National Organic Program: Request for an Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection, 38913-38915 [2013-15626]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 125 / Friday, June 28, 2013 / Notices
the Internet at https://
www.Regulations.Gov or to the Market
News Division, Fruit & Vegetable
Program, AMS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., Room 1529
South, Stop 0238, Washington, DC
20250–0238. Comments should make
reference to the dates and page number
of this issue of the Federal Register and
will be made available for public
inspection in the above office during
regular business hours or at https://
www.Regulations.Gov.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Terry C. Long, Director; Fruit and
Vegetable Market News Division, Fruit
and Vegetable Program, (202) 720–2175,
Fax: (202) 720–0011.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Fruit and Vegetable Market
News.
OMB Number: 0581–0006.
Expiration Date of Approval:
September 30, 2013.
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: Collection and
dissemination of information for fruit,
vegetable and ornamental production
and to facilitate trading by providing a
price base used by producers,
wholesalers, and retailers to market
product.
The Agricultural Marketing Act of
1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621–1627), section
203(g) directs and authorizes the
collection and dissemination of
marketing information including
adequate outlook information, on a
market area basis, for the purpose of
anticipating and meeting consumer
requirements, aiding in the maintenance
of farm income and to bring about a
balance between production and
utilization.
The fruit and vegetable industry
provides information on a voluntary
basis that is gathered through
confidential telephone and face-to-face
interviews by market reporters.
Reporters request supply, demand, and
price information of over 330 fresh fruit,
vegetable, nut, ornamental, and other
specialty crops. The information is
collected, compiled, and disseminated
by Market News in its critical role as an
impartial third party. It is collected and
reported in a manner which protects the
confidentiality of the respondent and
their operations.
The fruit and vegetable market news
reports are used by academia and
various government agencies for
regulatory and other purposes, but are
primarily used by the fruit, vegetable
and ornamental trade, which includes
packers, processors, brokers, retailers,
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:17 Jun 27, 2013
Jkt 229001
producers, and associated industries.
Members of the fruit and vegetable
industry regularly make it clear that
they need and expect the Department of
Agriculture to issue price and supply
market reports for commodities of
regional, national and international
significance in order to assist in making
immediate production and marketing
decisions and as a guide to the amount
of product in the supply channel. In
addition, the Agricultural Marketing
Service buys hundreds of millions of
dollars of fruit and vegetable products
each year for domestic feeding
programs, and Market News data is a
critical component of the decision
making process.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average .098 hours per
response.
Respondents: Fruit, vegetable and
ornamental industry, or other for-profit
businesses, individuals or households,
farms.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
3,168.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 197.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 61,161 hours.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (4) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will
also become a matter of public record.
Dated: June 24, 2013.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural
Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–15562 Filed 6–27–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
38913
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS–NOP–13–0051; NOP–13–02]
National Organic Program: Request for
an Extension of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Agricultural
Marketing Service’s (AMS) intention to
request approval from the Office of
Management and Budget, for an
extension of the currently approved
information collection National Organic
Program (NOP) Reporting and
Recordkeeping Requirements.
DATES: Comments received by August
27, 2013 will be considered.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to submit written comments
concerning this notice. Comments must
be sent to Toni Strother, Agricultural
Marketing Specialist, National Organic
Program, AMS/USDA, 1400
Independence Ave. SW., Room 2646–
So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC
20250–0268 or by Internet: https://
www.regulations.gov. Written comments
responding to this notice should be
identified with the document number
AMS–NOP–13–0051; NOP–13–02. It is
USDA’s intention to have all comments
concerning this notice, including names
and addresses when provided,
regardless of submission procedure
used, available for viewing on the
Regulations.gov (https://
www.regulations.gov) Internet site.
