SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Restrictions on 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 relevant regulations are contained in 9 CFR parts 93 through 94.

Disease prevention is the most effective method for maintaining a healthy animal population and for enhancing the United States' ability to compete in the world market of animal and animal product trade. The APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) program administers regulations intended to prevent the introduction of animal diseases into the United States. The regulations in parts 93 and 94 place certain restrictions on the import of live poultry, poultry meat, and other poultry products from certain regions to prevent an incursion of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), Newcastle disease (ND), or other exotic poultry diseases into the United States. ( printed page 27240)

To ensure live poultry, poultry meat, and other poultry products from these areas do not pose a risk of bringing HPAI, ND, or other exotic poultry diseases into the United States, APHIS requires the following information collection activities: reports that the poultry have been offered for importation; health certificates, certificates of origin; recordkeeping; cooperative service agreements; and certificates for shipment back to the United States.

We are asking OMB to approve our use of these information collection activities, as described, for an additional 3 years. APHIS has amended this information collection by increasing the number of Respondents, Responses, and Total Burden Hours reported; however, APHIS has moved the following Forms to the new VS Permit Common Forms information collection:

• VS Form 17-129: Application for Import or In-Transit Permit (for Live Animals, Animal Semen, Animal Embryos, Birds, Poultry, and Hatching Eggs).
• VS Form 17-29: Application for Import or In-Transit Permit (for Live Animals, Animal Semen, Animal Embryos, Birds, Poultry, and Hatching Eggs).

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 1.0 hours per response.

Respondents: Foreign animal health authorities; importers of live poultry, poultry meat, and other poultry products; pet bird owners; and zoological facilities.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 4,272.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 17.

Estimated annual number of responses: 74,650.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 74,653 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.

91 FR 27239