[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12647-12649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04087]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2023-0006]


Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: 
Voluntary Destruction of Imported Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, FSIS is announcing 
its intention to request renewal of the approved information collection 
regarding the voluntary destruction of imported meat, poultry, and egg 
products. There are no changes to the existing information collection. 
The approval for this information collection will expire on June 30, 
2023.

DATES: Submit comments on or before May 1, 2023.

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, Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 350-E, 
Washington, DC 20250-3700.

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    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2023-0006. 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) 205-0495.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Voluntary Destruction of Imported Meat, Poultry, and Egg 
Products.
    OMB Number: 0583-0182.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2023.
    Type of Request: Renewal of an approved information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary (7 CFR 2.18 and 2.53), as specified in the 
Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.), and the 
Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.). These 
statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat 
and poultry products are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled and 
packaged.
    Imported meat, poultry, and egg products that do not comply with 
U.S. requirements are not allowed to enter U.S. commerce and are 
identified as ``U.S. Refused Entry'' product. Inspection Program 
Personnel (IPP) are required to verify that U.S. refused entry product 
is stored and segregated from other product at an official import 
inspection establishment until final disposition occurs, or permission 
to move the shipment is granted by a FSIS Office of Field Operations 
(OFO) District Office (DO).
    The regulations at 9 CFR 327.13, 381.202, 557.13, and 590.945 
provide different options for the disposition of U.S. Refused entry 
product, including: (1) Exportation (return) of the product to the 
originating country or to a third country, if permitted; (2) 
destruction of the product for human food purposes; (3) denaturing the 
product so it cannot be used for human food; (4) conversion of the 
product to animal food if permitted and approved by the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA), and that permission is communicated to the FSIS 
DO; and (5) rectification if the reason for refusal has been corrected.
    FSIS is requesting renewal of the information collection to 
document the Importer/Broker/Agent decision to voluntarily destroy 
product for human food purposes. This information collection is 
applicable only to destruction witnessed by FSIS IPP. FSIS IPP uses the 
information during the observation of the product destruction to verify 
that the product being destroyed is the same product that was refused 
entry and that the product is controlled by the import establishment 
until destruction is completed.
    The Importer/Broker/Agent completes FSIS Form 9840-4, Voluntary 
Destruction of Imported Meat (Including Siluriformes), Poultry, and Egg 
Product, for product that will be destroyed under FSIS supervision. The 
form is maintained in the FSIS case file. IPP also enter information 
into the Public Health Information System (PHIS), based on the 
information provided on the form.
    FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information 
collection assessment:
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an 
average of 5 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Importers/Brokers/Agents.
    Estimated Total Number of Respondents: 151.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1,416.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 17,818 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) 205-
0495.
    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 USDA civil rights 
regulations and policies, USDA, its Mission Areas, agencies, staff 
offices, 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.
    Program information may be made available in languages other than

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English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large 
print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the 
responsible Mission Area, agency, or staff office; the USDA TARGET 
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY); or the Federal Relay Service 
at (800) 877-8339.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should 
complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, 
which can be obtained online at https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a 
letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's 
name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the 
alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the 
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date 
of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or 
letter must be submitted 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: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
    (3) Email: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Paul Kiecker,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-04087 Filed 2-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P