The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced Aug. 5 that it is upgrading California to accredited free status for bovine tuberculosis (TB), effective Aug. 8.

According to APHIS, this action will allow cattle and bison from California to move to other states without first completing TB testing, which benefits the producers and the industry.

APHIS previously downgraded California’s status due to TB findings in two herds, per the regulations for the TB eradication program. Affected animals have been removed from both herds and the herds have been released from quarantine. No additional herds have been diagnosed with TB. APHIS completed a review of California’s TB eradication program and determined that the state now meets the requirements for accredited free status.

APHIS is making this status change via interim rule, which allows it to take effect immediately upon publication, but APHIS will accept public comments for 60 days. The rule is available for public inspection on the Federal Register page at: https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection.

Interested stakeholders may view the rule and submit comments beginning Aug. 8 by either:

* Electronically at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0052

* First class mail to: Docket No. APHIS-2016-0052, Regulatory Analysis & Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale MD 20737.