PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release
April 9, 2008 www.agr.ne.gov		Contact: Christin Kamm (402) 471-6856 (402) 440-7251 (cell)

LINCOLN - Today, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) received word from the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service that Minnesota's bovine tuberculosis (TB) status has been downgraded to modified accredited.

This change in status automatically triggers certain NDA TB regulations. The regulations require all cattle imported into Nebraska from states certified as modified accredited status to meet one of the following two criteria:

1. Originate from an accredited herd and obtain a permit for entry, list the accreditation number on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), be individually identified on the CVI, and be tested negative to an official tuberculin test within 60 days prior to entry; or

2. Originate from a herd which has tested negative to an official whole-herd tuberculin test within 365 days prior to entry and obtain a permit for entry, be individually identified with identification listed on the CVI, have tested negative to an official tuberculin test within 60 days prior to entry, and be quarantined at destination until slaughter or retested negative to an official tuberculin test.

"The requirements go into effect immediately," said State Veterinarian Dr. Dennis Hughes. "In late February, we sent a reminder of these criteria to prepare livestock producers/importers of this important change to their normal practices. These safeguards are in place to help protect the health of our animals, as well as our livestock industry."

Importers must also comply with Nebraska Animal Importation Act requirements. Individuals that are planning to import cattle into the state should contact the NDA, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), at 800-572-2437 for more information.