Comments submitted in response to this
notice will also be available for viewing
in person at USDA–AMS, National
Organic Program, Room 2624–South
Building, 1400 Independence Ave. SW.,
Washington, DC, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon
and from 1:00 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday (except official Federal
holidays). Persons wanting to visit the
USDA South Building to view
comments received in response to this
notice are requested to make an
appointment in advance by calling (202)
720–3252.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Melissa Bailey, Ph.D., Director,
Standards Division, National Organic
Program, USDA–AMS, 1400
Independence Ave. SW., Room 2646–
So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC
20250, Telephone: (202) 720–3252, Fax:
(202) 205–7808.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\28JNN1.SGM
28JNN1
38914
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 125 / Friday, June 28, 2013 / Notices
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: National Organic Program.
OMB Number: 0581–0191.
Expiration Date of Approval:
December 31, 2013.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The Organic Foods
Production Act of 1990 (OFPA) as
amended (7 U.S.C. 6501–6522)
mandates that the Secretary develop the
NOP to accredit eligible State program’s
governing State officials or private
persons as certifying agents who would
certify producers or handlers of
agricultural products that have been
produced using organic methods as
provided for in OFPA. The USDA
organic regulation (7 CFR part 205): (1)
Established national standards
governing the marketing of certain
agricultural products as organically
produced products; (2) assures
consumers that organically produced
products meet a consistent standard;
and (3) facilitates interstate commerce
in fresh and processed food that is
organically produced.
Reporting and recordkeeping are
essential to the integrity of the organic
certification system. They create a paper
trail that is a critical element in carrying
out the mandate of OFPA and NOP.
They serve the AMS mission, program
objectives, and management needs by
providing information on the efficiency
and effectiveness of the program. The
information affects decisions because it
is the basis for evaluating compliance
with OFPA and NOP, for administering
the program, for management decisions
and planning, and for establishing the
cost of the program. It supports
administrative and regulatory actions in
response to noncompliance with OFPA
and NOP.
In general, the information collected
is used by USDA, State program
governing State officials, and certifying
agents. It is created and submitted by
State and foreign program officials, peer
review panel members, accredited
certifying agents, organic inspectors,
certified organic producers and
handlers, those seeking accreditation or
certification, and parties interested in
changing the National List of Allowed
and Prohibited Substances at sections
205.600 through 205.607. Additionally,
it causes most of these entities to have
procedures and space for recordkeeping.
USDA. USDA is the accrediting
authority. USDA accredits domestic and
foreign certifying agents who certify
domestic and foreign organic producers
and handlers, using information from
the agents documenting their business
operations and program expertise.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:17 Jun 27, 2013
Jkt 229001
USDA also permits States to establish
their own organic certification programs
after the programs are approved by the
Secretary, using information from the
States documenting their ability to
operate such programs and showing that
such programs meet the requirements of
OFPA and NOP.
States. States may operate their own
organic certification programs. State
officials obtain the Secretary’s approval
of their programs by submitting
information to USDA documenting their
ability to operate such programs and
showing that such programs meet the
requirements of OFPA and NOP. The
Secretary, or delegated representative,
will review a State organic program not
less than once during each 5-year period
following the date of the initial program
approval. To date, one State organic
certification program is approved by
USDA.
Certifying agents. Certifying agents are
State, private, or foreign entities who are
accredited by USDA to certify domestic
and foreign producers and handlers as
organic in accordance with OFPA and
NOP. Each entity wanting to be an agent
seeks accreditation from USDA,
submitting information documenting its
business operations and program
expertise. Accredited certifying agents
determine if a producer or handler
meets organic requirements, using
detailed information from the operation
documenting its specific practices and
on-site inspection reports from organic
inspectors. Currently, there are 84
certifying agents accredited under NOP.
Administrative costs for reporting,
disclosure of information, and
recordkeeping vary among certifying
agents. Factors affecting costs include
the number and size of clients, the
categories of certification provided, and
the type of systems maintained.
