[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 215 (Thursday, November 6, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 62765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27961]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 215 / Thursday, November 6, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 62765]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice 
announces the Foreign Agricultural Service's intention to request an 
extension for a currently approved information collection in support of 
the regulations governing the entry of raw cane sugar under the tariff-
rate quota (TRQ) into the United States.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received January 5, 2004 to be 
assured on consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard J. Blabey, Director, Import 
Policies and Programs Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, AgStop 
1021, South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 
20250-1021 or telephone (202) 720-2916, fax to (202) 720-0876, or e-
mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Certificate for Quota Eligibility.
    OMB Number: 0551-0014.
    Expiration Date of Approval: February 29, 2004.
    Abstract: The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) 
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the quantity of 
raw cane sugar, which may be entered at the TRQ duty rates. The terms 
under which Certificates for Quota Eligibility (CQEs) will be issued to 
foreign countries that have been allocated a share of the TRQ are set 
forth in 15 CFR part 2011, Subpart A, Allocation of Tariff-rate Quota 
on Imported Sugars, Syrups, and Molasses. The authority for issuing 
CQEs is Additional U.S. Note 5(b)(iv) to chapter 17 of the HTS. The 
regulation, promulgated by the United States Trade Representative, 
provides for the issuance of CQEs by the Secretary of Agriculture, and 
in general prohibits sugar subject to the TRQ from being imported into 
the United States or withdrawn from a warehouse for consumption at the 
TRQ duty rates unless such sugar is accompanied by a CQE. CQEs are 
issued to foreign countries by the Director of the Import Policies and 
Programs Division, Foreign Agricultural Service, or his or her 
designee. The issuance of CQEs is in such amounts and at such times as 
the Director determines are appropriates to enable the foreign country 
to fill its quota allocation for such quota period in a reasonable 
manner, taking into account traditional shipping patterns, harvesting 
period, U.S. import requirements, and other relevant factors.
    The information required to be collected on the CQE is used to 
monitor and control the imports of raw cane sugar. Proper completion of 
the CQE is mandatory for those foreign governments that are eligible 
and elect to export raw cane sugar to the United States under the TRQ.
    Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for the collection 
varies in direct relation to the number of CQEs issued.
    Respondents: Foreign governments.
    Estimated number of respondents: 40 (i.e., number of countries 
receiving a TRQ allocation).
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 30 per fiscal year.
    Estimated total annual reporting burden: 200 hours.
    Request for Comments: Send comments regarding: (a) Whether the 
information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the 
functions of the agency, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the collection of information including the validity of the 
methodology and assumption 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 automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Copies of this information collection may be 
obtained from Kimberly Chisley, the Agency Information Collection 
Coordinator, at (202) 720-2568.
    Comments may be sent to Richard Blabey, the Import Policies and 
Programs Division, Stop 1021, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 
20250-1021, or [email protected], or to the Desk Officer for 
Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of 
Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Persons with disabilities 
who require an alternative means of communication of information 
(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's Target 
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). 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.
    FAS is committed to complying with the Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act which requires Government agencies, to the maximum 
extent feasible, to provide the public with the option of 
electronically submitting an information collection. CQEs permit 
exporters to ship raw cane sugar to the United States at the U.S. 
price, which is significantly higher than the world price for raw cane 
sugar. Therefore, in contrast to most information collection documents, 
CQEs have a monetary value equivalent to the substantial profits to 
exporters who can fill their raw cane sugar allocations under the TRQ. 
CQEs have always been carefully handled as secure documents, and issued 
only to foreign government-approved certifying authorities. The 
Department does not plan to make CQEs available electronically in order 
to prevent a potential proliferation of invalid CQEs, which could 
undermine the integrity of the TRQ system.

    Signed at Washington, DC on October 27, 2003.
A. Ellen Terpstra,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 03-27961 Filed 11-5-03; 8:45 am]
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