E5-3461. Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Importation of Pork-Filled Pasta

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Extension of approval of an information collection; comment request.

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 in support of the regulations for the importation of pork-filled pasta products from regions affected with swine vesicular disease.

DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before August 30, 2005.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

• EDOCKET: Go to http://www.epa.gov/​feddocket to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once you have entered EDOCKET, click on the “View Open APHIS Dockets” link to locate this document.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. 05-050-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 05-050-1.

Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 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 [phone] before coming.

Other Information: You may view APHIS documents published in the Federal Register and related information on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/​ppd/​rad/​webrepor.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For information regarding the regulations for the importation of pork-filled pasta products, contact Dr. Masoud Malik, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Technical Trade Services, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; [phone]. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Importation of Pork-Filled Pasta.

OMB Number: 0579-0214.

Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information collection.

Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for protecting the health of our Nation's livestock and poultry populations by preventing the introduction and interstate spread of serious diseases and pests of livestock and for eradicating such diseases from the United States when feasible. The regulations in 9 CFR part 94 (referred to below as the regulations) prohibit or restrict the importation of specified animals and animal products into the United States to prevent the introduction into the U.S. livestock population of certain contagious animal diseases, including swine vesicular disease (SVD). Section 94.12 of the regulations contains, among other things, specific processing, recordkeeping, and certification requirements for pork-filled pasta products exported to the United States from regions affected with SVD.

The regulations require, among other things, that the pork-filled pasta products be accompanied by a certificate stating that the product has been handled and processed according to the requirements set forth in the regulations. This certificate must be issued and signed by an official of the National Government of the region in which the pasta products were processed.

In addition, the processing facility where the pork-filled pasta products are produced must maintain original records (to be kept for a minimum of 2 years) that identify, for each lot of pork used, the date the pork entered the facility, the lot number, the health certificate that accompanied the pork from the slaughter/processing facility to the meat-filled pasta processing facility, and the date the pork either began either dry-curing or was cooked.

These records would provide important information in any traceback investigation that may need to be conducted by officials of the region of origin of the pork-filled pasta product, or by officials of the USDA.

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 reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.25 hours per response.

Respondents: Officials of the National Government of the region in which the pork-filled pasta product is processed.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 5.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 20.

Estimated annual number of responses: 100.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 125 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 27th day of June 2005.

Elizabeth E. Gaston,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.