When an entity applies for
accreditation as a certifying agent, it
must provide a copy of its procedures
for complying with recordkeeping
requirements (§ 205.504(b)(3)). Once
accredited, agents have to make their
records available for inspection and
copying by authorized representatives of
the Secretary (§ 205.501(a)(9)). USDA
charges certifying agents for the time
required to do these document reviews.
Audits require less time when the
documents are well organized and
centrally located.
Recordkeeping requirements for
certifying agents are divided into three
categories of records with varying
retention periods: (1) Records created by
certifying agents regarding applicants
for certification and certified operations,
maintain 10-years, consistent with
OFPA’s requirement for maintaining all
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
records concerning activities of
certifying agents; (2) records obtained
from applicants for certification and
certified operations, maintain 5-years,
the same as OFPA’s requirement for the
retention of records by certified
operations; and (3) records created or
received by certifying agents regarding
accreditation, maintain 5-years,
consistent with OFPA’s requirement for
renewal of agent’s accreditation
(§ 205.510(b)).
Organic inspectors. Inspectors, on
behalf of certifying agents, conduct onsite inspections of certified operations
and operations applying for
certification. They report the findings
from their inspection to the certifying
agent. Inspectors are the agents
themselves, employees of the agents, or
individual contractors. We estimate that
about half are certifying agents or their
employees and half are individual
contractors. Individuals who apply for
positions as inspectors submit to the
agents information documenting their
qualifications to conduct such
inspections. According to International
Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA),
there are 235 inspectors currently
providing services.
Producers and handlers. Producers
and handlers, domestic and foreign,
apply to certifying agents for organic
certification, submit detailed
information documenting their specific
practices, provide annual updates to
continue their certification, and report
changes in their practices. Producers
include farmers, livestock and poultry
producers, and wild crop harvesters.
Handlers include those who transport or
transform food and include millers, bulk
distributors, food manufacturers,
processors, or packers. Some handlers
are part of a retail operation that
processes organic products in a location
other than the premises of the retail
outlet. Based upon AMS NOP’s 2012
List of certified organic operations, there
are approximately 25,000 certified
operations globally.1 Based on past
growth of the industry, AMS estimates
the addition of 350 new certified
organic operations a year. In addition,
AMS estimates that there are 6,200
producers exempt from certification, but
who must still maintain records
pursuant to section 205.101(c).
Administrative costs for reporting and
recordkeeping vary among certified
operators. Factors affecting costs
include the type and size of operation,
and the type of systems maintained.
1 AMS NOP 2012 List of certified organic
operations. Available at: https://apps.ams.usda.gov/
nop/.
E:\FR\FM\28JNN1.SGM
28JNN1
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 125 / Friday, June 28, 2013 / Notices
AMS believes that operations using
product labels containing the term
‘‘organic’’ handle an average of 20 labels
annually. Based upon AMS NOP’s 2012
List of certified organic operations, there
are over 10,800 certified organic
handlers. For each certified handler,
AMS estimates that the average annual
burden to develop product labels with
organic claims is one hour per product
label times 20 product labels per
handler. The annual burden will be
lower for smaller operations and higher
for large operations that produce a
significant volume of organic processed
product.
Interested parties. Any interested
party may petition the National Organic
Standards Board (NOSB) for the purpose
of having a substance evaluated for
recommendation to the Secretary for
inclusion on or deletion from the
National List. Based on the number of
petitions received in the past, AMS
estimates 25 parties petitioning the
NOSB to amend the National List in a
given year. The annual burden for each
interested party to prepare a complete
petition is an average of 30 hours.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 1.61 hours per
response.
Respondents: Producers, handlers,
certifying agents, inspectors and State,
Local or Tribal governments and
interested parties.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
31,825.
