[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 47 (Thursday, March 10, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13687-13689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05039]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2022-0005]


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.

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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) FSIS is announcing its intention to revise 
the approved information collection regarding the importation and 
transportation of meat, poultry, and egg products. The approval for 
this information collection will expire on July 31, 2022. FSIS is 
reducing the total burden estimate by 349 hours due to updated 
information.

DATES: Submit comments on or before May 9, 2022.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
Federal Register notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides 
commenters the ability to type short comments directly into the comment 
field on the web page or to attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to 
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that 
site for submitting comments.
     Mail: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
     Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2022-0005. Comments 
received in response to this docket will be made available for public 
inspection and posted without change, including any personal 
information, to https://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, 
call (202) 205-0495 to schedule a time to visit the FSIS Docket Room at 
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and 
Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop

[[Page 13688]]

3758, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 720-5627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Importation and Transportation of Meat, Poultry, and Egg 
Products.
    OMB Number: 0583-0094.
    Expiration Date: 07/31/2022.
    Type of Request: Revision of an approved information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary (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 Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.), and 
the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq.). These 
statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat, 
poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and 
properly labeled and packaged.
    FSIS is requesting a revision of the information collection 
regarding the importation and transportation of certain meat, poultry, 
and egg products. The approval for this information collection will 
expire on July 31, 2022. FSIS is reducing the total burden estimate by 
349 hours due to updated information.
    This information collection includes (1) foreign inspection 
certificates from foreign countries 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 from 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 from official establishments 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 that 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 based on an information 
collection assessment.
    Respondents: Importers, establishments, foreign governments.
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it takes each respondent an 
average of 54.07 hours per year to complete the foreign inspection 
certificates, pre- stamp documentation, and documentation required to 
transport meat and poultry shipments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 68.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,677 hours.
    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. Copies of this information collection assessment can be 
obtained from Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development, 
Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Mailstop 3758, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 720-
5627.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS' functions, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of FSIS' estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the method 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 (OMB), Washington, DC 20253.

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: 
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
    FSIS will also announce and provide a link to this Federal Register 
publication 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 Constituent Update is available on 
the FSIS web page. Through the web page, FSIS can 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: https://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

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its 
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on 
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including 
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital 
status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance 
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil 
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA 
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing 
deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible 
Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or 
contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 
Additionally, program information may

[[Page 13689]]

be made available in languages other than English.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA 
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to 
File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write 
a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the 
information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint 
form, call (866) 632-9992.
    Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) Mail: U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil 
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) 
fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Paul Kiecker,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2022-05039 Filed 3-9-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P