The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a proposed rule amending its regulations for how the agency approves livestock marketing facilities that receive animals in interstate commerce.  In addition, the proposed rule also provides several clarifications on how livestock can move to these facilities without official identification or before an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (ICVI) is issued.  These changes would update USDA’s regulations governing livestock marketing facilities while still ensuring the animal disease traceability of livestock moved to these facilities in interstate commerce.

According to the APHIS, the proposed updates and clarifications are a direct response to request by state animal health officials, livestock marketing facility operators and cattle/bison producers.

USDA is seeking public comments on this proposal through March 3, 2015.

Comments can be submitted by either of the following methods:

Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS_FRDOC_0001-1718