E5-7443. Notice of Request for a New Information Collection (Application for Return of Exported Products)

AGENCY:

Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to request a new information collection regarding the application for the return of exported meat, poultry, and egg products to the United States.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received on or before February 14, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this information collection request. Comments may be submitted by mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROM's, and hand- or courier-delivered items. Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 102 Cotton Annex, Washington, DC 20250.All submissions received must include the Agency name and docket number 05-035N.

All comments submitted in response to this notice, as well as research and background information used by FSIS in developing this document, will be available for public inspection in the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The comments also will be posted on the Agency's Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/​regulations_​&​_​policies/​2005_​Notices_​Index/​index.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 112, Washington, DC 20250-3700, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Application for Return of Exported Products.

Type of Request: New information collection.

Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the functions of the Secretary 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 ensuring that meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.

FSIS is requesting a new information collection addressing paperwork requirements regarding the application for return of exported meat, poultry, and egg products.

In accordance with 9 CFR 327.17, 381.209, 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 Office of International Affairs (OIA). Returned exported product may, however, require re-inspection at a federally-inspected facility for food safety and food defense determinations. When FSIS inspection program personnel determine that product is safe and not adulterated or misbranded, the product may be released into domestic commerce.

When an FSIS inspected and passed product is exported and then returned to this country, the owner, broker, or agent of the product (the applicant) arranges for the product's entry and notifies FSIS. To formalize this process, FSIS is seeking approval for the new form. The applicant will fill out the FSIS Form, Application for the Return of Exported Products to the United States.

The purpose of the form is to allow OIA the opportunity to determine whether re-inspection of the product is needed and to notify the appropriate FSIS office where to perform the re-inspection of the product, if necessary.

FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information collection assessment.

Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take an average of 17 hours to collect and submit this information to FSIS.

Respondents: Owners, brokers, and agents.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 500.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 100.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 8,333 hours.

Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained from John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 112, Washington, DC 20250-3700, [phone], [phone].

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 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 on those who are to respond, 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 John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, at the address provided above, and the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20253.

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.

Additional Public Notification

Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line through the FSIS Web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/​regulations/​2005_​Notices_​Index/​index.asp.

FSIS also will 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, recalls, and other types of information that could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and stakeholders. The update is communicated via Listserv, a free e-mail subscription service consisting of industry, trade, and farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific professionals, and other individuals who have requested to be included. The update also is available on the FSIS Web page. Through Listserv and the Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more diverse audience.

In addition, FSIS offers an e-mail subscription service which provides an automatic and customized notification when popular pages are updated, including Federal Register publications and related documents. This service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/​news_​and_​events/​email_​subscription/​ and allows FSIS customers to sign up for subscription options across eight categories. 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 account.

Done at Washington, DC, on: December 13, 2005.

Barbara J. Masters,

Administrator.