[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5865-5866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2607]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 24 / Wednesday, February 5, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 5865]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 03-004N]


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

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 for and revision to a currently approved 
information collection package regarding exportation, transportation, 
and importation of meat and poultry products.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before March 31, 
2003.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact John O'Connell, Paperwork 
Specialist, 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: 1/31/03.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary as provided 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 an extension and revision to the information 
collection package addressing meat and poultry paperwork and 
recordkeeping requirements regarding exportation, transportation, and 
importation of meat and poultry products. FSIS requires that meat and 
poultry establishments exporting product to foreign countries complete 
an export certificate. Establishments must supply the type, amount, and 
destination of product being exported. The information required on this 
form does not duplicate any information required by other Federal 
agencies. The form is necessary to certify to the importing countries 
that FSIS inspectors have inspected the product and have found it sound 
and wholesome. Additionally, FSIS uses the information from the form in 
its annual Report to Congress as required by sections 301(c)(4) and 
20(e) of the FMIA and sections 27 and 5(c)(4) of the PPIA.
    Meat and poultry products not marked with the mark of inspection 
and shipped from one official establishment to another for further 
processing must be transported under FSIS seal to prevent such unmarked 
product from entering into 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 for importation of product into the U.S. and 
annually certify that its inspection systems are ``at least equal 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 
meat and poultry product. The amount of meat and poultry product 
imported into the United States is included in FSIS's annual Report to 
Congress. Additionally, FSIS has established procedures allowing 
establishments importing product to stamp such product with the 
inspection legend prior to FSIS inspection, if they receive FSIS prior 
approval.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average .0773501 hours per response.
    Respondents: Meat and poultry establishments, and importers and 
exporters.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,374.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 295.88866.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 168,769 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from John O'Connell, Paperwork Specialist, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service, USDA, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 112, Washington, DC 20250-
3700, (202) 720-5276.
    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, 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 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 
Specialist, 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

    This notice is designed to provide information to the public and 
request their comments on FSIS' information collection requirements 
regarding

[[Page 5866]]

Exportation, Transportation, and Importation of Meat and Poultry 
Products. Public involvement is important. Consequently, in an effort 
to better ensure that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities 
are made aware of this request for the extension and revision of the 
currently approved information collection request 0583-0094 and are 
informed about the mechanism for providing their comments, FSIS will 
announce it and provide copies of this Federal Register publication in 
the FSIS Constituent Update.
    FSIS provides a weekly FSIS Constituent Update, which is 
communicated via fax to over 300 organizations and individuals. In 
addition, the update is available on line through the FSIS Web page 
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov. The update is used to provide 
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal 
Register Notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and any other types of 
information that could affect or would be of interest to our 
constituents/stakeholders. The constituent fax list consists of 
industry, trade, and farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied 
health professionals, scientific professionals and other individuals 
that have requested to be included. Through these various channels, 
FSIS is able to provide information with a much broader, more diverse 
audience.
    For more information and to be added to the constituent fax list, 
fax your request to the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, at 
(202) 720-5704.

Linda M. Swacina,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-2607 Filed 1-30-03; 5:01 pm]
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