Notice2026-05550
Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Voluntary Destruction of Imported Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products
Primary source
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Published
March 23, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentFood Safety and Inspection Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, FSIS is announcing its intention to renew the approved information collection regarding the voluntary destruction of imported meat, poultry, and egg products. There are no changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on July 31, 2026.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 55 (Monday, March 23, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 55 (Monday, March 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13814-13815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05550]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2025-0345]
Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection:
Voluntary Destruction of Imported Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, FSIS is announcing
its intention to renew the approved information collection regarding
the voluntary destruction of imported meat, poultry, and egg products.
There are no changes to the existing information collection. The
approval for this information collection will expire on July 31, 2026.
DATES: Submit comments on or before May 22, 2026.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
Federal Register notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the
following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides
commenters the ability to type short comments directly into the comment
field on the web page or to attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the on-line instructions at that
site for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
<bullet> Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 350-E,
Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2025-0345. Comments
received in response to this docket will be made available for public
inspection and posted without change, including any personal
information, to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Docket: For access to background documents or comments received,
call (202) 286-2255 to schedule a time to visit the FSIS Docket Room at
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and
Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, South Building, Washington, DC
20250-3700; 202-720-5046.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Voluntary Destruction of Imported Meat, Poultry, and Egg
Products.
OMB Number: 0583-0182.
Type of Request: Renewal of an approved information collection.
Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the
functions of the Secretary (7 CFR 2.18 and 2.53), as specified in the
Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.), the
Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.), and
the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq.). These
statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat,
poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled.
FSIS is announcing its intention to request a renewal of the
approved information collection regarding the voluntary destruction of
imported meat, poultry, and egg products. There are no changes to the
existing information collection. The approval for this information
collection will expire on July 31, 2026.
Imported meat, poultry, and egg products that do not comply with
U.S. requirements are not allowed to enter U.S. commerce and are
identified as ``U.S. Refused Entry'' product. Inspection Program
Personnel (IPP) are required to verify that U.S. refused entry product
is stored and segregated from other product at an official import
inspection establishment until final disposition occurs, or permission
to move the shipment is granted by a FSIS Office of Field Operations
(OFO) District Office (DO).
The regulations at 9 CFR 327.13, 381.202, 557.13, and 590.945
provide different options for the disposition of U.S. Refused entry
product, including: (1) Exportation (return) of the product to the
originating country or to a third country, if permitted; (2)
destruction of the product for human food purposes; (3) denaturing the
product so it cannot be used for human food; (4) conversion of the
product to animal food if permitted and approved by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), and that permission is communicated to the FSIS
DO; and (5) rectification if the reason for refusal has been corrected.
FSIS is requesting renewal of the information collection to
document the
[[Page 13815]]
Importer/Broker/Agent decision to voluntarily destroy product for human
food purposes. This information collection is applicable only to
destruction witnessed by FSIS IPP. FSIS IPP uses the information during
the observation of the product destruction to verify that the product
being destroyed is the same product that was refused entry and that the
product is controlled by the import establishment until destruction is
completed.
The Importer/Broker/Agent completes FSIS Form 9840-4, Voluntary
Destruction of Imported Meat (Including Siluriformes), Poultry, and Egg
Product, for product that will be destroyed under FSIS supervision. The
form is maintained in the FSIS case file. IPP also enter information
into the Public Health Information System (PHIS), based on the
information provided on the form.
FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information
collection assessment:
Respondents: Importers/Brokers/Agents.
Estimated Total Number of Respondents: 151.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1,416.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 17,818 hours.
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. Copies of this information collection assessment can be
obtained from Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development,
Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Mailstop 3758, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; 202-720-5046.
Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS' functions,
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the
accuracy of FSIS' estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of the method and assumptions used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information, including through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques, or other forms of information technology. Comments may be
sent to both FSIS, at the addresses provided above, and the Desk
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20253.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal
Register publication on-line through the FSIS web page located at:
<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register</a>.
FSIS will also announce and provide a link to this Federal Register
publication through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to
provide information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations,
Federal Register notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of
information that could affect or would be of interest to our
constituents and stakeholders. The Constituent Update is available on
the FSIS web page. Through the web page, FSIS can provide information
to a much broader, more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an
email subscription service that provides automatic and customized
access to selected food safety news and information. This service is
available at: <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe</a>. The available
information ranges from recalls to export information, regulations,
directives, and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions
themselves and have the option to password protect their accounts.
USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights
regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and
employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA
programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status,
family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing
deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or
local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the
Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally,
program information may be made available in languages other than
English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to
File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write
a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the
information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint
form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA
by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop
9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#760604191104171b581f1802171d13360305121758111900"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cebebca1a9bcafa3e0a7a0baafa5ab8ebbbdaaafe0a9a1b8">[email protected]</span></a>.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Jeremy T. Reed,
Chief Operating Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-05550 Filed 3-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
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