UNITED STATES FOOD DRUG ADMINISTRATION
Regulations Under the Federal Import Milk Act
OMB Control No. 0910-0212
SUPPORTING STATEMENT – Part A: Justification:
Circumstances Making the Collection of Information Necessary
This information collection supports Food and Drug Administration (FDA, us or we) regulations. Under the Federal Import Milk Act (FIMA) (21 U.S.C. 141–149), milk or cream may be imported into the United States only by the holder of a valid import milk permit (21 U.S.C. 141). Before such permit is issued by FDA: (1) all cows from which import milk or cream is produced must be physically examined and found healthy; (2) if the milk or cream is imported raw, all such cows must pass a tuberculin test; (3) the dairy farm and each plant in which the milk or cream is processed or handled must be inspected and found to meet certain sanitary requirements; (4) bacterial counts of the milk at the time of importation must not exceed specified limits; and (5) the temperature of the milk or cream at time of importation must not exceed 50° F (21 U.S.C. 142). Regulations at 21 CFR part 1210 have been promulgated establishing these provisions.
To assist respondents with the regulatory requirements we have developed the following forms:
Form FDA 1815: Certificate/Transmittal for an Application (21 CFR 1210.23)
Form FDA 1993: Application for Permit to Ship or Transport Milk and/or Cream into the United States (21 CFR 1210.20)
Form FDA 1994: Report of Tuberculin Tests of Cattle (21 CFR 1210.13)
Form FDA 1995: Report of Physical Examination of Cows (21 CFR 1210.12)
Form FDA 1996: Dairy Farm Sanitary Report (21 CFR 1210.11)
Form FDA 1997: Score Card for Sanitary Inspection of Milk Plants (21 CFR 1210.14)
We therefore request extension of OMB approval of the information collection provisions found in 21 CFR part 1210 and the associated forms as discussed in this supporting statement.
Purpose and Use of the Information Collection
The information is used by FDA to determine whether a permit to import milk and/or cream into the United States should be granted.
Description of Respondents: The respondents include foreign dairy farms and plants engaged in transporting milk and/or cream into the United States. Respondents are from the private sector (for-profit businesses).
Use of Improved Information Technology and Burden Reduction
The major portion of the annual burden for this information collection is associated with Form FDA 1996, Dairy Farm Sanitary Report. This form is completed by a sanitarian on-site in rural areas. Under these circumstances, electronic data entry would most likely increase the burden rather than reduce the burden. However, industry is increasingly turning to the use of automatic production facilities. Any use of improved technology appropriate to satisfy our regulations is acceptable. We estimate that about fifty percent (50%) of the reports will be submitted electronically in the next three years.
Efforts to Identify Duplication and Use of Similar Information
We are unaware of duplicative information collection. The information collected in fulfilling the statutory requirements for applying for a permit to import under FIMA is unique to the dairy herds which are the source of the milk and the plants in which the product is pasteurized. Because FDA is the only Federal agency with the authority to issue permits to import milk under FIMA, duplication by other Federal agencies is unlikely.
Impact on Small Businesses or Other Small Entities
We estimate that fifty percent (50%) of respondents are small businesses; however, we estimate no undue burden on small entities. Small firms may also apply for a permit. The forms to be completed are simplified to the extent possible, consisting of check boxes and short narrative responses. We assist small firms with these requirements thus minimizing the burden. We aid small businesses in dealing with the requirements of the FD&C Act through the agency’s Regional Small Business Representatives and through the scientific and administrative staffs within the agency. Additional assistance is available for small businesses via the agency’s website at https://www.fda.gov/industry/small-business-assistance.
Consequences of Collecting the Information Less Frequently
Data collection occurs occasionally. Under FIMA and our implementing regulations, submission of the required information and approval of the information after our review is a condition precedent to the issuance of a permit. Therefore, if the information is not submitted, we cannot issue a permit to the importing party, and the milk and/or cream offered for import would be denied entry into the United States.
Special Circumstances Relating to the Guidelines of 5 CFR 1320.5
There are no special circumstances associated with this collection of information.
Comments in Response to the Federal Register Notice and Efforts to Consult Outside the Agency
In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.8(d), we published a 60-day notice for public comment in the Federal Register of November 4, 2020 (85 FR 70182). No comments were received.
Explanation of Any Payment or Gift to Respondents
We do not provide any payments or gifts to respondents.
Assurance of Confidentiality Provided to Respondents
In preparing this supporting statement, we consulted our Privacy Office to ensure appropriate identification and handling of information collected. Although personally identifiable information (PII) or other data of a personal nature is collected, it is collected in the context of the subject individuals’ professional capacity and the FDA-related work they perform for their employer (e.g., point of contact at a regulated entity).
The PII submitted via Form FDA 1815, Certificate/Transmittal for an Application is name.
PII submitted via Form FDA 1994, Report of Tuberculin Tests of Cattle is name and business address.
PII submitted via Form FDA 1993, Application for Permit to Ship or Transport Milk and/or Cream into the United States is name and business address.
PII submitted via Form FDA 1995, Report of Physical Examination of Cows consists of name and business/work address.
Likewise, PII submitted via Form FDA 1997, Score Card for Sanitary Inspection of Milk Plants is also name and business/work address.
These forms also allow for submission of potentially identifying work-related information including job title and credentials. We have determined that this collection of information is not subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 and the particular notice and other requirements of the Privacy Act do not apply. Specifically, we (including vendors or service providers acting on behalf of FDA) do not use name or any other personal identifier to retrieve records from the information collected.
