Thune, Rounds among senators urging Biden Administration to withdraw sheep import rule

A Senator from North Dakota wants the Biden administration to withdraw a final rule on the importation of sheep and goats. Republican Kevin Cramer made the request in a letter to the Department of Agriculture this week, asking the rule be withdrawn until its impact on current market conditions can be fully evaluated. The rule, finalized on January 14, would remove brain disorder-related import restrictions on sheep, goats, and most of their products. Cramer says the existing import restrictions function as a necessary protection against the introduction of other brain disorders, such as scrapie or mad cow disease. Republican Senators Steve Daines of Montana, John Cornyn of Texas, John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, John Thune and Mike Rounds of South Dakota, and John Hoeven of North Dakota joined Cramer on the letter. The Senators state, “By allowing scrapie-positive animals and genetic materials into the United States, we risk reintroducing the very disease we have nearly eradicated.”