[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54670-54671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19240]


 ========================================================================
 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. 87, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 7, 2022 / 
Notices  

[[Page 54670]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2022-0020]


Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: 
Import Inspection Application and Application for the Return of 
Exported Products to the United States

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

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) is announcing its intention to renew the 
approved information collection regarding import inspection 
applications. The approval for this information collection will expire 
on December 31, 2022. FSIS is making no changes to the information 
collection.

DATES: Submit comments on or before November 7, 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-2022-0020. 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 3758, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250-3700; (202) 720-5627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Import Inspection Application and Application for the Return 
of Exported Products to the United States.
    OMB Number: 0583-0159.
    Type of Request: Request to renew 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 renewal of the approved information collection 
regarding import inspection applications. The approval for this 
information collection will expire on December 31, 2022. FSIS is making 
no changes to the information collection.
    For each consignment of product exported to the United States, FSIS 
requires the government of the exporting country to provide a Foreign 
Inspection Certificate. On the Foreign Inspection Certificate, FSIS 
requires the date; the foreign country of export and the producing 
foreign establishment number; the species used to produce the product; 
the source country and foreign establishment number for amenable source 
materials, if they originate from a country other than the exporting 
country; the product's description, including the process category, the 
product category, and the product group; the name and address of the 
consignor or exporter; the name and address of the consignee or 
importer; the number of units and the shipping or identification marks 
on the units; the net weight of each lot and; any additional 
information the Administrator requests to determine whether the product 
is eligible to be imported into the U.S.
    FSIS also requires an Import Inspection Application (FSIS Form 
9540-1), which is completed by an applicant, usually an importer or 
customs broker. The information required on FSIS Form 9540-1, which is 
similar to that required on the foreign inspection certificate, may be 
submitted electronically or via paper application. If there is any 
discrepancy in importer or consignee information between the Import 
Inspection Application and the Foreign Inspection Certificate, FSIS 
would rely on the information provided on the Import Inspection 
Application. For any product-based information, the foreign inspection 
certificate information, which is certified by an official of the 
foreign government, would take precedence over information provided on 
the Import Inspection Application.
    For importers and brokers participating in the Partner Government 
Agency (PGA) Message Set, the information on FSIS Form 9540-1 is 
submitted electronically. FSIS would rely on any importer or consignee 
information electronically transferred from the U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection's (CBP) Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) to the FSIS 
Public Health Information System (PHIS) Import Component. Applicants 
that do not file this information electronically can submit paper 
applications (FSIS Form 9540-1) to FSIS inspection personnel at an 
official import inspection establishment. The applicant is required to 
submit the FSIS Form 9540-1 in advance of the shipment's arrival, but 
no later than when the entry is filed with CBP (9 CFR 327.5, 381.198, 
557.5, 590.920).

[[Page 54671]]

Return of Exported Products to the United States

    When product inspected and passed by FSIS is exported, but then 
returned to this country, the owner, broker, or agent of the product 
(the applicant) arranges for the product's entry and notifies FSIS. In 
accordance with 9 CFR 327.17, 381.209, 557.17, and 590.965, exported 
product returned to this country is exempt from FSIS import inspection 
requirements upon notification to and approval from the Agency's Recall 
Management and Technical Analysis Division (RMTAD). RMTAD may require, 
however, that returned product be re-inspected at a federally-inspected 
facility for food safety and food defense determinations.
    As part of this process, an applicant completes the FSIS Form 9010-
1, Application for the Return of Exported Products to the United 
States. The purpose of the form is to allow RMTAD to decide whether re-
inspection of the returned product is needed and to notify the 
appropriate FSIS office where to perform the re-inspection of the 
product, if necessary. If FSIS inspection program personnel determine 
that the product is safe and not adulterated or misbranded, the product 
may be released into domestic commerce.
    FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information 
collection assessment:
    Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average .202 hours per response.
    Estimated total number of respondents: 939.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 244,354.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 49,385 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 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 https://www.usda.gov/oascr/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. 2022-19240 Filed 9-6-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P