SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Country of Origin Labeling.

OMB Number: 0581-0250.

Expiration Date of Approval: December 30, 2026.

Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection.

Abstract: The 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) and 2008 (Pub. L. 110-234) Farm Bills and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Pub. L. 114-113), amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require retailers to notify their customers of the country of origin of muscle cuts and ground lamb, chicken, and goat meat; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; perishable agricultural commodities; peanuts, pecans, and macadamia nuts; and ginseng. An interim final rule for mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for fish and shellfish became effective on April 4, 2005. An interim final rule for the remaining covered commodities became effective on September 30, 2008. On January 15, 2009, a final rule was published for all covered commodities which became effective March 16, 2009. On May 23, 2013, a final rule was published to amend the definition of retailer and labeling requirements for meat muscle cut commodities derived from animals slaughtered in the United States. With the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, Congress amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to remove muscle cut beef and pork, and ground beef and pork commodities from COOL requirements. On March 2, 2016, AMS issued a final rule to remove mandatory COOL requirements for beef, pork, ground beef and ground pork to conform with the statute. Mandatory COOL requirements remain in full force and effect for all remaining covered commodities. Enforcement activities have been conducted since 2006 utilizing cooperative agreements established with State agencies as authorized by the statute. The previously approved information collection request expires on December 30, 2026.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for recordkeeping storage and maintenance is estimated to average 56.9 hours per response.

Recordkeepers: Importers, food manufacturers, and food retailers.

Estimated Number of Recordkeepers: 349,598.

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 349,598.

Estimated Number of Responses per Recordkeeper: 1.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 19,879,947 hours.

Comments are invited on: (1) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.

91 FR 57855