[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4828-4829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01233]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 15 / Wednesday, January 23, 2013 / 
Notices  

[[Page 4828]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2012-0050]


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection; Importation and Transportation 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 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request an 
extension of an approved information collection regarding the 
importation and transportation of meat and poultry products. This 
information collection is due to expire.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before March 25, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the 
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this 
Web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.
     Mail, including CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Patriots 
Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, Room 8-163A, 
Washington, DC 20250-3700.
     Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots 
Plaza 3, 355 E. Street SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2012-0050. Comments 
received in response to this docket will be made available for public 
inspection and posted without change, including any personal 
information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go 
to the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E. Street SW., Room 8-
164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday.
    For Additional Information: Contact John O'Connell, Paperwork 
Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 6065, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250; phone: (202) 720-0345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Importation and Exportation of Meat and Poultry Products.
    OMB Control No.: 0583-0094.
    Expiration Date: 3/31/13.
    Type of Request: Extension of an approved information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary of Agriculture (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53) as 
specified in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et 
seq.) and the Poultry Products and Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 
451, et seq.). FSIS protects the public by verifying that meat and 
poultry products are safe, wholesome, not adulterated, and correctly 
labeled.
    FSIS is planning to request an extension of this approved 
information collection because it is due to expire on March 31, 2013.
    Unless accounted for in an establishment's HACCP plan, 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 USDA seal to prevent such unmarked product from 
entering into commerce (9 CFR 325.5). To track product shipped under 
seal, FSIS requires shipping establishments to complete FSIS Form 7350-
1 that identifies the type, amount, and weight of the product.
    Foreign countries exporting meat and poultry products to the United 
States must establish eligibility for importation of product into the 
U.S., and annually certify that their inspection systems are 
``equivalent to'' the U.S. inspection system (9 CFR 327.2 and 381.196). 
Additionally, meat and poultry products intended for import into the 
U.S. must be accompanied by a certificate, signed by an official of the 
foreign government, stating that the products have been produced by 
certified foreign establishments (9 CFR 327.2 and 381.197).
    Maintenance of eligibility of a country for importation of products 
into the U.S. depends on the results of periodic reviews of each 
establishment listed in the certification (9 CFR 327.2 and 381.196). A 
written report must be prepared by the representative of the foreign 
government documenting the findings with respect to the effective 
operation of the system.
    Meat and poultry products exported to the U.S. must be accompanied 
by a certificate signed by a responsible official of the exporting 
country (9 CFR 327.4 and 381.197).
    Import establishments that wish to pre-stamp imported product with 
the inspection legend prior to FSIS inspection must submit a letter to 
FSIS requesting approval to do so (9 CFR 327.10(d) and 381.204).
    FSIS has made the following estimates on the basis of an 
information collection assessment.
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it takes each respondent an 
average of 20.9 hours per year to complete the forms and documents 
described above.
    Respondents: Importers, establishments, foreign governments.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 136.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 650.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,846 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety 
and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence SW., Room 6065, South 
Building, Washington, DC 20250; phone: (202) 720-0345.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS's 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed

[[Page 4829]]

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, including through the use 
of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques, or other forms of information 
technology. Comments may be sent both to FSIS, at the addresses 
provided above, and to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, DC 20253.
    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.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination 
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, 
national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, 
sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited 
bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require 
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, 
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at 
202-720-2600 (voice and TTY).
    To file a written complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office 
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TTY). 
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Additional Public Notification

    FSIS will announce this notice online through the FSIS Web page 
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Federal 
Register_Notices/index.asp.
    FSIS will also 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, and other types of information 
that could affect or would be of interest to constituents and 
stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free 
electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade groups, 
consumer interest groups, health professionals, and other individuals 
who have asked to be included. The Update is also available on the FSIS 
Web page. In addition, FSIS offers an electronic mail 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_&_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 accounts.

    Done at Washington, DC, on: January 11, 2013.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-01233 Filed 1-22-13; 8:45 am]
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