[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 61 (Monday, March 31, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18005-18006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07011]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-FV-14-0004; FV14-944-1]


Specified Commodities Imported into the United States, Exempt 
from Import Regulations; Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501), this document announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension and revision to 
currently approved forms utilized by importers of commodities that are 
exempt from section 8e import regulations.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 30, 2014 to be 
considered.
    Additional Information: Contact Andrew Hatch, Supervisory Marketing 
Specialist, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Fruit and Vegetable 
Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0237, Room 1406-
S, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Tel: (202) 720-2491; Email: 
[email protected].
    Small businesses may request information on this notice by 
contacting Jeffrey Smutny, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, 
Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Stop 0237, Room 1406-S, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Tel: (202) 690-3919; 
or Email: [email protected].
    Comments: Comments should reference the docket number and the date 
and page number of this issue of the Federal Register, and be mailed to 
the Docket Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406-S, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Fax: 
(202) 720-8938; or submitted through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    All comments to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval, and will become a matter of public record.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Specified Commodities Imported Into the United States Exempt 
from Import Requirements.
    OMB Number: 0581-0167.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2014.
    Type of Request: Extension and Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 
1937 as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674; Act) requires that whenever the 
Secretary of Agriculture issues grade, size, quality, or maturity 
regulations under domestic marketing orders, the same or comparable 
regulations must be issued for imported commodities. Import regulations 
apply only during those periods when domestic marketing order 
regulations are in effect.
    Currently, the following commodities are subject to section 8e 
import regulations: Avocados; grapefruit; kiwifruit; olives (other than 
Spanish-style); oranges; table grapes; Irish potatoes; onions; 
tomatoes; dates (other than dates for processing); walnuts; raisins; 
pistachios; and hazelnuts (filberts). Imports of these commodities are 
exempt from section 8e requirements if they are imported for such 
outlets as processing, charity, animal feed, seed, and distribution to 
relief agencies when those outlets are exempt under the applicable 
marketing orders.
    Safeguard procedures in the form of importer and receiver reporting 
requirements are used to ensure that the imported commodities are, in 
fact, shipped to authorized, exempt outlets. Reports required under the 
safeguard procedure are similar to the reports currently required by 
most domestic marketing orders, and are required of importers and 
receivers under the following import regulations: (1) Fruits; import 
regulations (7 CFR 944.350); (2) vegetables; import regulations (7 CFR 
980.501); and (3) specialty crops; import regulations (7 CFR 999.500).
    Under these regulations, importers wishing to import commodities 
for exempt purposes must complete form FV-6, the ``Importer's Exempt 
Commodity Form,'' prior to importation, through the Marketing Order 
Online System (MOLS). Launched in August 2008, MOLS is an internet-
based application, managed by the USDA, which allows importers and 
receivers of fruit, vegetable, and specialty crops to review and search 
for FV-6 certificates online. If an importer correctly inputs his 
shipment data into MOLS, he will receive and be able to print a 
certificate that accompanies the shipment. Data are simultaneously 
transmitted to the receiver and to AMS, where they are reviewed for 
compliance purposes by Marketing Order and Agreement Division (MOAD) 
staff, in the USDA's Fruit and Vegetable Program.
    In rare instances a paper form FV-6 may be used. The hardcopy form 
has four parts, which are distributed as follows: Copy one is presented 
to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security; copy two is filed with MOAD within two days of the commodity 
entering the United States; copy three accompanies the exempt shipment 
to its intended destination, where the receiver certifies its receipt 
and that it will be used for exempt purposes, and files that copy with 
MOAD within two days of receipt; and copy four is retained by the 
importer.
    In addition to renewing the FV-6 form, this information collection 
package does the same for the FV-7 form, ``Civil Penalty Stipulation 
Agreement.'' Produce importers sign the FV-7 form, for which there is 
no burden associated because only a signature is required.
    The information collected through this package is used primarily by 
authorized representatives of the USDA, including AMS Fruit and 
Vegetable Program regional and headquarters staff.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Importers and receivers of exempt commodities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 144
    Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 213,691
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1,484
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 17,734 hours
    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)

[[Page 18006]]

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 through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    All comments to this document will be summarized and included in 
the request for OMB approval, and will become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: March 12, 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-07011 Filed 3-28-14; 8:45 am]
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