Notice: Renewal of Voluntary Destruction of Imported Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Information Collection

Content

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

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:

• 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 https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for submitting comments.

• 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.

• 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 https://www.regulations.gov.

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

  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: *https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.*

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: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. 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: program.intake@usda.gov.

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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