[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24850-24851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10676]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2011-0002]
Notice of Request for a Revision of a Currently Approved
Information Collection (Application for Inspection, Accreditation of
Laboratories, and Exemptions)
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice
announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to
request a revision of a currently approved information collection. The
information collection addresses the paperwork requirements specified
in the regulations relating to the application for inspection,
accreditation of laboratories, and exemptions. FSIS is revising the
information collection to increase the estimate of the total burden
hours, and because the OMB approval will expire on July 31, 2011.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before July 5,
2011.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
notice. Comments may be submitted by either of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this
Web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for
submitting comments.
Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROMs, and hand-or
courier-delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 2-2127 George
Washington Carver Center, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Mailstop 5272,
Beltsville, MD 20705-5272.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2011-0002. Comments
received in response to this docket will be made available for public
inspection and posted without change, including any personal
information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go
to the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed above between 8 a.m. and
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact John O'Connell, Paperwork
Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 6065, South Building, Washington,
DC 20250, (202) 720-0345.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Application for Inspection, Accreditation of Laboratories,
and Exemptions.
OMB Number: 0583-0082.
Expiration Date of Approval: 07/31/2011.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the
functions of the Secretary as specified in the Federal Meat Inspection
Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.) and the Poultry Products Inspection
Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.). These statutes provide that FSIS
is to protect the public by verifying that meat and poultry products
are safe, wholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled and
packaged.
FSIS is requesting a revision of an approved information collection
addressing paperwork requirements specified in the regulations relating
to the application for inspection, accreditation of laboratories, and
exemptions.
FSIS requires meat and poultry establishments and import facilities
to apply for a grant of inspection before receiving Federal inspection
(9 CFR 304.1 & 381.17). FSIS also requires plants that wish to receive
voluntary inspection to apply for service (9 CFR 350.5, 351.4, 352.3, &
362.3). Establishments that wish to export or import product must also
submit certain documents to the Agency.
The FMIA (21 U.S.C. 642), the PPIA (21 U.S.C. 460(b)), and the EPIA
(21 U.S.C. 1040) require certain parties to keep records that fully and
correctly disclose all transactions involved in their businesses
related to relevant animal carcasses and parts and egg products.
FSIS requires accredited non-Federal analytical laboratories to
maintain certain paperwork and records (9 CFR 439.20 & 590.580). The
Agency uses this collected information to ensure that meat and poultry
establishments and egg products plants provide safe, wholesome, and not
adulterated product, and that non-Federal laboratories act in
accordance with FSIS regulations.
In addition, FSIS also requires establishments to keep records to
ensure that meat and poultry products exempted from Agency inspection
are not commingled with inspected meat and poultry products (9 CFR
303.1(b)(3) & 381.175), and that firms qualifying for a retail store
exemption who have violated the provisions of that exemption are no
longer in violation (9 CFR 303.1(d)(3) & 381.10(d)(3)).
The Agency is revising the information collection based on a
revised estimate of the number of respondents due to an increase in the
number of establishments. This increase in the number of establishments
supports the finding of a total increase in burden hours (39.4) from
that found in the previously approved information collection.
FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information
collection assessment:
Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an
average of .034 hours per response.
Respondents: Official meat and poultry establishments, official egg
plants, and foreign establishments.
Estimated No. of Respondents: 27,743.
Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 122.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 114,339.4 hours.
Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained
from John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety
and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 6065,
South Building, Washington, DC 20250, (202) 720-0345.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS's
functions, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways
to minimize the burden of the collection of information, including
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques, or other forms of
[[Page 24851]]
information technology. Comments may be sent to both FSIS, at the
addresses provided above, and the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, DC 20253.
Responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of
public record.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color,
national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs,
sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited
bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at
202-720-2600 (voice and TTY).
To file a written complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TTY).
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the
public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with
disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line
through the FSIS Web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Federal_Register_Notices/index.asp.
FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication
available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal
Register notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of information
that could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and
stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free e-mail
subscription service consisting of industry, trade, and farm groups,
consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific
professionals, and other individuals who have requested to be included.
The Update also is available on the FSIS Web page. Through Listserv and
the Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader,
more diverse audience.
In addition, FSIS offers an e-mail subscription service which
provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news
and information. This service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Email_Subscription/. Options range from recalls to
export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers
can add or delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to
password protect their accounts.
Done at Washington, DC, on: April 26, 2011.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011-10676 Filed 5-2-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P