[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4828-4829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01233]
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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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 15 / Wednesday, January 23, 2013 /
Notices
[[Page 4828]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2012-0050]
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved
Information Collection; Importation and Transportation of Meat and
Poultry 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) is announcing its intention to request an
extension of an approved information collection regarding the
importation and transportation of meat and poultry products. This
information collection is due to expire.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before March 25,
2013.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this
Web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for
submitting comments.
Mail, including CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Patriots
Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, Room 8-163A,
Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots
Plaza 3, 355 E. Street SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2012-0050. Comments
received in response to this docket will be made available for public
inspection and posted without change, including any personal
information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go
to the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E. Street SW., Room 8-
164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday.
For Additional Information: Contact John O'Connell, Paperwork
Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA,
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 6065, South Building, Washington, DC
20250; phone: (202) 720-0345.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Importation and Exportation of Meat and Poultry Products.
OMB Control No.: 0583-0094.
Expiration Date: 3/31/13.
Type of Request: Extension of an approved information collection.
Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the
functions of the Secretary of Agriculture (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53) as
specified in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et
seq.) and the Poultry Products and Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C.
451, et seq.). FSIS protects the public by verifying that meat and
poultry products are safe, wholesome, not adulterated, and correctly
labeled.
FSIS is planning to request an extension of this approved
information collection because it is due to expire on March 31, 2013.
Unless accounted for in an establishment's HACCP plan, meat and
poultry products not marked with the mark of inspection and 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 shipping establishments to complete FSIS Form 7350-
1 that identifies the type, amount, and weight of the product.
Foreign countries exporting meat and poultry products to the United
States must establish eligibility for importation of product into the
U.S., and annually certify that their inspection systems are
``equivalent to'' the U.S. inspection system (9 CFR 327.2 and 381.196).
Additionally, meat and poultry products intended for import into the
U.S. must be accompanied by a certificate, signed by an official of the
foreign government, stating that the products have been produced by
certified foreign establishments (9 CFR 327.2 and 381.197).
Maintenance of eligibility of a country for importation of products
into the U.S. depends on the results of periodic reviews of each
establishment listed in the certification (9 CFR 327.2 and 381.196). A
written report must be prepared by the representative of the foreign
government documenting the findings with respect to the effective
operation of the system.
Meat and poultry products exported to the U.S. must be accompanied
by a certificate signed by a responsible official of the exporting
country (9 CFR 327.4 and 381.197).
Import establishments that wish to pre-stamp imported product with
the inspection legend prior to FSIS inspection must submit a letter to
FSIS requesting approval to do so (9 CFR 327.10(d) and 381.204).
FSIS has made the following estimates on the basis of an
information collection assessment.
Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it takes each respondent an
average of 20.9 hours per year to complete the forms and documents
described above.
Respondents: Importers, establishments, foreign governments.
Estimated No. of Respondents: 136.
Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 650.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,846 hours.
Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained
from John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety
and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence SW., Room 6065, South
Building, Washington, DC 20250; phone: (202) 720-0345.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS's
functions, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS's estimate of the burden of the
proposed
[[Page 4829]]
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology
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 both to FSIS, at the addresses
provided above, and to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, DC 20253.
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.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color,
national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs,
sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited
bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at
202-720-2600 (voice and TTY).
To file a written complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TTY).
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Additional Public Notification
FSIS will announce this notice online through the FSIS Web page
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Federal
Register_Notices/index.asp.
FSIS will also make copies of this Federal Register publication
available 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 constituents and
stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free
electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade groups,
consumer interest groups, health professionals, and other individuals
who have asked to be included. The Update is also available on the FSIS
Web page. In addition, FSIS offers an electronic mail subscription
service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food
safety news and information. This service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Email_Subscription/. Options range
from recalls to export information to regulations, directives, and
notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves, and have
the option to password protect their accounts.
Done at Washington, DC, on: January 11, 2013.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-01233 Filed 1-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P