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Canadian proposal would benefit U.S. horse owners
Aronson reported that October 1 is the hoped for date of release of the study results.
UK REPORTS CEM OUTBREAK The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Great Britain has informed the US Department of Agriculture that Britain has recently diagnosed Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) in three stallions on two Thoroughbred stud farms. Nine mares which had returned to their home farms were also found to be infected. Efforts to trace mares that may have been bred to the infected stallions are still ongoing but are reported to be 80% complete. The UK also reports that two stallions on an Arabian stud farm have also been found positive for CEM. A link has been established between the outbreaks in the Thoroughbred farms and the Arabian farm. The investigation continues into the origin of both outbreaks but so far there has been no identification of the original source of infection. In 1977, an outbreak of CEM occurred in the U.S. causing significant economic losses to the breeding industry. The U.S. eradicated the disease from the U.S. and since that time, the USDA has had regulations in place to prevent the re-introduction of CEM into the U.S.
USDA PROPOSES REVISED CEM REGULATIONS After two years in the making, USDA recently announced its proposed rule that would amend the Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) regulations for horses imported from countries where CEM is known to exist or where horses from CEM countries can freely travel. The proposed rule reflects a joint effort between the horse industry and
312
USDA to clarify and streamline the CEM regulations making them as effective as before while facilitating the movement of horses. The proposed rule establishes new protocols for testing and treatment of mares and stallions, eliminates requirements for endometrial cultures and clitoral sinusectomies in mares, and incorporates new testing protocols for Thoroughbred horses in training in their country of origin. It also provides for the use of accredited veterinarians to monitor horses temporarily imported into the United States for competition purposes. For many years, USDA has required mares and stallions over two years of age to undergo a CEM testing and treatment protocol before being allowed to enter the U.S. Kentucky has additional requirements for Thoroughbred mares entering breeding sheds. The proposed rule is expected to simplify the requirements for importing horses into the U.S. from CEM countries without increasing the risk of the disease being introduced into or disseminated within the U.S.
CANADIAN PROPOSAL WOULD BENEFIT U.S. HORSE OWNERS AgCanada, the Agriculture Department of Canada, has notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that it is considering dropping the requirement that U.S. horses crossing into Canada be accompanied by a USDA Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. The proposal would also eliminate inspection of horses at the border. If adopted, this would eliminate the need for U.S. horse owners to obtain a USDA health certificate in order to take their horses into Canada and would significantly lower the cost of moving horses to Canada. Currently, anyone intending to take a horse into Canada is required to have a federal health certificate accompany-
ing the horse. The health certificate is completed by the veterinarian who examined the horse and is forwarded to a federal veterinarian for endorsement before it is returned to its owner. The fee for the endorsement has recently been raised to $26.50 per certificate from $10.00 per certificate. Under the proposed change, horses would still be required to have a negative EIA test (Coggins) before going into Canada, and it is likely that they will need to have a health certificate from the state of origin. The Canadian proposal is not contingent on the U.S. providing reciprocal action, although the American Horse Council endorses such an action, provided Canada's import requirements for horses from third countries remain at an acceptable level. Currently, Canada's import requirements are virtually the same as the import requirements of the U.S.
FIRST-YEAR EXPENSE DEDUCTION FOR HORSES IN DANGER The House of Representatives passed the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 (HR 3448). This bill would eliminate the $17,500 first year expense deduction for horses under Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code. It would be effective for horses placed into service after May 14, 1996. The Senate Finance Committee approved its version of this legislation on June 12. The Senate Finance Committee bill does not include the provision eliminating the Section 179 firstyear expense deduction for horses. The AHC will continue to work with the conferees, once appointed, to ensure that the Senate version of Section 179 changes is ultimately adopted and the first-year expense deduction for horses preserved.
JOURNALOF EQUINEVETERINARYSCIENCE
UK REPORTS CEM OUTBREAK The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Great Britain has informed the US Department of Agriculture that Britain has recently diagnosed Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) in three stallions on two Thoroughbred stud farms. Nine mares which had returned to their home farms were also found to be infected. Efforts to trace mares that may have been bred to the infected stallions are still ongoing but are reported to be 80% complete. The UK also reports that two stallions on an Arabian stud farm have also been found positive for CEM. A link has been established between the outbreaks in the Thoroughbred farms and the Arabian farm. The investigation continues into the origin of both outbreaks but so far there has been no identification of the original source of infection. In 1977, an outbreak of CEM occurred in the U.S. causing significant economic losses to the breeding industry. The U.S. eradicated the disease from the U.S. and since that time, the USDA has had regulations in place to prevent the re-introduction of CEM into the U.S.
USDA PROPOSES REVISED CEM REGULATIONS After two years in the making, USDA recently announced its proposed rule that would amend the Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) regulations for horses imported from countries where CEM is known to exist or where horses from CEM countries can freely travel. The proposed rule reflects a joint effort between the horse industry and
312
USDA to clarify and streamline the CEM regulations making them as effective as before while facilitating the movement of horses. The proposed rule establishes new protocols for testing and treatment of mares and stallions, eliminates requirements for endometrial cultures and clitoral sinusectomies in mares, and incorporates new testing protocols for Thoroughbred horses in training in their country of origin. It also provides for the use of accredited veterinarians to monitor horses temporarily imported into the United States for competition purposes. For many years, USDA has required mares and stallions over two years of age to undergo a CEM testing and treatment protocol before being allowed to enter the U.S. Kentucky has additional requirements for Thoroughbred mares entering breeding sheds. The proposed rule is expected to simplify the requirements for importing horses into the U.S. from CEM countries without increasing the risk of the disease being introduced into or disseminated within the U.S.
CANADIAN PROPOSAL WOULD BENEFIT U.S. HORSE OWNERS AgCanada, the Agriculture Department of Canada, has notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that it is considering dropping the requirement that U.S. horses crossing into Canada be accompanied by a USDA Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. The proposal would also eliminate inspection of horses at the border. If adopted, this would eliminate the need for U.S. horse owners to obtain a USDA health certificate in order to take their horses into Canada and would significantly lower the cost of moving horses to Canada. Currently, anyone intending to take a horse into Canada is required to have a federal health certificate accompany-
ing the horse. The health certificate is completed by the veterinarian who examined the horse and is forwarded to a federal veterinarian for endorsement before it is returned to its owner. The fee for the endorsement has recently been raised to $26.50 per certificate from $10.00 per certificate. Under the proposed change, horses would still be required to have a negative EIA test (Coggins) before going into Canada, and it is likely that they will need to have a health certificate from the state of origin. The Canadian proposal is not contingent on the U.S. providing reciprocal action, although the American Horse Council endorses such an action, provided Canada's import requirements for horses from third countries remain at an acceptable level. Currently, Canada's import requirements are virtually the same as the import requirements of the U.S.
FIRST-YEAR EXPENSE DEDUCTION FOR HORSES IN DANGER The House of Representatives passed the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 (HR 3448). This bill would eliminate the $17,500 first year expense deduction for horses under Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code. It would be effective for horses placed into service after May 14, 1996. The Senate Finance Committee approved its version of this legislation on June 12. The Senate Finance Committee bill does not include the provision eliminating the Section 179 firstyear expense deduction for horses. The AHC will continue to work with the conferees, once appointed, to ensure that the Senate version of Section 179 changes is ultimately adopted and the first-year expense deduction for horses preserved.
JOURNALOF EQUINEVETERINARYSCIENCE