[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2959-2960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00966]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0102]


Third-Party Inspection Programs Under the Animal Welfare Act; 
Public Meetings

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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

SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) will host a series of public meetings to 
solicit data and information from the public to aid in the development 
of criteria for recognizing the use of third-party inspection and 
certification programs as a positive factor when determining APHIS 
inspection frequencies at facilities licensed or registered under the 
Animal Welfare Act.

DATES: The meetings will be held in Santa Clara, CA, on January 18, 
2018; Riverdale, MD, on February 8, 2018; Kansas City, MO, on February 
22, 2018, and Tampa, FL, on March 8, 2018. The public meetings will be 
held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., local time, except for the meeting in 
Maryland, which will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., local time. A 
virtual listening session will be held on March 14, 2018, from 1 p.m. 
to 5 p.m. EST. We will accept written statements regarding the use of 
third-party inspection and certification programs until March 21, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be held at the following locations:
     January 18: Santa Clara Marriott, 2700 Mission College 
Boulevard, Santa Clara, CA 95054;
     February 8: USDA Center at Riverside, 4700 River Road, 
Riverdale, MD 20737;
     February 22: USDA, Beacon Building, 6501 Beacon Road, 
Kansas City, MO 64133; and
     March 8: Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza, 4200 
Jim Walter Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33607.
    You may also submit written statements using one of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0102.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2017-0102, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mike Tuck, Management Analyst, 
Animal Care, APHIS, USDA 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737; 
(301) 851-3747; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS) is announcing a series of meetings to solicit data and 
information from the public to aid in the development of criteria for 
recognizing the use of third-party inspection and certification 
programs as a positive factor when determining APHIS inspection 
frequencies at facilities licensed or registered under the Animal 
Welfare Act (AWA). APHIS already recognizes inspections performed by 
other government agencies with animal welfare oversight and 
accreditation by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums as a positive 
factor when determining the frequency of Federal inspections through 
the use of a risk-based inspection system, and APHIS is seeking public 
comment on expanding this consideration to include other types of 
third-party inspections and certifications.
    The risk-based inspection system, initiated in 1998, uses several 
objective criteria, including but not limited to past compliance 
history, to determine the minimum inspection frequency at each licensed 
and registered facility. With this system, APHIS has been able to 
provide more in-depth inspections and improve its interactions with 
licensees and registrants--an approach that APHIS firmly believes makes 
better use of its inspection resources.
    The public may submit their comments in response to this notice in 
writing and/or at in-person and virtual listening sessions. The 
meetings will be held in various locations across the country and will 
include an internet-based virtual meeting to facilitate attendance. 
Participants will have the opportunity to offer written and oral 
comments.
    Specifically, APHIS is seeking data and information regarding the 
following topics and questions:
    1. APHIS is considering recognizing the use of qualified, third-
party programs when determining APHIS inspection frequencies at 
regulated facilities. Would a potential reduction in the frequency of 
APHIS inspections be a sufficient incentive for regulated facilities to 
use third-party programs to support compliance under the AWA? Are there 
other incentives that could be offered to attract participation of 
regulated entities in the program? Please explain.
    2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of voluntary, third-
party programs to support compliance under the AWA? What potential 
benefits and costs might accrue to regulated facilities that elect to 
use a third-party program? What are the risks associated with using a 
third-party program?
    3. Are third-party programs likely to be effective in practice? Is 
there potential for a well-functioning market for third-party programs 
to develop? Please explain. What existing third-party programs are 
already used by regulated facilities to help support their AWA 
compliance?
    4. When assessing whether to recognize a third-party program, what

[[Page 2960]]

criteria should APHIS consider to assure its independence, determine 
whether the scope of its services support and align with the AWA, and 
mitigate potential conflicts of interest and other potential risks? In 
addition, what information should a regulated facility provide so APHIS 
may verify its use of a third-party program?
    5. Aside from recognizing the use of qualified, third-party 
programs, what are other methods APHIS could use to encourage 
facilities to achieve and sustain compliance with the AWA? Also, where 
do you see the greatest opportunity for APHIS to improve the 
consistency and effectiveness of its AWA program?
    Registration instructions for the listening session are available 
by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
or by following the instructions available via the APHIS website at: 
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/sa_animal_welfare_news/third-party-inspection-certification-programs.
    If you require special accommodations, such as a sign language 
interpreter, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Done in Washington, DC, on January 16, 2018.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-00966 Filed 1-19-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-34-P