The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service published a final rule earlier this month that amends the regulations to exempt horses from Iceland from testing for dourine, glanders, equine piroplasmosis, and equine infectious anemia during the quarantine period following importation.

This action is warranted because Iceland has never had a reported case of dourine, glanders, equine piroplasmosis, or equine infectious anemia, and it appeared to officials that horses imported from Iceland would pose a negligible risk of introducing those diseases into the United States.
 
This final rule relieves certain testing requirements for horses imported from Iceland while continuing to protect against the introduction of communicable diseases of horses into the United States.

For further information, contact Glen Garris, senior staff officer, invasive species team, office of the director, animal health programs, veterinary services , APHIS, USDA, 4700 River Road, Unit 33, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1231, 301/734-8093.
 
This final rule is published in the Nov. 6 Federal Register and is effective upon publication. 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 https://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.