Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Covered Commodities: Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection, 10827 [2016-04611]

Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 10827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04611]


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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 41 / Wednesday, March 2, 2016 / 
Notices

[[Page 10827]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-LPS-15-0067]


Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Covered Commodities: 
Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the Office of 
Management and Budget, for an extension and revision to the currently 
approved information collection of the Mandatory Country of Origin 
Labeling (COOL) of Covered Commodities.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 2, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted electronically at https://www.regulations.gov. Comments may also be submitted to Julie Henderson, 
Director, COOL Division, Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); 
STOP 0216; 1400 Independence Avenue SW.; Room 2620-S; Washington, DC 
20250-0216; or email to julie.henderson@ams.usda.gov. All comments 
should reference docket number AMS-LPS-15-0067 and note the date and 
page number of this issue of the Federal Register.
    Submitted comments will be available for public inspection at 
https://www.regulations.gov or at the above address during regular 
business hours. Comments submitted in response to this Notice will be 
included in the records and will be made available to the public. 
Please be advised that the identity of the individuals or entities 
submitting the comments will be made public on the Internet at the 
above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Henderson, Director, COOL 
Division, AMS, USDA, by telephone at (202) 720-4486, or email at 
Julie.Henderson@ams.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Covered Commodities.
    OMB Number: 0581-0250.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2016.
    Type of Request: Request for Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection.
    Abstract: The farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 
Farm Bill) (Pub. L. 107-171), the 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act 
(2002 Appropriations) (Pub. L. 107-206), and the Food, Conservation and 
Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) (Pub. L. 110-234) amended the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (Act) (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) to 
require retailers to notify their customers of the country of origin 
covered commodities. Covered commodities included muscle cuts of beef 
(including veal), lamb, chicken, goat, and pork; ground beef, ground 
lamb, ground chicken, ground goat, and ground pork; wild and farm-
raised fish and shellfish; perishable agricultural commodities; 
macadamia nuts; pecans; ginseng; and peanuts. AMS published A final 
rule for all covered commodities on January 15, 2009 (74 FR 2658), 
which took effect on March 16, 2009. On May 23, 2013, AMS issued a 
final rule to amend the country of origin labeling provisions for 
muscle cuts covered commodities (78 FR 31367). The Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2016 (Pub. L. 114-113) amended the Act to remove 
mandatory COOL requirements for muscle cut beef and pork. And ground 
beef and ground pork. The Agency is issuing a final rule to conform 
with amendments to the Act contained in the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act, 2016, which appears in this edition of the Federal Register. The 
estimated number of respondents and estimated total annual burden for 
this information collection is being revised to reflect these 
amendments.
    Individuals who supply covered commodities, whether directly to 
retailers or indirectly through other participants in the marketing 
chain, are required to establish and maintain country of origin and, if 
applicable, method of production information for the covered 
commodities and supply this information to retailers. As a result 
producers, handlers, manufacturers, wholesalers, importers and 
retailers of covered commodities are affected.
    This public reporting burden is necessary to ensure conveyance and 
accuracy of country of origin and method of production declarations 
relied upon at the point of sale at retail. The public reporting burden 
also assures that all parties involved in supplying covered commodities 
to retail stores maintain and convey accurate information as required.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for recordkeeping 
storage and maintenance is estimated to average 33 hours per year per 
individual.
    Respondents: Retailers, wholesalers, producers, handlers, and 
importers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 569,835.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 569,835.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 33.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 18,708,072.
    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.

    Dated: February 26, 2016.
Elanor Starmer,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-04611 Filed 3-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P