USDA PROPOSES AMENDMENT TO IMPORT REGULATIONS REGARDING LIVE SWINE, PORK AND PORK PRODUCTS FROM CHILE

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2003--The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is adding Chile to the list of regions recognized as free of classical swine fever. APHIS has conducted a risk assessment and has determined that Chile meets the requirements for
recognition as free of CSF.

APHIS is also proposing to add certification requirements for origin and
handling to ensure that live swine, pork and pork products imported into
the United States from Chile are free of classical swine fever. Such
certificates would be completed by veterinarians of the Chilean Agriculture
and Livestock Service (Servicio y Agricola Ganadero, SAG). These actions
will relieve restrictions on the importation of pork, pork products, live
swine and swine semen from Chile while continuing to deter the introduction
of classical swine fever into the United States.

Notice of this proposal is scheduled for publication in the Nov. 13 Federal
Register. APHIS documents published in the Federal Register and related
information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have
commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

Consideration will be given to comments received on or before Jan. 12,2004. Comments may be submitted by postal mail, commercial delivery or by e-mail. If postal mail or commercial delivery is used, please send an
original and three copies to Docket No. 03-009-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238. If you use e-mail, address your comments toregulations@aphis.usda.gov. Comments must be contained in the body of the message; do not send attached files. Please include your name and address in the message and use "Docket No. 03-009-1" on the subject line.

Comments received may be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to review comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room.