Estimated Number of Responses:
838,519.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 26.35.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 1,347,141.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (4) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will
become a matter of public record.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6501–6522.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:17 Jun 27, 2013
Jkt 229001
Dated: June 25, 2013.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural
Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–15626 Filed 6–27–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Notice of Available Funding and Grant
Application Deadlines
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
Notice of Funding Availability.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Rural Utilities Service
(RUS), an agency of the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA),
announces the availability of
$17,531,000 in grant funds and
solicitation of applications for the
Distance Learning and Telemedicine
(DLT) Grant Program for the Fiscal Year
(FY) 2013 competition.
DATES: You may submit completed
applications for grants on paper or
electronically per the following
deadlines:
• Paper submissions: Paper
submissions must be postmarked and
mailed, shipped, or sent overnight no
later than August 12, 2013 to be eligible
for FY 2013 grant funding. Late or
incomplete applications will not be
eligible for FY 2013 grant funding.
• Electronic submissions: Electronic
submissions must be received by August
12, 2013 to be eligible for FY 2013 grant
funding. Late or incomplete
applications will not be eligible for FY
2013 grant funding.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the FY 2013
Application Guides and materials for
the DLT grant program may be obtained
at the following sources:
(1) The DLT Web site: https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/
UTP_DLTResources.html and
(2) You may also request application
guides and materials from RUS by
contacting the DLT Program at 202–
720–0665.
Completed applications may be
submitted in the following ways:
(1) Paper: Paper applications are to be
submitted to the Rural Utilities Service,
Telecommunications Program, 1400
Independence Ave. SW., Room 2845,
STOP 1550, Washington, DC 20250–
1550. Applications should be marked
‘‘Attention: Acting Director, Advanced
Services Division.’’
(2) Electronic: Electronic applications
may be submitted through Grants.gov.
Information on how to submit
applications electronically is available
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
38915
on the Grants.gov Web site (https://
www.grants.gov). Applicants must
successfully pre-register with Grants.gov
to use the electronic applications
option. Application information may be
downloaded from Grants.gov without
preregistration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Norberto Esteves, Acting Director,
Advanced Services Division,
Telecommunications Programs, Rural
Utilities Service. Email:
norberto.esteves@wdc.usda.gov.
Telephone: 202–720–0665, fax: 202–
720–1051.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural Utilities
Service (RUS).
Funding Opportunity Title: Distance
Learning and Telemedicine Grants.
Announcement Type: Notice of
Solicitation of Applications.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.855.
Dates: You may submit completed
applications for grants on paper or
electronically according to the following
deadlines:
• Paper submissions must be
postmarked and mailed, shipped, or
sent overnight no later than August 12,
2013 to be eligible for FY 2013 grant
funding. Late or incomplete
applications are not eligible for FY 2013
grant funding.
Electronic copies must be received by
August 12, 2013 to be eligible for FY
2013 grant funding. Late or incomplete
applications are not eligible for FY 2013
grant funding.
Items in Supplementary Information
I. Funding Opportunity: Brief introduction to
the DLT program.
II. Minimum and Maximum Application
Amounts: Projected Available Funding.
III. Eligibility Information: Who is eligible,
and what kinds of projects are eligible,
what criteria determine basic eligibility.
IV. SUTA: The applicant needs to notify RUS
that it is seeking consideration under the
7 CFR 1700, Substantially Underserved
Trust Areas (the SUTA regulation) and
identifies the discretionary authorities of
the Secretary of Agriculture described in
the SUTA regulation that it seeks to have
applied to its application.
V. Application and Submission Information:
Where to get application materials, what
constitutes a completed application, how
and where to submit applications,
deadlines, and items that are eligible.
VI. Application Review Information:
Considerations and preferences, scoring
criteria, review standards, and selection
information.
VII. Award Administration Information:
Award notice information, award
recipient and reporting requirements.
E:\FR\FM\28JNN1.SGM
28JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 125 (Friday, June 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38913-38915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15626]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-NOP-13-0051; NOP-13-02]
National Organic Program: Request for an Extension of a Currently
Approved Information Collection
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention
to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget, for an
extension of the currently approved information collection National
Organic Program (NOP) Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements.
