Changes coming to imported-horse quarantine facilities

Washington

-- Starting Aug. 3, imported horses can be quarantined in permanent, privately owned facilities.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending regulations pertaining to the importation of horses to establish standards for these facilities.

Often, regional and seasonal demand for quarantine services for horses exceeds the space available at existing facilities. By changing the quarantine housing rules, importation of horses will be facilitated while continuing to protect against the introduction of communicable diseases.