Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Importation of Live Poultry, Poultry Meat, and Other Poultry Products From Specified Regions

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Revision to and 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 approval of a revision to and extension of an information collection associated with regulations for the importation of live poultry, poultry meat, and other poultry products from specified regions.

DATES:

We will consider all comments that we receive on or before May 23, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0094.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2015-0094, 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 http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0094 or in our reading room, which 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 (202) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For information on the importation of live poultry, poultry meat, and other poultry products from specified regions into the United States, contact Dr. Magde Elshafie, Senior Staff Veterinarian, National Import Export Services, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 40, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3332. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851-2727.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Importation of Live Poultry, Poultry Meat, and Other Poultry Products From Specified Regions.

OMB Control Number: 0579-0228.

Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an information collection.

Abstract: Under the authority of the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture is authorized, among other things, to prohibit or restrict the importation and interstate movement of animals and animal products to prevent the introduction into and dissemination within the United States of livestock diseases and pests. To carry out the mission, APHIS regulates the importation of animals and animal products into the United States. The regulations are contained in 9 CFR parts 92 through 98.

In part 94, § 94.33 allows the importation, subject to certain conditions, of live poultry, poultry meat, and other poultry products from certain regions, including Argentina and the Mexican States of Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan, that are free of Newcastle disease. The conditions for importation require, among other things, certification from a full-time salaried veterinary officer of the national government of the exporting region that poultry and poultry products exported from one of these regions originated in that region (or in another region recognized by APHIS as free of Newcastle disease) and that before the export to the United States, the poultry and poultry products were not commingled with poultry and poultry products from regions where Newcastle disease exists.

In addition, the regulations in § 94.6 include provisions that allow poultry meat that originates in the United States to be shipped, for processing purposes, to a region where Newcastle disease exists and then returned to the United States. These provisions require the use of four information collection activities: (1) A certificate of origin that must be issued, including serial numbers that must be recorded; (2) maintenance of records; (3) cooperative service agreements that must be signed; and (4) certificates for shipment back to the United States.

The information collection requirements above are currently approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the importation of live poultry, poultry meat, and other poultry products from specified regions under number 0579-0228, and U.S. origin poultry meat shipped, for processing purposes, to a region where Newcastle disease exists and returned to the United States under number 0579-0141. After OMB approves and combines the burden for both collections under one collection (number 0579-0228), the Department will retire number 0579-0141.

We are asking OMB to approve our use of these information collection activities, as described, 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 hour per response.

Respondents: Federal animal health authorities of certain regions that export live poultry, poultry meat, and other poultry products; importers; pet bird owners; and zoological facilities.

Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 48.

Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.229.

Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 203.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 205 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.