Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 17782-17783 [2023-06160]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 57 (Friday, March 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17782-17783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06160]


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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.

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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 57 / Friday, March 24, 2023 / 
Notices

[[Page 17782]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    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 these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received by April 24, 2023. 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.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Regulations Governing Inspection Certification of Fresh and 
Processed Fruits, Vegetables and Other Products--7 CFR part 51 and 52.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0125.
    Summary of Collection: Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 0581-
0125 is authorized under, The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA), 
as amended, (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627) and ``. . . directs and authorizes the 
Secretary of Agriculture to inspect, certify, and identify the class, 
quantity, quality, and condition of agricultural products when shipped 
or received in interstate commerce, under such rules and regulations as 
the Secretary may prescribe, etc. (7 U.S.C. 1622)''. The AMA provides 
for audit based inspection services so that agricultural products may 
be marketed to their best advantage, that trade may be facilitated, and 
that consumers may be able to ascertain characteristics involved in the 
production and processing of products and obtain the quality of product 
they desire (7 U.S.C. 1622(h)).
    The present Regulations (7 CFR part 51) Governing Inspection, 
Certification and Standards for Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, and Other 
Products, and Regulations Governing Inspection and Certification of 
Processed Fruits and Vegetables and Related Products (7 CFR part 52) 
are promulgated under the provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Act 
of 1946. The Secretary has delegated this authority to the Agricultural 
Marketing Service (AMS), Specialty Crops Program (SCP), Specialty Crops 
Inspection (SCI) Division.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information is utilized by 
USDA, AMS, SCP, SCI Division, for inspection, grading, and 
certification purposes. SCI Division's grading and inspection services 
address food safety concerns, while simultaneously measuring and 
evaluating a multitude of quality parameters that are necessary for the 
procurement of nutritious foods.
    SCI Division's grade standards also serve to bring fresh and 
processed fruits and vegetables in line with present quality levels 
being marketed today. This helps the fresh and processed food 
industries by providing an objective grade-based market stratification 
system for fresh and processed food products. Fresh and processed food 
businesses often use the SCI Divisions' quality criteria as the basis 
for selling fresh and processed food commodities.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for profit.
    Number of Respondents: 60,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 25,282.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of All Covered 
Commodities.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0250.
    Summary of Collection: The 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) and 2008 (Pub. L. 
110-234), Farm Bills and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 
(Pub. L. 114-113) amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to 
require retailers to notify their customers of the country of origin of 
muscle cuts and ground lamb, chicken, and goat meat; wild and farm-
raised fish and shellfish; perishable agricultural commodities; 
peanuts, pecans, and macadamia nuts; and ginseng. An interim final rule 
for mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for fish and shellfish 
became effective on April 4, 2005. An interim final rule for the 
remaining covered commodities became effective on September 30, 2008. 
On January 15, 2009, a final rule was published for all covered 
commodities which became effective March 16, 2009. On May 23, 2013, a 
final rule was published to amend the definition of retailer and 
labeling requirements for meat muscle cut commodities derived from 
animals slaughtered in the United States.
    With the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, Congress amended 
the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to remove muscle cut beef and 
pork, and ground beef and pork commodities from COOL requirements. On 
March 2, 2016, AMS issued a final rule to remove mandatory COOL 
requirements for beef, pork, ground beef and ground pork to conform 
with the statute. Mandatory COOL requirements remain in full force and 
effect for all remaining covered commodities. Enforcement activities 
have been conducted since 2006 utilizing cooperative agreements 
established with State agencies as authorized by the statute. The 
previously approved information collection request expires on March 31, 
2023.

[[Page 17783]]

    Need and Use of the Information: Producers, handlers, 
manufacturers, wholesalers, importers, and retailers of covered 
commodities are affected. This public reporting burden is necessary to 
ensure 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.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 349,598.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping.
    Total Burden Hours: 19,879,947.

Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-06160 Filed 3-23-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P