[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49981-49982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20578]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2019-0059]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Importation of Pork-Filled Pasta Products

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment 
request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's 
intention to request an extension of approval of an information 
collection associated with the regulations for the importation of pork-
filled pasta products into the United States.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
November 25, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2019-0059.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2019-0059, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2019-
0059 or in our reading room, which is located in room 1141 of the USDA 
South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC. 
Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, 
please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the regulations for 
the importation of pork-filled pasta products, contact Dr. Magde S. 
Elshafie, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Strategy & Policy, VS, APHIS, 4700 
River Road, Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3332. For copies of 
more detailed information on the information collection, contact Mr. 
Joseph Moxey, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-
2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Importation of Pork-Filled Pasta Products.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0214.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et 
seq.), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is authorized, among other 
things, to prohibit or restrict the importation and interstate movement 
of animals, animal products, and other articles to prevent the 
introduction into and dissemination within the United States of animal 
diseases and pests. To fulfill this mission, APHIS regulates the 
importation of animals and animal products into the United States under 
the regulations in 9 CFR parts 91 through 99.
    The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred to below as the 
regulations) prohibit or restrict the importation of specified animals 
and animal products into the United States to prevent the introduction 
into the U.S. livestock population of certain contagious animal 
diseases, including swine vesicular disease (SVD). Section 94.12 of the 
regulations contains, among other things, specific processing, 
recordkeeping, and certification requirements for pork-filled pasta

[[Page 49982]]

products exported to the United States from regions affected with SVD. 
These requirements include information collection activities such as a 
certificate, recordkeeping, cooperative service agreement, and storage 
requirements.
    The regulations require, among other things, that the pork-filled 
pasta products be accompanied by a certificate stating that the product 
has been handled and processed according to the requirements set forth 
in the regulations. This certificate must be issued and signed by an 
official of the national government of the region in which the pork-
filled pasta products were processed.
    In addition, the processing facility where the pork-filled pasta 
products are produced must maintain original records for a minimum of 2 
years for each lot of pork or pork products used. The records must 
include the date the cooked or dry-cured pork product was received in 
the processing facility, the lot number or other identification marks, 
the health certificate that accompanied the cooked or dry-cured pork 
from the slaughter/processing facility to the meat-filled pasta product 
processing facility, and the date the pork or pork product used in the 
pasta either started dry-curing (if the product used is a dry-cured 
ham) or the date the product was cooked (if the product used is a 
cooked pork product). The records must also include the number of 
packages, the number of hams or cooked pork products per package, and 
the weight of each package. These records would provide important 
information in any trace-back investigation that may need to be 
conducted by officials of the region of origin of the pork-filled pasta 
product or by USDA officials.
    The operator of a foreign processing establishment must enter into 
a cooperative service agreement with APHIS stating that: (1) The 
establishment agrees to process pork in accordance with the 
regulations; (2) the establishment will allow APHIS representatives 
unannounced entry into the establishment to inspect the facility, 
operations, and records of the establishment; and (3) the establishment 
will pay for the costs of the associated inspections and be current on 
the payments. Also, any storage room area reserved for pork or pork 
products eligible for export to the United States must, among other 
things, be marked by signs.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3 
years.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. 
These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, 
electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies; e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Estimate of Burden: The public burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1 hour per response.
    Respondents: Officials of the national government of the region in 
which the pork-filled pasta is processed and operators of pork-filled 
pasta product processing facilities.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 2.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.5.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 5.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5 hours. (Due to 
averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of 
the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per 
response.)
    All 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.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 17th day of September 2019.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-20578 Filed 9-23-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P