[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 121 (Friday, June 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36054-36055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9947]


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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