[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3605-3606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00943]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

January 16, 2020.
    The Department of Agriculture will submit the following information 
collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 on or after the date 
of publication of this notice. Comments are requested regarding: 
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; the accuracy of the agency's 
estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and 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 should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB), New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC; New Executive 
Office Building, 725--17th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20503. Commenters 
are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: 
[email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental 
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602.
    Comments regarding these information collections are best assured 
of having their full effect if received by February 21, 2020. Copies of 
the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8681.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Fruit Crops.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0189.
    Summary of Collection: Marketing orders and marketing agreements 
are authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act (AMAA) of 
1937 (U.S.C. 601-674; Act). This legislation permits the regulation of 
certain agricultural commodities for the purpose of providing orderly 
marketing conditions in interstate and intrastate commerce and 
improving returns to producers. Marketing Order programs provide an 
opportunity for producers of fresh fruits vegetables and specialty 
crops in specified production areas, to work together to solve 
marketing problems that cannot be solved individually. Marketing order 
regulations help ensure adequate supplies of high-quality product and 
adequate returns to producers. Under the market orders, producers and 
handlers are nominated by their respective peers and serve as 
representatives on their respective committees/boards.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collection 
requirements in this request are essential to carry out the intent of 
the Act, to provide the respondents the type of service they request, 
and to administer the marketing orders. The Agricultural Marketing 
Service (AMS) requires several forms to be filed to enable the 
administration of each marketing order. These include forms covering 
the selection process for industry members to serve on a marketing 
order's committee or board and ballots used in referenda to amend or 
continue marketing orders. If this information collection was not 
conducted, not only would the Secretary lose his ability to administer 
the marketing orders, but the respective committees also would have no 
way of monitoring industry compliance with their respective marketing 
order and agreement. They would also not be able to determine the 
assessments due from industry handlers and growers, which would 
negatively impact any market research and promotion activities.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 6,800.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting; on Occasion, 
Quarterly; Biennially; Weekly; Semi-annually; Monthly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 7,780.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: National Organic Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0191.
    Summary of Collection: The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 
(OFPA) as amended (7 U.S.C. 6501-6522) mandates that the Secretary of 
Agriculture develop a National Organic Program (NOP) to accredit 
eligible State government, State officials or private person as 
certifying agents who would certify producers or handlers of 
agricultural products that have been produced using organic methods as 
provided for in OFPA. The purposes of the regulation mandated by OFPA 
are: (1) To establish national standards governing the marketing of 
certain agricultural products as organically produced products; (2) to 
assure consumers that organically produced products meet a consistent 
standard; and (3) to facilitate interstate commerce in fresh and 
processed food that is organically produced. The NOP regulation 
fulfills the requirements of the OFPA. It includes comprehensive 
production and handling standards, labeling provisions, requirements 
for the certification of producers and handlers, accreditation of 
certifying agents by USDA and an administrative subpart for fees, State 
Programs, National List, appeals, compliance and pesticide residue 
testing. The Agricultural Marketing Service will approve programs for 
State governments wishing to establish State Organic Programs.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected is used 
by USDA, State program governing State officials, and certifying 
agents. The information is used to evaluate compliance with OFPA and 
NOP for administering the program, for management decisions and 
planning, for establishing the cost of the program and to support any 
administrative and regulatory actions in response to non-compliance 
with OFPA. Certifying agents will have to submit an application to USDA 
to become accredited to certify organic production and handling 
operations. Auditors will review the application, perform site 
evaluation and submit reports to USDA, who will make a decision to 
grant or deny accreditation. Producers, handlers and certifying agents 
whose operations are not approved have the right to mediation and 
appeal the decision. Reporting and recordkeeping are essential to the 
integrity of the organic certification system. If the collection of 
information was not conducted, the AMS would not be able to carry out 
the intent of Congress as it enforces the OFPA.

[[Page 3606]]

    Description of Respondents: Farms; Individuals or households; 
Business or other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 50,025.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually; Recordkeeping.
    Total Burden Hours: 5,667,276.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-00943 Filed 1-21-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P