[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 126 (Friday, July 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38091-38092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-3461]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. 05-050-1]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Importation of Pork-Filled Pasta

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment 
request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's 
intention to request an extension of approval of an information 
collection in support of the regulations for the importation of pork-
filled pasta products from regions affected with swine vesicular 
disease.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
August 30, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     EDOCKET: Go to http://www.epa.gov/feddocket to submit or 
view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the 
official public docket, and to access those documents in the public 
docket that are available electronically. Once you have entered 
EDOCKET, click on the ``View Open APHIS Dockets'' link to locate this 
document.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies 
of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. 05-050-1, 
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 
River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your 
comment refers to Docket No. 05-050-1.
    Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this 
docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of 
the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to 
help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
    Other Information: You may view APHIS documents published in the 
Federal Register and related information on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the 
regulations for the importation of pork-filled pasta products, contact 
Dr. Masoud Malik, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Technical Trade Services, 
National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 
40, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-8096. For copies of more 
detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. 
Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information

[[Page 38092]]

Collection Coordinator, at (301) 734-7477.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Importation of Pork-Filled Pasta.
    OMB Number: 0579-0214.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for 
protecting the health of our Nation's livestock and poultry populations 
by preventing the introduction and interstate spread of serious 
diseases and pests of livestock and for eradicating such diseases from 
the United States when feasible. The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 
(referred to below as the regulations) prohibit or restrict the 
importation of specified animals and animal products into the United 
States to prevent the introduction into the U.S. livestock population 
of certain contagious animal diseases, including swine vesicular 
disease (SVD). Section 94.12 of the regulations contains, among other 
things, specific processing, recordkeeping, and certification 
requirements for pork-filled pasta products exported to the United 
States from regions affected with SVD.
    The regulations require, among other things, that the pork-filled 
pasta products be accompanied by a certificate stating that the product 
has been handled and processed according to the requirements set forth 
in the regulations. This certificate must be issued and signed by an 
official of the National Government of the region in which the pasta 
products were processed.
    In addition, the processing facility where the pork-filled pasta 
products are produced must maintain original records (to be kept for a 
minimum of 2 years) that identify, for each lot of pork used, the date 
the pork entered the facility, the lot number, the health certificate 
that accompanied the pork from the slaughter/processing facility to the 
meat-filled pasta processing facility, and the date the pork either 
began either dry-curing or was cooked.
    These records would provide important information in any traceback 
investigation that may need to be conducted by officials of the region 
of origin of the pork-filled pasta product, or by officials of the 
USDA.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3 
years.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. 
These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate 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;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, 
electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies; e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 1.25 hours per response.
    Respondents: Officials of the National Government of the region in 
which the pork-filled pasta product is processed.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 5.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 20.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 100.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 125 hours. (Due to 
averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of 
the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per 
response.)
    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.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 27th day of June 2005.
Elizabeth E. Gaston,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E5-3461 Filed 6-30-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P