Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Covered Commodities: Notice of Request for Renewal of a Currently Approved Information Collection, 17994 [2019-08579]
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17994
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 84, No. 82
Monday, April 29, 2019
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are
examples of documents appearing in this
section.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS–FTPP–19–0046]
Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling
of Covered Commodities: Notice of
Request for Renewal 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 a renewal
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
June 28, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be
submitted electronically at htttp://
www.regulations.gov. Comments may
also be submitted to Erin Healy,
Director, Food Disclosure and Labeling
Division, Fair Trade Practices Program,
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA),
STOP 0216, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW, Room 2614–S, Washington, DC
20250–0216; or email to cool@
ams.usda.gov. All comments should
reference docket number AMS–FTPP–
19–0046 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
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:56 Apr 26, 2019
Jkt 247001
identity of the individuals or entities
submitting the comments will be made
public on the internet at the above
address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin
Healy, Director, Food Disclosure and
Labeling Division, AMS, USDA, by
telephone at (202) 720–4486, or email at
cool@ams.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Mandatory Country of Origin
Labeling of Covered Commodities.
OMB Number: 0581–0250.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30,
2019.
Type of Request: Request for Renewal
and 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
of 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 (78 FR
31367). The Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2016 (Pub. L. 114–
113) amended the Act to remove
mandatory COOL requirements for
muscle cut and ground beef and pork
commodities. On March 2, 2016, AMS
issued a final rule to conform with
amendments to the Act contained in the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016.
Enforcement activities have been
conducted since 2006 utilizing
cooperative agreements established with
State agencies.
Individuals who supply covered
commodities, whether directly to
retailers or indirectly through other
participants in the marketing chain, are
required to establish and maintain
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
country of origin and, if applicable (i.e.,
for fish and shellfish covered
commodities, only), 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 recordkeeping 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 recordkeeping 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
50.46 hours per year per respondent.
Recordkeepers: Retailers, wholesalers,
producers, handlers, and importers.
Estimated Number of Recordkeepers:
415,517.
Estimated Total Annual Responses:
415,517.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Recordkeeper: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 20,966,789.
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: April 24, 2019.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–08579 Filed 4–26–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
E:\FR\FM\29APN1.SGM
29APN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 82 (Monday, April 29, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 17994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08579]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 82 / Monday, April 29, 2019 /
Notices
[[Page 17994]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-FTPP-19-0046]
Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Covered Commodities:
Notice of Request for Renewal 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 a
renewal 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 June 28, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted electronically at htttp://
www.regulations.gov. Comments may also be submitted to Erin Healy,
Director, Food Disclosure and Labeling Division, Fair Trade Practices
Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA), STOP 0216, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 2614-S,
Washington, DC 20250-0216; or email to [email protected]. All comments
should reference docket number AMS-FTPP-19-0046 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: Erin Healy, Director, Food Disclosure
and Labeling Division, AMS, USDA, by telephone at (202) 720-4486, or
email at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Covered Commodities.
OMB Number: 0581-0250.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2019.
Type of Request: Request for Renewal and 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 of
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 (78 FR 31367). The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016
(Pub. L. 114-113) amended the Act to remove mandatory COOL requirements
for muscle cut and ground beef and pork commodities. On March 2, 2016,
AMS issued a final rule to conform with amendments to the Act contained
in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016. Enforcement activities
have been conducted since 2006 utilizing cooperative agreements
established with State agencies.
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 (i.e., for fish and shellfish covered commodities, only),
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 recordkeeping 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 recordkeeping
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 50.46 hours per year
per respondent.
Recordkeepers: Retailers, wholesalers, producers, handlers, and
importers.
Estimated Number of Recordkeepers: 415,517.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 415,517.
Estimated Number of Responses per Recordkeeper: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 20,966,789.
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: April 24, 2019.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-08579 Filed 4-26-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P