[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 82 (Monday, April 29, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 17994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08579]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 82 / Monday, April 29, 2019 /
Notices
[[Page 17994]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-FTPP-19-0046]
Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Covered Commodities:
Notice of Request for Renewal of a Currently Approved Information
Collection
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention
to request approval, from the Office of Management and Budget, for a
renewal and revision to the currently approved information collection
of the Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) of Covered
Commodities.
DATES: Comments must be received by June 28, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted electronically at htttp://
www.regulations.gov. Comments may also be submitted to Erin Healy,
Director, Food Disclosure and Labeling Division, Fair Trade Practices
Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA), STOP 0216, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 2614-S,
Washington, DC 20250-0216; or email to [email protected]. All comments
should reference docket number AMS-FTPP-19-0046 and note the date and
page number of this issue of the Federal Register.
Submitted comments will be available for public inspection at
http://www.regulations.gov or at the above address during regular
business hours. Comments submitted in response to this Notice will be
included in the records and will be made available to the public.
Please be advised that the identity of the individuals or entities
submitting the comments will be made public on the internet at the
above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Healy, Director, Food Disclosure
and Labeling Division, AMS, USDA, by telephone at (202) 720-4486, or
email at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Covered Commodities.
OMB Number: 0581-0250.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2019.
Type of Request: Request for Renewal and Revision of a Currently
Approved Information Collection.
Abstract: The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002
Farm Bill) (Pub. L. 107-171), the 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act
(2002 Appropriations) (Pub. L. 107-206), and the Food, Conservation and
Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) (Pub. L. 110-234) amended the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (Act) (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) to
require retailers to notify their customers of the country of origin of
covered commodities. Covered commodities included muscle cuts of beef
(including veal), lamb, chicken, goat, and pork; ground beef, ground
lamb, ground chicken, ground goat, and ground pork; wild and farm-
raised fish and shellfish; perishable agricultural commodities;
macadamia nuts; pecans; ginseng; and peanuts. AMS published a final
rule for all covered commodities on January 15, 2009 (74 FR 2658),
which took effect on March 16, 2009. On May 23, 2013, AMS issued a
final rule to amend the country of origin labeling provisions for
muscle cuts (78 FR 31367). The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016
(Pub. L. 114-113) amended the Act to remove mandatory COOL requirements
for muscle cut and ground beef and pork commodities. On March 2, 2016,
AMS issued a final rule to conform with amendments to the Act contained
in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016. Enforcement activities
have been conducted since 2006 utilizing cooperative agreements
established with State agencies.
Individuals who supply covered commodities, whether directly to
retailers or indirectly through other participants in the marketing
chain, are required to establish and maintain country of origin and, if
applicable (i.e., for fish and shellfish covered commodities, only),
method of production information for the covered commodities and supply
this information to retailers. As a result producers, handlers,
manufacturers, wholesalers, importers and retailers of covered
commodities are affected.
This public recordkeeping burden is necessary to ensure conveyance
and accuracy of country of origin and method of production declarations
relied upon at the point of sale at retail. The public recordkeeping
burden also assures that all parties involved in supplying covered
commodities to retail stores maintain and convey accurate information
as required.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for recordkeeping
storage and maintenance is estimated to average 50.46 hours per year
per respondent.
Recordkeepers: Retailers, wholesalers, producers, handlers, and
importers.
Estimated Number of Recordkeepers: 415,517.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 415,517.
Estimated Number of Responses per Recordkeeper: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 20,966,789.
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) 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 the use of appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms
of information technology.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public
record.
Dated: April 24, 2019.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-08579 Filed 4-26-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P