Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Importation and Transportation of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products, 9747-9748 [2019-04996]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 52 (Monday, March 18, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9747-9748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04996]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2019-0002]


Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: 
Importation and Transportation of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to renew the 
approved information collection regarding the importation and 
transportation of meat, poultry, and egg products. The approval for 
this information collection will expire on June 30, 2019. FSIS is 
making no changes to the approved collection.

DATES: Submit comments on or before May 17, 2019.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
Federal Register notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides 
commenters the ability to type short comments directly into the comment 
field on the web page or to attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to 
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that 
site for submitting comments.
     Mail, including CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Room 6065, Washington, DC 20250-
3700.
     Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2019-0002. Comments 
received in response to this docket will be made available for public 
inspection and posted without change, including any personal 
information, to https://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, 
call (202) 720-5627 to schedule a time to visit the FSIS Docket Room at 
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, Washington, DC 20250-3700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety 
and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, 
South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 720-5627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Importation and Transportation of Meat, Poultry, and Egg 
Products.
    OMB Control Number: 0583-0094.
    Expiration Date: 06/30/2019.
    Type of Request: Renewal of an approved information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53) as specified in the 
Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.), the 
Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.) and the 
Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq.). These 
statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat, 
poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and 
properly labeled and packaged.
    FSIS is requesting renewal of the information collection regarding 
the importation and transportation of meat, poultry, and egg products. 
The approval for this information collection will expire on June 30, 
2019. FSIS is making no changes to the approved collection. This 
information collection includes (1) foreign inspection certificates 
from foreign countries required by FSIS to export meat, poultry, and 
egg products to the United States (9 CFR 327.2 and 381.196); (2) 
documentation required by FSIS from official import establishments to 
pre-stamp imported product with the inspection legend before 
reinspection is complete (9 CFR 327.10(d) and 381.204(f)); and (3) 
documentation required from official establishments to transport meat 
and poultry shipments under seal (FSIS Form 7350-1, Request and Notice 
of Shipment of Sealed Meat and Poultry) (9 CFR 325.5).
    (1) Foreign countries that wish to export meat, poultry, and egg 
products to the United States must establish eligibility to do so by 
putting in place inspection systems that are ``equivalent to'' the U.S. 
inspection system (9 CFR 327.2 and 381.196) and by annually certifying 
that they continue to do so. Meat, poultry, and egg products intended 
for importation into the U.S. must be accompanied by an inspection 
certificate signed by an official of the foreign government responsible 
for the inspection and certification of the product (9 CFR 327.4, 
381.197, and 590.915).
    (2) Import establishments that wish to pre-stamp imported product 
with the inspection legend before FSIS inspection is complete must 
submit a letter to FSIS that explains and requests approval for the 
establishment's pre-stamping procedure (9 CFR 327.10(d) and 
381.204(f)).
    (3) Unless accounted for in an establishment's HACCP plan, meat and 
poultry products that do not bear the mark of inspection and that are 
to be shipped from one official establishment to another for further 
processing must be transported under USDA seal to prevent such unmarked 
product from entering into commerce (9 CFR 325.5). To track product 
shipped under seal, FSIS requires the shipping establishment to 
complete FSIS Form 7350-1, which identifies the type, amount, and 
weight of the product.
    FSIS has made the following estimates based on an information 
collection assessment.
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it takes each respondent an 
average of 29.6 hours per year to complete the foreign inspection 
certificates, pre-stamp documentation, and documentation required to 
transport meat and poultry shipments.
    Respondents: Importers, establishments, foreign governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 136.

[[Page 9748]]

    Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 650.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,026 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety 
and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, 
South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 720-5627.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS's 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
method and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information, including through 
the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques, or other forms of information 
technology. Comments may be sent to both FSIS, at the addresses 
provided above, and the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, DC 20253.
    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.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal 
Register publication on-line through the FSIS web page located at: 
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
    FSIS will also announce and provide a link to it through the FSIS 
Constituent Update, which is used to provide information regarding FSIS 
policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS 
public meetings, and other types of information that could affect or 
would be of interest to our constituents and stakeholders. The 
Constituent Update is available on the FSIS web page. Through the web 
page, FSIS can provide information to a much broader, more diverse 
audience. In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription service which 
provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news 
and information. This service is available at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export 
information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or 
delete subscriptions themselves and have the option to password protect 
their accounts.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

    No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds 
of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual 
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 
income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, 
exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to 
discrimination any person in the United States under any program or 
activity conducted by the USDA.

How To File a Complaint of Discrimination

    To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program 
Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at https://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you or your 
authorized representative.
    Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, 
or email:
    Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of 
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410.
    Fax: (202) 690-7442.
    Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact 
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Done in Washington, DC.
Carmen M. Rottenberg,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2019-04996 Filed 3-15-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P