Notice2026-18562
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection
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
September 11, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAgricultural Marketing Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget for an extension of, and revision to, the currently approved information collection, "Country of Origin Labeling."
Full Text
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 175 (Friday, September 11, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 57855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18562]
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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 175 / Friday, September 11, 2026 /
Notices
[[Page 57855]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-ST-26-1717]
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention
to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget for an
extension of, and revision to, the currently approved information
collection, ``Country of Origin Labeling.''
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 10, 2026 to
be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning
this notice by using the electronic process available at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Comments may also be filed with the Docket Clerk,
1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 2069-South, Washington, DC 20250; or by
fax: (202) 260-8369. All comments should reference the docket number
AMS-ST-26-1717, the date, and the page number of this issue of the
Federal Register. All comments submitted in response to this notice
will be posted without change, including any personal information
provided, at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> and will be included in the
record and made available to the public.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fiona Pexton, Acting Director,
Labeling and Compliance Division, Science & Technology Program,
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250; telephone: (202) 720-4486;
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ee8d818182ae9b9d8a8fc0898198"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="75161a1a1935000611145b121a03">[email protected]</span></a>.
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.
Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-18562 Filed 9-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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