Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 33206-33207 [2021-13259]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 119 (Thursday, June 24, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33206-33207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13259]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 21, 2021.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding; whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and 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.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by July 26, 
2021 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for the 
proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of 
the publication of this notice on the following website 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Importation of Poultry Meat and Other Poultry Products from 
Sinaloa and Sonora, Mexico; Poultry and Pork Transiting the United 
States from Mexico.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0144.
    Summary of Collection: The Animal Health Protection Act of 2002 
(Title X, Subtitle E, Sec. 10401-18 of PL 107-171) is the primary 
Federal law governing the protection of animal health. Disease 
prevention is the most effective method for maintaining a healthy 
animal population and for

[[Page 33207]]

enhancing the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services' ability to allow 
United States animal producers to compete in the world market of animal 
and animal product trade. APHIS currently has regulations in place that 
restrict the importation of poultry meat and other poultry products 
from Mexico due to the presence of Newcastle Disease (ND) in that 
country. However, APHIS allows the importation of poultry meat and 
poultry products from the Mexican States of Sinaloa and Sonora because 
APHIS has determined that poultry meat and products from these two 
Mexican States pose a negligible risk of introducing ND into the United 
States. To ensure that these items are safe for importation, APHIS 
requires that certain data appear on the foreign meat inspection 
certificate that accompanies the poultry meat and other poultry 
products from Sinaloa and Sonora to the United States. APHIS also 
requires that serial numbered seals be applied to containers carrying 
the poultry meat and other poultry products. In addition, there is an 
application and approval process required for the transit of pork and 
pork products and poultry carcasses, parts, or products (except eggs 
and egg products). APHIS also requires a pre-arrival notification to 
alert Customs & Boarder Protection Inspectors, along with an emergency 
action notice.
    Need and Use of the Information: APHIS will collect information to 
certify that the poultry meat or other poultry products were (1) 
derived from poultry born and raised in commercial breeding 
establishments in Sinaloa and Sonora; (2) derived from poultry that 
were slaughtered in Sinaloa or Sonora in a Federally-inspected 
slaughter plant approved to export these commodities to the united 
States in accordance with Food Safety & Inspection regulations; (3) 
processed at a Federally inspected processing plant in Sinaloa or 
Sonora; and (4) kept out of contact with poultry from any other State 
within Mexico. APHIS will also collect information to ensure that the 
poultry meat or poultry products from Sinaloa and Sonora pose the most 
negligible risk possible for introducing ND into the United States. If 
the information was collected less frequently or not collected at all, 
it would significantly cripple APHIS' ability to ensure that various 
commodities from certain Mexican States pose a negligible risk of 
introducing CSF or ND into the United States. This lack of information 
would make a disease incursion event much more likely and could 
seriously harm the U.S. pork and poultry industries.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Federal 
Government.
    Number of Respondents: 79.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,219.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

    Title: Approval of Laboratories for Conducting Aquatic Animal Tests 
for Export Health Certificates.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0429.
    Summary of Collection: The Animal Health Protection Act (APHA) of 
2002 is the primary Federal law governing the protection of animal 
health. The AHPA gives the Secretary of Agriculture broad authority to 
detect, control, or eradicate pests or diseases of livestock or 
poultry. The Secretary may also prohibit or restrict import or export 
of any animal or related material if necessary, to prevent the spread 
of any livestock or poultry pest or disease. Disease prevention is the 
most effective method for maintaining a healthy animal population and 
enhancing the ability of U.S. producers to compete in the global market 
of animal and animal product trade. Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) regulations do not require APHIS approval or 
certification for laboratories conducting disease tests for the export 
of aquaculture animals. However, as a condition of entry, some 
countries require testing results from a laboratory approved by the 
competent authority, in this case APHIS. State, university, and private 
laboratories can voluntarily seek approval to test for specific 
diseases. APHIS provides laboratory approval as a service to U.S. 
exporters who ship aquaculture animals to countries requiring this 
certification. The AHPA is contained in Title X, Subtitle E, Sections 
10401-18 of Public Law 107-171, May 13, 2002, the Farm Security and 
Rural Investment Act of 2002.
    Need and Use of the Information: The approval of laboratories to 
conduct tests for the export of aquaculture animals requires the use of 
certain information collection activities including notification of 
intent to request approval, application for APHIS approval, protocol 
statement, submission and recordkeeping of sample copies of diagnostic 
reports, quality assurance/control plans and their recordkeeping, 
notification of proposed changes to assay protocols, recordkeeping of 
supporting assay documentation, and request for removal of approved 
status. If APHIS did not collect this information, U.S. producers would 
be prevented from exporting aquaculture animals and products to 
countries that specifically require APHIS approved laboratories to 
certify they have performed aquatic animal pathogen detection 
procedures.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profits; State, 
Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 8.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,462.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-13259 Filed 6-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P