In addition, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), the public has broad access to government documents. However, FOIA provides certain exemptions from mandatory public disclosure of government records (5 U.S.C. 552(b)(1-9)). We will make the fullest possible disclosure of records to the public, consistent with the rights of individuals to privacy, the property rights of persons in trade and confidential commercial or financial information. The confidentiality of the information received by FDA is consistent with FOIA and regulations under 21 CFR part 20.
Justification for Sensitive Questions
This information collection does not involve any questions that are of a personally sensitive nature.
Estimates of Annualized Burden Hours and Cost
12a. Annualized Hour Burden Estimate
We estimate the burden of this collection of information as follows:
Table 1.--Estimated Annual Reporting Burden1 |
||||||
21 CFR Section |
Form FDA No./Title |
Number of Respondents |
Number of Responses per Respondent |
Total Annual Responses |
Average Burden per Response |
Total Hours |
1210.11 |
1996/Sanitary inspection of dairy farms |
1 |
200 |
200 |
1.5 |
300 |
1210.12 |
1995/Physical examination of cows |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0.5 (30 min.) |
0.5 |
1210.13 |
1994/Tuberculin test |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0.5 (30 min.) |
0.5 |
1210.14 |
1997/Sanitary inspections of plants |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
1210.20 |
1993/Application for permit |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0.5 (30 min.) |
0.5 |
1210.23 |
1815/Permits granted on certificates |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0.5 (30 min.) |
0.5 |
Total |
304.0 |
1There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of information.
Table 2.--Estimated Annual Recordkeeping Burden1 |
|||||
21 CFR Section |
Number of Recordkeepers |
Number of Records per Recordkeeper |
Total Annual Records |
Average Burden per Recordkeeping |
Total Hours |
1210.15 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0.05 (3 min.) |
0.05 |
1There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of information.
The estimated number of respondents and hours per response are based on our experience with the import milk permit program. We have not received any responses in the last 3 years; therefore, we estimate that one or fewer will be submitted annually. Although we have not received any responses in the last 3 years, we believe these information collection provisions
should be extended to provide for the potential need for a milk importer.
No burden has been estimated for the tagging requirement in § 1210.22 because the information on the tag is either supplied by us (permit number) or is disclosed to third parties as a usual and customary part of the shipper’s normal business activities (type of product, shipper's name and address). Under 5 CFR 1320.3(c)(2), the public disclosure of information originally supplied by the Federal government to the recipient for the purpose of disclosure to the public is not subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act. Under 5 CFR 1320.3(b)(2)), the time, effort, and financial resources necessary to comply with a collection of information are excluded from the burden estimate if the reporting, recordkeeping, or disclosure activities needed to comply are usual and customary because they would occur in the normal course of business activities.
12b. Annualized Cost Burden Estimate
We estimate the annualized burden hour cost to a respondent for completion and submission of the required forms to be approximately $36,368.20. We estimate a respondent’s average wage to be that of a Federal government employee at the GS-13/Step-7 rate for the Washington-Baltimore locality pay area for the year 2021, which makes the annual wage cost for completion and submission approximately $18,184.10 (305 hours x $59.62 per hour). To account for overhead, this cost is increased by 100 percent, making the total estimated burden hour cost to the respondent $36,368.20.
Table 3.--Annual Cost Burden Estimate
Activity |
Total Burden Hours |
Hourly Wage Rate |
Total Respondent Costs |
Completion and submission of required forms |
305 |
$119.24 (59.62 x 2) |
$36,368.20 |
Estimates of Other Total Annual Costs to Respondents/Recordkeepers or Capital Costs
There are no capital, start-up, operating, or maintenance costs associated with this collection. Many of the requirements of FDA’s regulations are also regulatory requirements of the country in which the firm is located. By complying with their own country’s regulations, respondents also comply with many of ours, mitigating cost burden. This applies particularly to tuberculosis testing and physical examination of herds, which are required by the government of New Zealand.
Annualized Cost to the Federal Government
We estimate staffing allocation to review and respond to the current level of applications for a permit to import milk and/or cream to this country is 160 hours at a rate of $59.62 per hour, the GS-13/Step-7 rate for the Washington-Baltimore locality pay area for the year 2021 (160 hours x $59.62 = $9,539.20). Additional reviews at the Division, Office/Center, and Associate Commissioner levels are estimated by program specialists to take an additional 16 hours at an aggregate rate of $59.62 per hour, the GS- 13/Step-7 rate for the Washington-Baltimore locality pay area for the year 2021 (16 hours x $59.62 per hour = $953.92). Thus, the total cost is $10,493.12 ($9,539.20 + $953.92). To account for overhead, this cost is increased by 100 percent, making the total estimated annual cost to the Federal Government $20,986.24.
Explanation for Program Changes or Adjustments
Based on a review of the information collection since our last OMB approval, we have decreased our burden estimate. The estimated number of respondents and hours per response are based on our experience with the import milk permit program and the average number of import milk permit holders over the past 3 years. However, we have not received any responses in the last 3 years; therefore, we estimate that one or fewer to be submitted annually. Although we have not received any responses in the last 3 years, we believe these information collection provisions should be extended to provide for the potential need for a milk importer.
Plans for Tabulation and Publication and Project Time Schedule
The information obtained from this data collection will not be published or tabulated.
Reason(s) Display of OMB Expiration Date is Inappropriate
No approval is requested for FDA to not display the expiration date of OMB approval.
Exceptions to Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions
There are no exceptions to the certification.
File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
File Created | 2021-07-09 |