[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 14 (Monday, January 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3355-3356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1181]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc.  FV-05-326]


Notice of Request for New Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the intention of the 
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to request a new information 
collection in support of the Regulations Governing Inspection and 
Certification of Processed Fruits and Vegetables and Related Products.

DATES: Comments may be submitted on or before March 25, 2005.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Terry B. Bane, Processed 
Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 0247, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-0247; fax (202) 690-1527; or e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ``Domestic Origin Verification System'' 
(DOVS) audit program is a user-fee service, available to suppliers, 
processors, and any financially interested party. It is designed to 
provide validation of the applicant's domestic origin verification 
system prior to bidding on contracts to supply food products to the 
Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Domestic Feeding programs, and/or 
may be conducted after a contract is awarded.
    DOVS was established to evaluate prospective applicants' systems 
for assurance that only domestic products are delivered under USDA 
contracts, and to establish procedures for applicant system evaluations 
as well as acceptance and rejection criteria.
    Title: ``Regulations Governing Inspection and Certification of 
Processed Fruits and Vegetables and Related Products--7 CFR 52.''
    OMB Number: To be assigned.
    Expiration Date of Approval: To be announced.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-et 
seq.) (AMA) directs and authorizes the Department to develop standards 
of quality, grades, grading programs, and other services to facilitate 
trading of agricultural products and assure consumers of quality 
products, which are graded and identified under USDA programs. Section 
203(h) of the AMA specifically directs and authorizes the Secretary of 
Agriculture to inspect, certify, and identify the grade, class, 
quality, quantity, and condition of agricultural products under such 
rules and regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, including 
assessment and collection of fees for the cost of the service. The 
regulations for such services for processed fruits and vegetables and 
related products may be found at 7 CFR Part 52. AMS also provides other 
types of voluntary services under the same regulations, e.g., contract 
and specification acceptance services, facility assessment services, 
and certifications of quantity and quality. Grading services are 
available on a resident basis or a lot-fee basis. Respondents may 
request resident service on a continuous basis or on an as-needed 
basis. The user (user-fee) pays for the service. The AMA and these 
regulations do not mandate the use of these services; they are provided 
only to those entities that request or apply for a specific service. In 
order for the Agency to satisfy those requests for service, the Agency 
must request certain information from those who apply for service. The 
information collected is used only by Agency personnel and is used to 
administer services requested by the respondents. Affected public may 
include any partnership, association, business trust, corporation, 
organized group, and state, county, or municipal government, and any 
authorized agent that has a financial interest in the commodity 
involved and requests service.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2.25 hours per response (225 total 
hours divided by 100 total annual responses).
    Respondents: Applicants who are applying for grading and inspection 
services.

[[Page 3356]]

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 100.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 225.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Comments may be sent to Mr. Terry B. Bane, 
Processed Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 0247, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington DC 20250-0247; fax (202) 690-1527; 
or e-mail [email protected].
    All comments received will be available for public inspection 
during regular business hours at the same address. All responses to 
this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval. All comments received will become a matter of public record 
and be available for public inspection during regular business hours at 
the same address. All responses to this notice will be summarized and 
included in the request for OMB approval.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

    Dated: January 13, 2005.
A. J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-1181 Filed 1-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P