[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 25 (Monday, February 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6501-6503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02326]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2015-0045]


Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection; 
Importation and Transportation of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 renew the 
approved information collection regarding the importation and 
transportation of meat, poultry, and egg products. The approval for 
this information collection will expire on May 31, 2016.

DATES: Submit comments on or before April 8, 2016.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
information collection. 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, Docket 
Clerk, 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-2015-0045. 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

[[Page 6502]]

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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Paperwork Reduction Act 
Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 6065, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250; (202) 720-5627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Importation and Transportation of Meat, Poultry, and Egg 
Products.
    OMB Control Number: 0583-0094.
    Type of Request: Renewal 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.), the Poultry Products and Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, 
et seq.), and the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, 
et seq.). FSIS protects the public by verifying that meat, poultry, and 
egg products are safe, wholesome, not adulterated, and correctly 
labeled.
    FSIS is planning to request a renewal of this approved information 
collection because it is due to expire on May 31, 2016. This 
information collection includes (1) foreign inspection certificates 
required by FSIS to export meat, poultry, and egg products to the 
United States (9 CFR 327.2 and 381.196); (2) documentation required by 
FSIS for official import establishments to pre-stamp imported product 
with the inspection legend before reinspection is complete (9 CFR 
327.10(d) and 381.204(f)); and (3) documentation required to transport 
meat and poultry shipments under seal (FSIS Form 7350-1, Request and 
Notice of Shipment of Sealed Meat and Poultry) (9 CFR 325.5).
    (1) Foreign countries that wish to export meat, poultry, and egg 
products to the United States must establish eligibility to do so by 
putting in place inspection systems are ``equivalent to'' the U.S. 
inspection system (9 CFR 327.2 and 381.196) and by annually certifying 
that they continue to do so. Meat, poultry, and egg products intended 
for importation into the U.S. must be accompanied by an inspection 
certificate signed by an official of the foreign government responsible 
for the inspection and certification of the product (9 CFR 327.4, 
381.197, and 590.915).
    (2) Import establishments that wish to pre-stamp imported product 
with the inspection legend before FSIS inspection is complete must 
submit a letter to FSIS that explains and requests approval for the 
establishment's pre-stamping procedure (9 CFR 327.10(d) and 
381.204(f)).
    (3) Unless accounted for in an establishment's HACCP plan, meat and 
poultry products that do not bear the mark of inspection and that are 
to be 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 the shipping establishment to 
complete FSIS Form 7350-1, which identifies the type, amount, and 
weight of the product.
    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 29.6 hours per year to complete the foreign inspection 
certificates, pre-stamp documentation, and documentation required to 
transport meat and poultry shipments.
    Respondents: Importers, establishments, foreign governments.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 136.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 650.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,026 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from Gina Kouba, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence SW., Room 6077, South 
Building, Washington, DC 20250, (202) 690-6510.
    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 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 to both FSIS, at the 
addresses provided above, and 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.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal 
Register publication on-line through the FSIS Web page located at: 
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
    FSIS also will make copies of this 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 our constituents and 
stakeholders. The Update is available on the FSIS Web page. Through 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/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export 
information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or 
delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password 
protect their accounts.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

    No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds 
of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual 
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 
income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, 
exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to 
discrimination any person in the United States under any program or 
activity conducted by the USDA.

How To File a Complaint of Discrimination

    To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program 
Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you or your 
authorized representative.
    Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, 
or email:
    Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of 
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410.

[[Page 6503]]

    Fax: (202) 690-7442.
    Email: [email protected].
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact 
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Done at Washington, DC, on: February 2, 2016.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-02326 Filed 2-5-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P