Notice2026-01768
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Export Certification: Accreditation of Nongovernment Facilities
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 29, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Abstract
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 associated with accrediting nongovernment facilities to perform services related to the export of plants or plant products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 19 (Thursday, January 29, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 19 (Thursday, January 29, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 3864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01768]
[[Page 3864]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2025-0835]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information
Collection; Export Certification: Accreditation of Nongovernment
Facilities
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment
request.
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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 associated with accrediting nongovernment facilities to
perform services related to the export of plants or plant products.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March
30, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Enter APHIS-2025-0835 in the Search field. Select
the Documents tab, then select the Comment button in the list of
documents.
<bullet> Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to
Docket No. APHIS-2025-0835, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., #AP760, Beltsville, MD 20705.
Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may
be viewed at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> or in our reading room in Room
1620 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 accrediting
nongovernment facilities to perform plant related export services,
contact Ms. Sarika Negi, Accreditation and Certification Policy
Manager, International Phytosanitary Management and Standards Programs,
PPQ, APHIS, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250; (301) 851-
2349; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a8dbc9dac1c3c986db86c6cdcfc1e8dddbccc986cfc7de"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8af9ebf8e3e1eba4f9a4e4efede3cafff9eeeba4ede5fc">[email protected]</span></a>. For information on the information
collection process, contact Ms. Sheniqua Harris, APHIS' Paperwork
Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2528; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0544554d4c562b55574445707661642b626a73"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="96d7c6dedfc5b8c6c4d7d6e3e5f2f7b8f1f9e0">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Export Certification: Accreditation of Nongovernment
Facilities.
OMB Control Number: 0579-0130.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information
collection.
Abstract: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS),
among other things, provides export certification services to assure
other countries that the plants and plant products they are receiving
from the United States are free of plant pests specified by the
receiving country. This activity is authorized by the Plant Protection
Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.).
The export certification regulations, which are contained in 7 CFR
part 353, describe the procedures for obtaining certification for
plants and plant products offered for export or reexport. Our
regulations do not require that we engage in export certification
activities; however, we perform this work as a service to exporters who
are shipping plants or plant products to countries that require
phytosanitary certification as a condition of entry.
After assessing the condition of the plants or plant products
intended for export (i.e., after conducting a phytosanitary
inspection), an inspector will issue an internationally recognized
phytosanitary certificate, a phytosanitary certificate for reexport, or
an export certificate for processed plant products. An important
component of the certification process, when required, is laboratory
testing of plant or plant product samples.
The regulations allow nongovernment facilities (such as commercial
laboratories and private inspection services) to be accredited by APHIS
to perform specific laboratory testing or phytosanitary inspections
that could serve as the basis for issuing Federal phytosanitary
certificates, phytosanitary certificates for reexport, or export
certificates for processed plant products. The accreditation process
requires the use of several information collection activities to ensure
that nongovernment facilities applying for accreditation possess the
necessary qualifications. These activities include the application for
accreditation; agreement for fulfilling accreditation procedures;
documentation of equipment; quality manual or equivalent documentation;
identity of personnel and subcontractor's qualifications; notification
of changes in personnel; report changes in location, ownership,
physical plant equipment or other conditions; denial-written appeal and
request for hearing; withdrawal-appeal and request for hearing; written
request to eliminate accreditation status; and documentation of the
corrective action.
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 3.8 hours per response.
Respondents: U.S. growers, shippers, exporters, and State and local
plant health regulatory authorities.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 10.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 6.
Estimated annual number of responses: 56.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 215 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 26th day of January 2026.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-01768 Filed 1-28-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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