DATES: Comments received by August 27, 2013 will be considered.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments
concerning this notice. Comments must be sent to Toni Strother,
Agricultural Marketing Specialist, National Organic Program, AMS/USDA,
1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2646-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC
20250-0268 or by Internet: https://www.regulations.gov. Written comments
responding to this notice should be identified with the document number
AMS-NOP-13-0051; NOP-13-02. It is USDA's intention to have all comments
concerning this notice, including names and addresses when provided,
regardless of submission procedure used, available for viewing on the
Regulations.gov (https://www.regulations.gov) Internet site. Comments
submitted in response to this notice will also be available for viewing
in person at USDA-AMS, National Organic Program, Room 2624-South
Building, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC, from 9 a.m. to 12
noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday (except
official Federal holidays). Persons wanting to visit the USDA South
Building to view comments received in response to this notice are
requested to make an appointment in advance by calling (202) 720-3252.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Bailey, Ph.D., Director,
Standards Division, National Organic Program, USDA-AMS, 1400
Independence Ave. SW., Room 2646-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC
20250, Telephone: (202) 720-3252, Fax: (202) 205-7808.
[[Page 38914]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: National Organic Program.
OMB Number: 0581-0191.
Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2013.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA) as
amended (7 U.S.C. 6501-6522) mandates that the Secretary develop the
NOP to accredit eligible State program's governing State officials or
private persons as certifying agents who would certify producers or
handlers of agricultural products that have been produced using organic
methods as provided for in OFPA. The USDA organic regulation (7 CFR
part 205): (1) Established national standards governing the marketing
of certain agricultural products as organically produced products; (2)
assures consumers that organically produced products meet a consistent
standard; and (3) facilitates interstate commerce in fresh and
processed food that is organically produced.
Reporting and recordkeeping are essential to the integrity of the
organic certification system. They create a paper trail that is a
critical element in carrying out the mandate of OFPA and NOP. They
serve the AMS mission, program objectives, and management needs by
providing information on the efficiency and effectiveness of the
program. The information affects decisions because it is the basis for
evaluating compliance with OFPA and NOP, for administering the program,
for management decisions and planning, and for establishing the cost of
the program. It supports administrative and regulatory actions in
response to noncompliance with OFPA and NOP.
In general, the information collected is used by USDA, State
program governing State officials, and certifying agents. It is created
and submitted by State and foreign program officials, peer review panel
members, accredited certifying agents, organic inspectors, certified
organic producers and handlers, those seeking accreditation or
certification, and parties interested in changing the National List of
Allowed and Prohibited Substances at sections 205.600 through 205.607.
Additionally, it causes most of these entities to have procedures and
space for recordkeeping.
USDA. USDA is the accrediting authority. USDA accredits domestic
and foreign certifying agents who certify domestic and foreign organic
producers and handlers, using information from the agents documenting
their business operations and program expertise. USDA also permits
States to establish their own organic certification programs after the
programs are approved by the Secretary, using information from the
States documenting their ability to operate such programs and showing
that such programs meet the requirements of OFPA and NOP.
States. States may operate their own organic certification
programs. State officials obtain the Secretary's approval of their
programs by submitting information to USDA documenting their ability to
operate such programs and showing that such programs meet the
requirements of OFPA and NOP. The Secretary, or delegated
representative, will review a State organic program not less than once
during each 5-year period following the date of the initial program
approval. To date, one State organic certification program is approved
by USDA.
Certifying agents. Certifying agents are State, private, or foreign
entities who are accredited by USDA to certify domestic and foreign
producers and handlers as organic in accordance with OFPA and NOP. Each
entity wanting to be an agent seeks accreditation from USDA, submitting
information documenting its business operations and program expertise.
Accredited certifying agents determine if a producer or handler meets
organic requirements, using detailed information from the operation
documenting its specific practices and on-site inspection reports from
organic inspectors. Currently, there are 84 certifying agents
accredited under NOP.
