This proposed rule would amend existing prior notice regulations to require the submission of tracking information for food articles imported using international mail. The costs of the proposed rule, if finalized, accrue to submitters or transmitters of prior notices for reading and understanding the rule and the additional time needed to gather and provide the tracking information. When annualized over a period of 10 years, we estimate these costs range from approximately $0.04 million to $0.50 million at a 3 percent rate of discount. At a 7 percent rate of discount, these costs range from approximately $0.04 million to $0.52 million. Our primary annualized estimates are approximately $0.27 million and $0.28 million at 3 and 7 percent rates of discount, respectively. 

We estimate benefits in the form of cost-savings which accrue to transmitters of prior notices and to FDA. These cost-savings range in annualized value from approximately $0.04 million to $0.18 million for both 3 and 7 percent rates of discount. The primary annualized value is $0.09 million for both rates of discount. Other benefits, and resulting impacts on social welfare, are highly uncertain. These benefits may include improvements in public health from a decreased incidence in outbreaks of foodborne illness or bioterrorism events. However, because it is difficult to forecast the likelihood and magnitude of such events, we do not quantify their benefits.

Regulatory Impact Analysis

Prior Notice: Adding Requirement to Submit Mail Tracking Number for Articles of Food Arriving by International Mail and Timeframe for Post-Refusal and Post-Hold Submissions RIA (Proposed Rule) (PDF 298 KB)

Federal Register: 88 FR 74939
Publication Date: 11/01/2023 
Docket: FDA–2011–N–0179