[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 222 (Friday, November 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 69238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25079]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 222 / Friday, November 18, 2022 / 
Notices  

[[Page 69238]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. AMS-FTPP-22-0077]


Information Collection Renewal for Country of Origin Labeling

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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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 an 
extension of and revision to the currently approved information 
collection for Country of Origin Labeling.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 17, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning 
this notice by using the electronic process available at https://www.regulations.gov. Comments may also be filed with the Docket Clerk, 
1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 2069-South, Washington, DC 20250; Fax: 
(202) 260-8369. All comments should reference the docket number AMS-
FTPP-22-0077, the date, and the page number of this issue of the 
Federal Register. All comments submitted in response to this notice 
will be posted without change, including any personal information 
provided, at https://www.regulations.gov and will be included in the 
record and made available to the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Becker, Branch Chief of 
Research and Rulemaking, Food Disclosure and Labeling Division, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 
Telephone (202) 720-4486, Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Information Collection Renewal for Country of Origin 
Labeling.
    OMB Number: 0581-0250.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2023.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) and 2008 (Pub. L. 110-234), 
Farm Bills and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Pub. L. 114-
113) amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require 
retailers to notify their customers of the country of origin of muscle 
cuts and ground lamb, chicken, and goat meat; wild and farm-raised fish 
and shellfish; perishable agricultural commodities; peanuts, pecans, 
and macadamia nuts; and ginseng. An interim final rule for mandatory 
Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for fish and shellfish became 
effective on April 4, 2005. An interim final rule for the remaining 
covered commodities became effective on September 30, 2008. On January 
15, 2009, a final rule was published for all covered commodities which 
became effective March 16, 2009. On May 23, 2013, a final rule was 
published to amend the definition of retailer and labeling requirements 
for meat muscle cut commodities derived from animals slaughtered in the 
United States. With the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, Congress 
amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to remove muscle cut 
beef and pork, and ground beef and pork commodities from COOL 
requirements. On March 2, 2016, AMS issued a final rule to remove 
mandatory COOL requirements for beef, pork, ground beef and ground pork 
to conform with the statute. Mandatory COOL requirements remain in full 
force and effect for all remaining covered commodities. Enforcement 
activities have been conducted since 2006 utilizing cooperative 
agreements established with State agencies as authorized by the 
statute. The previously approved information collection request expires 
on March 31, 2023.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for recordkeeping 
storage and maintenance is estimated to average 56.9 hours per 
response.
    Recordkeepers: Importers, food manufacturers, and food retailers.
    Estimated Number of Recordkeepers: 349,598.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 349,598.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Recordkeeper: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 19,879,947.
    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. Comments may be submitted using the 
electronic process available at https://www.regulations.gov. All 
comments received will be available for public inspection during 
regular business hours at the same address.
    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.

Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-25079 Filed 11-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P