The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed today that Georgia is approved to receive certain mares and stallions imported into the United States from regions affected with contagious equine metritis, a serious venereal disease of horses.

APHIS published a direct final rule on July 27 notifying the public of its intent to allow these importations. No written adverse comments regarding the direct final rule were received.

“Georgia has agreed to comply with our regulations to further ensure the imported horses’ freedom from CEM,” said Craig A. Reed, administrator for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a part of USDA’s marketing and regulatory programs mission area.

APHIS’ animal importation regulations require that mares and stallions over two years old imported for permanent entry into the United States from regions where CEM exists be consigned to APHIS-approved states