[Federal Register: June 23, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 121)]
[Notices]
[Page 36054-36055]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23jn06-22]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2006-0014]
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved
Information Collection (Exportation, Transportation, and Importation of
Meat and Poultry Products)
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice
announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to
request an extension of a currently approved information collection
regarding exportation, transportation, and importation of meat and
poultry products.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before August 22,
2006.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
information collection request. Comments may be submitted by mail,
including floppy disks or CD-ROMs, and hand-or courier-delivered items.
Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and
Inspection Service, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 102 Cotton Annex,
Washington, DC 20250. All submissions received must include the Agency
name and docket number FSIS-2006-0014.
All comments submitted in response to this notice, as well as
research and background information used by FSIS in developing this
document, will be available for public inspection in the FSIS Docket
Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The comments also will
be posted on the Agency's Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/2006_Notices_Index/index.asp.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction
Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 300 12th
Street, SW., Room 112, Washington, DC 20250-3700, (202) 720-0345.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Exportation, Transportation, and Importation of Meat and
Poultry Products.
OMB Number: 0583-0094.
Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 2006.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the
functions of the Secretary as specified in the Federal Meat Inspection
Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.) and the Poultry Products Inspection
Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.). These statutes mandate that FSIS
protect the public by ensuring that meat and poultry products are safe,
wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.
FSIS is requesting extension of an approved information collection
addressing paperwork and recordkeeping requirements regarding the
collection of information concerning the exportation, transportation,
and importation of meat and poultry products. The Agency requires that
meat and poultry establishments exporting product to foreign countries
complete an export certificate. Establishments must supply the type,
the amount, and the destination of product being exported. The form is
necessary to certify to the importing countries that FSIS inspectors
have inspected the product.
Meat and poultry products not bearing the mark of inspection and
shipped from one official establishment to another must be transported
under FSIS seal to prevent such unmarked product from entering
commerce. To track product shipped under seal, FSIS requires shipping
establishments to complete a form that identifies the type, amount, and
weight of the product.
A foreign country exporting meat or poultry products to the U.S.
must establish eligibility to import product into the U.S. and annually
certify that its inspection system is equivalent to the U.S. inspection
system. To maintain eligibility, a written report must be prepared
monthly by a representative of the foreign inspection system for each
establishment listed in the certification. Additionally, meat and
poultry products intended for import into the U.S. must be accompanied
by a health certificate, signed by an official of the foreign
government, stating that the products have been produced by certified
foreign establishments. Establishments or brokers wishing to import
product into the United States must complete a form that specifies the
type, amount, originating country, and destination of the product. The
amount of meat and poultry product imported into the United States is
included in FSIS' annual Report to Congress. Additionally, the Agency
has established procedures allowing establishments importing product to
stamp such product with the inspection legend before FSIS inspection,
if they receive FSIS prior approval.
FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information
collection assessment:
Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an
average of 24 hours per annum to collect and submit this information to
FSIS.
Respondents: Meat and poultry establishments, and importers and
exporters.
Estimated No. of Respondents: 5,436.
Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 294.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 127,838 hours.
Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained
from John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety
and Inspection Service, USDA, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 112,
Washington, DC 20250-3700, (202) 720-5627, (202) 720-0345.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS' functions,
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the
accuracy of FSIS' estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility,
[[Page 36055]]
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) 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 may be sent to both
John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at the address
provided above, and the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, DC 20253.
All 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, in an effort to ensure that the
public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with
disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line
through the FSIS Web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2006_Notices_Index/index.asp
.
FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication
available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal
Register notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and other types of
information that could affect or would be of interest to our
constituents and stakeholders. The update is communicated via Listserv,
a free e-mail subscription service consisting of industry, trade, and
farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals,
scientific professionals, and other individuals who have requested to
be included. The update also is available on the FSIS web page. Through
Listserv and the web page, FSIS is able to 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 http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/email_subscription/.
Options range from recalls to
export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers
can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the option to
password protect their account.
Done at Washington, DC, on June 20, 2006.
Barbara J. Masters,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6-9947 Filed 6-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P