Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information collection request titled “Importation Regulations (42 CFR 71 Subpart F)” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC previously published a “New Information Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations” notice on January 24, 2022 to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC received one comment related to the previous notice. This notice serves to allow an additional 30 days for public and affected agency comments.

CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments that:

(a) Evaluate 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;

(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

(d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including, through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses; and

(e) Assess information collection costs.

To request additional information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call (404) 639-7570. Comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. Direct written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Provide written comments within 30 days of notice publication.

Proposed Project

Importation Regulations (42 CFR 71 Subpart F)—New—National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

This is a request for a new information collection to consolidate forms and information collections related to the importation of animals, animal products, and human remains into one information collection. This information collection was previously part of three separate, approved information collections (0920-1034, expires March 31, 2022, 0920-0263 expires September 30, 2023, and 0920-0199 expires August 31, 2024). CDC is requesting a three-year OMB clearance for this new, combined information collection.

Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) (42 U.S.C. 264) authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make and enforce regulations necessary to prevent the introduction, transmission or spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the United States. Statute and the existing regulations governing foreign quarantine activities (42 CFR 71) authorizes quarantine officers and other personnel to inspect and undertake necessary control measures with respect to conveyances, persons, and shipments of animals and etiologic agents in order to protect the public's health.

CDC regulations govern the importation of animals and animal products capable of causing human disease. Animals that are regulated by CDC include dogs, cats, turtles, snakes, lizards, non-human primates (NHP), civets, African rodents, and bats. CDC controls the importation of these animals to ensure that these animals, or animal products, being imported into the United States meet CDC regulations. CDC does this through a permitting process for certain animals.

On June 16, 2021 CDC published a Federal Register Notice informing the public about a temporary suspension of dogs entering the United States from high-risk rabies countries. The canine rabies virus variant (CRVV) was declared eliminated in the United States in 2007. The importation of just one dog infected with CRVV risks re-introduction of the virus into the United States resulting in a potential public health risk with consequent monetary cost and potential loss of human and animal life. Since 2015 there have been four known rabid dogs imported into the United States.

During the suspension period, CDC will issue permits for importers with dogs who have been in a high-risk CRVV country within the last six months and do not have a current, valid U.S.-issued rabies vaccination certificate. Only importers who are permanently relocating to the United States, are a U.S. government employee traveling on official orders, are an owner of a service dog that is trained to assist them with a disability, are an individual importing dogs for science, education, exhibition, or law enforcement purposes, or people who traveled with their dog before July 31, 2021 are eligible to apply for a permit. Dogs from CRVV-free or low risk countries and dogs with valid U.S.-issued rabies vaccination certificates that are microchipped, healthy, and at least six months of age do not require a permit. The current permit application to import a dog is under collection 0920-1034. When a dog or cat arrives at an airport and is sick or dead, importers are required to notify CDC. There is no form for this notification.

Other animals that require a permit and are included in this information collection are NHPs, which can carry of number of diseases that can cause severe infections in humans. NHPs may not be imported as pets and may only be imported for bona fide scientific, educational, or exhibition purposes, as defined in the regulations. Forms for the importation of NHPs are currently under information collection 0920-0263. These forms will move into this new information collection to consolidate all forms related to the importation of animals or animal products into one collection.

A new form to request a permit to import a regulated animal that is neither a dog nor an NHP ( e.g., turtles, African rodents, civets) is included in this information collection. It also incorporates the addition of bats, which is currently approved under OMB control number 0920-0199.

Regarding human remains, the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ) works with the Division of Select Agents and Toxins (DSAT) on the importation for human remains. DGMQ requests death certificates from those wishing to import remains and then determines if the importer will need a permit, which is issued by DSAT and will remain in 0920-0199.

Lastly, people importing animal products must make a statement or provide documentation demonstrating that the animal product is not infectious.

CDC requests OMB approval for an estimated 60,219 annual burden hours. There are no costs to respondents other than their time to participate.