §93.405(a), with an additional statement that the bovines meet the requirements in this paragraph (f)(3).

(g) Importation of bovines from a Level V region. At the discretion of the Administrator, bovines may be imported into the United States from a Level V region for tuberculosis for purposes other than immediate slaughter, provided that:

(1) The bovines are subject to a pre-clearance program administered by APHIS and detailed in an import protocol published on the APHIS website; and

(2) The bovines are subjected to an additional individual test for tuberculosis at the port of entry into the United States or during post-arrival quarantine in accordance with §93.411, with negative results; and

(3) The bovines are accompanied by a certificate, issued in accordance with §93.405(a), with an additional statement that bovines meet the requirements in paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this section.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 0579-0442)

[85 FR 57954, Sept. 17, 2020]