Administrative costs for reporting, disclosure of information, and
recordkeeping vary among certifying agents. Factors affecting costs
include the number and size of clients, the categories of certification
provided, and the type of systems maintained.
When an entity applies for accreditation as a certifying agent, it
must provide a copy of its procedures for complying with recordkeeping
requirements (Sec. 205.504(b)(3)). Once accredited, agents have to
make their records available for inspection and copying by authorized
representatives of the Secretary (Sec. 205.501(a)(9)). USDA charges
certifying agents for the time required to do these document reviews.
Audits require less time when the documents are well organized and
centrally located.
Recordkeeping requirements for certifying agents are divided into
three categories of records with varying retention periods: (1) Records
created by certifying agents regarding applicants for certification and
certified operations, maintain 10-years, consistent with OFPA's
requirement for maintaining all records concerning activities of
certifying agents; (2) records obtained from applicants for
certification and certified operations, maintain 5-years, the same as
OFPA's requirement for the retention of records by certified
operations; and (3) records created or received by certifying agents
regarding accreditation, maintain 5-years, consistent with OFPA's
requirement for renewal of agent's accreditation (Sec. 205.510(b)).
Organic inspectors. Inspectors, on behalf of certifying agents,
conduct on-site inspections of certified operations and operations
applying for certification. They report the findings from their
inspection to the certifying agent. Inspectors are the agents
themselves, employees of the agents, or individual contractors. We
estimate that about half are certifying agents or their employees and
half are individual contractors. Individuals who apply for positions as
inspectors submit to the agents information documenting their
qualifications to conduct such inspections. According to International
Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA), there are 235 inspectors
currently providing services.
Producers and handlers. Producers and handlers, domestic and
foreign, apply to certifying agents for organic certification, submit
detailed information documenting their specific practices, provide
annual updates to continue their certification, and report changes in
their practices. Producers include farmers, livestock and poultry
producers, and wild crop harvesters. Handlers include those who
transport or transform food and include millers, bulk distributors,
food manufacturers, processors, or packers. Some handlers are part of a
retail operation that processes organic products in a location other
than the premises of the retail outlet. Based upon AMS NOP's 2012 List
of certified organic operations, there are approximately 25,000
certified operations globally.\1\ Based on past growth of the industry,
AMS estimates the addition of 350 new certified organic operations a
year. In addition, AMS estimates that there are 6,200 producers exempt
from certification, but who must still maintain records pursuant to
section 205.101(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ AMS NOP 2012 List of certified organic operations. Available
at: https://apps.ams.usda.gov/nop/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative costs for reporting and recordkeeping vary among
certified operators. Factors affecting costs include the type and size
of operation, and the type of systems maintained.
[[Page 38915]]
AMS believes that operations using product labels containing the
term ``organic'' handle an average of 20 labels annually. Based upon
AMS NOP's 2012 List of certified organic operations, there are over
10,800 certified organic handlers. For each certified handler, AMS
estimates that the average annual burden to develop product labels with
organic claims is one hour per product label times 20 product labels
per handler. The annual burden will be lower for smaller operations and
higher for large operations that produce a significant volume of
organic processed product.
Interested parties. Any interested party may petition the National
Organic Standards Board (NOSB) for the purpose of having a substance
evaluated for recommendation to the Secretary for inclusion on or
deletion from the National List. Based on the number of petitions
received in the past, AMS estimates 25 parties petitioning the NOSB to
amend the National List in a given year. The annual burden for each
interested party to prepare a complete petition is an average of 30
hours.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 1.61 hours per response.
Respondents: Producers, handlers, certifying agents, inspectors and
State, Local or Tribal governments and interested parties.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 31,825.
Estimated Number of Responses: 838,519.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 26.35.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,347,141.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms
of information technology.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public
record.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6501-6522.
Dated: June 25, 2013.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-15626 Filed 6-27-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
