Revised - October 2011
Supporting Statement
Importation of Litchi and Longan Fruit from
Vietnam into the Continental United States
Docket No. APHIS-2010-0116
OMB No. 0579-XXXX
A. Justification
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for preventing plant pests and noxious weeds from entering the United States, preventing the spread of plant diseases not widely distributed in the United States, and eradicating those imported pests when eradication is feasible.
Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to carry out operations or measures to detect, eradicate, suppress, control, prevent, or retard the spread of plant pests new to the United States or not known to be widely distributed throughout the United States.
The regulations in “Subpart-Fruits and Vegetables” (7 CFR 319.56 through 319.56-51, referred to below as the regulations) prohibit or restrict the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the world to prevent the introduction and dissemination of plant pests that are new to or not widely distributed within the United States.
APHIS is proposing to amend the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of litchi and longan fruit from Vietnam into the continental United States. As a condition of entry, litchi and longan fruit from Vietnam would be subject to a systems approach that would include requirements from treatment and inspection and restrictions on the distribution of the fruit. This action would allow for the importation of litchi and longan fruit from Vietnam into the
United States while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of quarantine pests.
APHIS is asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve its use of these information collection activities, for 3 years, associated with its efforts to prevent the spread of plant pests and plant diseases from entering into the United States.
2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.
APHIS uses the following information activities to allow the importation of litchi and longan fruit from Vietnam into the continental United States.
Orchard Registration – Paragraph (a) of proposed § 319.56-54 requires that the litchi fruit be grown in orchards registered with and monitored by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Vietnam. Requiring the NPPO of Vietnam to monitor fields where litchi is produced for export will ensure application of disease control measures and that the litchi are produced free of disease caused by P. litchii.
Labeling “Not for Importation into or Distribution in FL” - Paragraph (c) of proposed §319.56-54 requires the cartons containing the litchi or longan fruit to be stamped “Not for importation into or distribution in Florida.” This is consistent with other import programs where shipments of litchi or longan fruit are prohibited into Florida for the same pest.
Phytosanitary Certificate (Foreign) w/Declaration – Paragraph (e) of proposed § 319.56-54 requires each consignment of litchi or longan fruit to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the NPPO of the exporting country certifying that the provisions of the proposed regulations have been met. In addition, the phytosanitary certificate accompanying each consignment of litchi would also have to include an additional declaration stating that the consignment was inspected in Vietnam and found free of P. litchii.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also, describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.
APHIS is not involved in the automation of foreign forms and therefore cannot estimate when they might be made electronic.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purpose described in item 2 above.
The information APHIS collects is exclusive to its mission of preventing the entry of injurious plant pests, diseases, and noxious weeds and is not available from any other source.
5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.
The information APHIS collects in connection with its program is the minimum needed to protect the United States from plant pests and diseases from entering into the United States. APHIS has determined 100 percent of the respondents are small entities.
6. Describe the consequences to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.
Failing to collect this information would cripple APHIS’ ability to ensure that litchi and longan from Vietnam are not carrying plant pests. If plant pests (such as Bactrocera cucurbitae and Conogethes punctiferali) were introduced into the United States, growers would suffer hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with the general information collection guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5.
requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;
requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;
requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;
requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records for more than three years;
in connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;
requiring the use of statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB.
that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statue or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or
Requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secret, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information’s confidentiality to the extent permitted by law,
No special circumstances exist that would require this collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with the general information collection guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5.
8. Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting form, and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB.
In 2011, APHIS held productive consultations with the following individuals concerning the information collection activities associated with its program to import litchi and longan from Vietnam.
Vuong Dinh Khoat, Director
An Phu Irradiation
Tel. (0650) 3714 036
Mr. Pham Huu Chuong
Son Son Joint Stock Company
Tel. (84) 8 754-0164
Alex Ho, Project Director
An Phu Irradiation Company
Tel. (84) 0650 3712292, X 119
APHIS’ proposed rule (Docket No. APHIS-2010-0116) will describe its information gathering requirements and also provide a 60-day comment period. During this time, interested members of the public will have the opportunity to provide APHIS with their input concerning the usefulness, legitimacy, and merit of the information collection activities APHIS is proposing.
9. Explain any decisions to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than renumeration of contractors or grantees.
This information collection activity involves no payments (other than appropriate, program-related payments) or gifts to respondents.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
No additional assurance of confidentiality is provided with this information collection. Any and all information obtained in this collection shall not be disclosed except in accordance with
5 U.S.C.552a.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and others that are considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.
This information collection activity asks no questions of a personal or sensitive nature.
12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated.
• Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens in Item 13 of OMB Form 83-I.
See APHIS Form 71 for hour burden estimates.
• Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories.
The estimated annualized cost to respondents is $1,280. APHIS arrived at this figure by multiplying the total hours by the estimated average hourly wage of the above respondents.
256 hours X $5.00 estimated hourly wage = $1,280.
The $5.00 hourly rate was derived from APHIS’ International Services located in Manila, Philippines.
13. Provide estimates of the total annual cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information, (do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in items 12 and 14). The cost estimates should be split into two components: (a) a total capital and start-up cost component annualized over its expected useful life; and (b) a total operation and maintenance and purchase of services component.
There is zero annual cost burden associated with capital and start-up costs, maintenance costs, and purchase of services in connection with this program.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Provide a description of the method used to estimate cost and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.
The estimated cost for the Federal Government is $45.00. (See APHIS Form 79.)
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or 14 of the OMB Form 83-1.
This is a new collection.
16. For collections of information whose results are planned to be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication.
APHIS has no plans to tabulate or publish the information collected.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.
There are no USDA forms in this information collection.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in the "Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act."
APHIS is able to certify compliance with all the provisions in the Act.
B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods
Statistical methods are not used in this information collection.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | Supporting Statement for Information Collection Request |
| Author | Government User |
| Last Modified By | Stratchko, Karen A (APHIS) |
| File Modified | 2011-10-25 |
| File Created | 2011-10-05 |