[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 56 (Thursday, March 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16802-16803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6906]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Document Number AMS-NOP-12-0011; NOP-12-05]


National Organic Program Notice of Request for New 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 (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget for a new information collection: National 
Organic Program (NOP); NOP Import Certificate.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 21, 2012 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this notice. Comments may be sent to Meg Kuhn, Agricultural 
Marketing Specialist, National Organic Program, AMS/USDA, 1400

[[Page 16803]]

Independence Ave. SW., Room 2646-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 
20250-0268, or by Internet: http://www.regulations.gov. Written 
comments responding to this notice should be identified with the 
document number AMS-NOP-12-0011; NOP-12-05. It is USDA's intention to 
have all comments concerning this notice, including names and addresses 
when provided, regardless of submission procedure used, available for 
viewing on the Regulations.gov Internet site (http://www.regulations.gov). Comments submitted in response to this notice 
will also be available for viewing in person at USDA/AMS/National 
Organic Program, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2646-So., Ag Stop 
0268, Washington, DC 20250 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 
p.m. Monday through Friday (except official Federal holidays). Persons 
wanting to visit the USDA South Building to view comments received in 
response to this notice are requested to make an appointment in advance 
by calling (202) 720-3252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheri Courtney, Acting Director, 
Accreditation and International Activities Division, Telephone: (202) 
720-3252; Fax: (202) 205-7808.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: National Organic Program (NOP); NOP Import Certificate.
    OMB Number: 0581-NEW.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from OMB approval date.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Abstract: The National Organic Program regulates the use of the 
term ``organic,'' on agricultural products sold in the United States 
per 7 CFR part 205. On February 15, 2012, the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) and the European Union Commission signed an organic 
equivalence arrangement.\1\ Beginning June 1, 2012, this partnership 
will allow organic products produced, processed or packaged in the 
United States (U.S.) or European Union (EU) to be sold as ``organic'' 
in both countries without additional certification. Leading up to the 
signing of the arrangement, USDA and EU officials conducted thorough 
on-site audits to ensure that their programs' regulations, quality 
control measures, certification requirements, and labeling practices 
were compatible. USDA determined that EU organic products are produced 
and handled under an organic certification program that provides 
safeguards and guidelines that are at least equivalent to the 
requirements set forth in the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 6501-6522).
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    \1\ Details including the scope, requirements and documentation 
for the EU-U.S. Organic Equivalency Arrangement are available on the 
NOP Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/NOPTradeEuropeanUnion.
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    Prior to June 1, 2012, EU organic producers and handlers wishing to 
export organic products to the U.S. must obtain certification by an 
NOP-accredited certifying agent. After the EU-U.S. Organic Equivalence 
Arrangement becomes effective on June 1, 2012, these additional 
certification requirements are no longer necessary. Instead, the terms 
of the equivalency arrangement require that EU organic products be 
accompanied by an NOP Import Certificate.
    EU designated certification entities. Each EU Member State has 
designated a number of public authorities and/or approved private 
certification agencies to carry out organic certification under the EU 
organic standards. These EU designated certification entities operate 
under the supervision of the central competent authorities of the 
Member States. There are 205 EU designated certification entities 
operating in the 27 EU Member States.
    NOP Import Certificate. An NOP Import Certificate issued by an EU 
designated certification entity must accompany each shipment of organic 
product from the EU to the U.S. This certificate documents that the 
organic products were certified under the EU organic regulations and 
met the terms of the equivalency arrangement for export to the U.S. The 
terms of the arrangement include: (1) Agricultural products derived 
from animals treated with antibiotics cannot be marketed as organic in 
the U.S.; (2) Aquatic animals (e.g., fish, shellfish) are not included 
within the scope of the arrangement; and (3) The arrangement is limited 
to organic products certified under the EU organic system and either 
grown in the EU, produced in the EU, or where the final processing or 
packaging occurs in the EU. Under the terms of the EU-U.S. Organic 
Equivalency Arrangement, we estimate that EU designated certification 
entities will issue 4,010 NOP Import Certificates annually or 20 NOP 
Import Certificates per entity.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.25 hours per response.
    Respondents: EU Designated Certification Entities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 205 respondents.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 4,010 responses.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 20 responses per 
respondent.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,002.5 hours.

Recordkeeping Burden

    Estimate of Burden: Public recordkeeping burden is estimated to be 
an annual total of approximately 0.33 hours per respondent.
    Respondents: EU Designated Certification Entities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 205.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 20.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 65.60 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. Comments may be sent to Meg Kuhn, 
Agricultural Marketing Specialist, National Organic Program, AMS/USDA, 
1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2646-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 
20250-0268, or by Internet: http://www.regulations.gov. Written 
comments responding to this notice should be identified with the 
document number AMS-NOP-12-0011; NOP-12-05. All comments received will 
be available for public inspection during regular business hours at the 
same address.
    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.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6501-6522.

    Dated: March 16, 2012.
Ruihong Guo,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-6906 Filed 3-21-12; 8:45 am]
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