[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 105 (Thursday, June 1, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35825-35826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11711]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 105 / Thursday, June 1, 2023 / 
Notices  

[[Page 35825]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2023-0034]


Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information 
Collection; Importation of Beef and Ovine Meat From Uruguay and Beef 
From Argentina and Brazil

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment 
request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's 
intention to request an extension of approval of an information 
collection associated with regulations for the importation of beef and 
ovine meat from Uruguay and beef from Argentina and Brazil.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before July 
31, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2023-0034 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, 
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2023-0034, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is located 
in Room 1620 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is 
there to help you, please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the regulations for 
the importation of beef and ovine meat from Uruguay and beef from 
Argentina and Brazil, contact Dr. Lindsay Chase, Veterinary Medical 
Officer, Animal Product Imports, Strategy & Policy, VS, APHIS, 4700 
River Road, Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737-1236; (301) 851-3388; email: 
[email protected]. For more detailed information on the 
information collection process, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS' 
Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2483; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Importation of Beef and Ovine Meat From Uruguay and Beef 
From Argentina and Brazil.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-0372.
    Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.) 
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to, among other things, 
prohibit or restrict the importation and interstate movement of animals 
and animal products into the United States to prevent the introduction 
of animal diseases and pests. The regulations for the importation of 
animals and animal products are contained in 9 CFR parts 92 through 98.
    The regulations in part 94 provide the requirements for the 
importation of specified animals and animal products to prevent the 
introduction into the United States of various animal diseases, 
including foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Among other things, the 
regulations in Sec.  94.1 place certain restrictions on beef and ovine 
meat exported to the United States in accordance with Sec.  94.29, when 
the beef or ovine meat enters a port or otherwise transits a region 
where FMD exists during shipment to the United States. An authorized 
official of the exporting region must provide the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) with certification that specific 
conditions for importation listed in Sec.  94.1 have been met.
    Section 94.29 places certain restrictions on the importation of 
fresh (chilled or frozen) beef and ovine meat from Uruguay and fresh 
(chilled or frozen) beef from certain regions in Argentina and Brazil 
into the United States to prevent the introduction of FMD. These 
conditions involve information collection activities such as the 
requirement that APHIS collect, for each shipment, certification from 
an authorized veterinary official of the country of export that the 
conditions in Sec.  94.29 have been met. For some of these conditions 
to be met, the facility in which the bovines and sheep are slaughtered 
must allow periodic on-site evaluation and subsequent inspection of its 
facilities. Additional information collection activities included in 
this extension of approval include animal identification and testing of 
select lambs.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3 
years.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. 
These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate 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;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, 
electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies; e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Estimate of burden: The public burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.662 hours per response.
    Respondents: Authorized veterinary officials employed by the 
governments of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, and managers of foreign 
facilities that process meat and meat products.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 13,100.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.

[[Page 35826]]

    Estimated annual number of responses: 27,913.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 18,482 hours. (Due to 
averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of 
the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per 
response.)
    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.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 26th day of May 2023.
Michael Watson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-11711 Filed 5-31-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P