Supplementary Information

Title: Revision of Fruits and Vegetables Import Regulations.

OMB Number: 0579-0293.

Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information collection.

Abstract: As authorized by the Plant Protection Act (PPA, 7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq. ), the Secretary of Agriculture may prohibit or restrict the importation, entry, exportation, or movement in interstate commerce of any plant, plant product, biological control organism, noxious weed, means of conveyance, or other article if the Secretary determines that the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent a plant pest or noxious weed from being introduced into or disseminated within the United States. This authority has been delegated to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which administers regulations to implement the PPA.

The regulations in Subpart—Fruits and Vegetables (7 CFR 319.56-1 through 319.56-47) allow a number of fruits and vegetables to be imported into the United States, under specified conditions, from certain parts of the world. The regulations in §§ 319.56-4 and 319.56-5 provide for a notice-based process for recognizing pest-free areas and for approving the importation of certain new commodities that, based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, can be safely imported into the United States subject to designated phytosanitary measures. Importation of new commodities under this process requires the use of information collection activities, including the issuance of permits and phytosanitary certificates.

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 asaffected agencies) concerning this information collection activity. These comments will help us:

(1) Evaluate whether the information collection is necessary for the proper performance of our agency's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the information collection, 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 0.9615384 hours per response.

Respondents: Importers, exporters, and foreign national plant protection organizations.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 960.

Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2.16666.

Estimated annual number of responses: 2,080.

Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,000 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.