Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 14 (Monday, January 22, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2959-2960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00966]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2017-0102]
Third-Party Inspection Programs Under the Animal Welfare Act;
Public Meetings
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
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SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) will host a series of public meetings to
solicit data and information from the public to aid in the development
of criteria for recognizing the use of third-party inspection and
certification programs as a positive factor when determining APHIS
inspection frequencies at facilities licensed or registered under the
Animal Welfare Act.
DATES: The meetings will be held in Santa Clara, CA, on January 18,
2018; Riverdale, MD, on February 8, 2018; Kansas City, MO, on February
22, 2018, and Tampa, FL, on March 8, 2018. The public meetings will be
held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., local time, except for the meeting in
Maryland, which will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., local time. A
virtual listening session will be held on March 14, 2018, from 1 p.m.
to 5 p.m. EST. We will accept written statements regarding the use of
third-party inspection and certification programs until March 21, 2018.
ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be held at the following locations:
January 18: Santa Clara Marriott, 2700 Mission College
Boulevard, Santa Clara, CA 95054;
February 8: USDA Center at Riverside, 4700 River Road,
Riverdale, MD 20737;
February 22: USDA, Beacon Building, 6501 Beacon Road,
Kansas City, MO 64133; and
March 8: Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza, 4200
Jim Walter Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33607.
You may also submit written statements using one of the following
methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0102.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to
Docket No. APHIS-2017-0102, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mike Tuck, Management Analyst,
Animal Care, APHIS, USDA 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737;
(301) 851-3747; James.M.Tuck@aphis.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) is announcing a series of meetings to solicit data and
information from the public to aid in the development of criteria for
recognizing the use of third-party inspection and certification
programs as a positive factor when determining APHIS inspection
frequencies at facilities licensed or registered under the Animal
Welfare Act (AWA). APHIS already recognizes inspections performed by
other government agencies with animal welfare oversight and
accreditation by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums as a positive
factor when determining the frequency of Federal inspections through
the use of a risk-based inspection system, and APHIS is seeking public
comment on expanding this consideration to include other types of
third-party inspections and certifications.
The risk-based inspection system, initiated in 1998, uses several
objective criteria, including but not limited to past compliance
history, to determine the minimum inspection frequency at each licensed
and registered facility. With this system, APHIS has been able to
provide more in-depth inspections and improve its interactions with
licensees and registrants--an approach that APHIS firmly believes makes
better use of its inspection resources.
The public may submit their comments in response to this notice in
writing and/or at in-person and virtual listening sessions. The
meetings will be held in various locations across the country and will
include an internet-based virtual meeting to facilitate attendance.
Participants will have the opportunity to offer written and oral
comments.
Specifically, APHIS is seeking data and information regarding the
following topics and questions:
1. APHIS is considering recognizing the use of qualified, third-
party programs when determining APHIS inspection frequencies at
regulated facilities. Would a potential reduction in the frequency of
APHIS inspections be a sufficient incentive for regulated facilities to
use third-party programs to support compliance under the AWA? Are there
other incentives that could be offered to attract participation of
regulated entities in the program? Please explain.
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of voluntary, third-
party programs to support compliance under the AWA? What potential
benefits and costs might accrue to regulated facilities that elect to
use a third-party program? What are the risks associated with using a
third-party program?
3. Are third-party programs likely to be effective in practice? Is
there potential for a well-functioning market for third-party programs
to develop? Please explain. What existing third-party programs are
already used by regulated facilities to help support their AWA
compliance?
4. When assessing whether to recognize a third-party program, what
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criteria should APHIS consider to assure its independence, determine
whether the scope of its services support and align with the AWA, and
mitigate potential conflicts of interest and other potential risks? In
addition, what information should a regulated facility provide so APHIS
may verify its use of a third-party program?
5. Aside from recognizing the use of qualified, third-party
programs, what are other methods APHIS could use to encourage
facilities to achieve and sustain compliance with the AWA? Also, where
do you see the greatest opportunity for APHIS to improve the
consistency and effectiveness of its AWA program?
Registration instructions for the listening session are available
by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
or by following the instructions available via the APHIS website at:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/sa_animal_welfare_news/third-party-inspection-certification-programs.
If you require special accommodations, such as a sign language
interpreter, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
Done in Washington, DC, on January 16, 2018.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-00966 Filed 1-19-18; 8:45 am]
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