[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54232-54233]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21311]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 170 / Tuesday, September 3, 2013 /
Notices
[[Page 54232]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-FV-13-0060]
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is
requesting approval from the Office of Management and Budget for
revision to and extension of the information collection titled USDA
Food Connect Web site.
DATES: Comments received by November 4, 2013 will be considered.
Additional Information or Comments: Contact Debra Eisenbarth,
Standardization Branch, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, Fruit and
Vegetable Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, STOP 0247, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC
20250-0247, telephone: (202) 720-1941 and fax: (202) 690-1527; or
Internet via http://www.regulations.gov. All comments should reference
the document number, date, and page number of this issue of the Federal
Register. All comments will be posted without change, including any
personal information provided. All comments submitted in response to
this notice will be included in the record and will be made available
to the public on the Internet via http://www.regulations.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: USDA Food Connect Web site.
OMB Number: 0581-0224.
Expiration Date of Approval: January 10, 2014.
Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Information
Collection.
Abstract: The information collection requirements in this request
are necessary for the operation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Food Connect Web site, which operates pursuant to the authority
of Section 32 of Public Law 74-320, 7 U.S.C. 612c, AMS administers the
USDA Food Connect Web site, which supports our mission of facilitating
the efficient and fair marketing of U.S. agricultural products.
Registering to participate on, or use, the USDA Food Connect Web site
is voluntary.
The USDA Food Connect Web site provides a neutral, web-based
resource where food processors and distributors can register their
nutritious, value-added foods for institutional food service
professionals to choose the products they require. Brokers can also
list food processors and regions they represent on the Web site along
with information about food associations.
The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal
program operating in more than 100,000 public and non-profit private
schools and residential childcare institutions. The program provides
nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to more than 30.5
million children each school day. In 1998, Congress expanded the
National School Lunch Program to include reimbursement for snacks
served to children up to 18 years of age in after-school educational
and enrichment programs. The USDA Food Connect Web site was developed
to help schools find the most nutritious, value-added foods purchased
by the Federal Government, as well as commercial product available for
purchase directly from processors.
Institutional food service professionals (public and private
schools) who choose to register on the USDA Food Connect Web site
provide the following information: The registrant's name, position,
email address, telephone number, and the school/organization name and
address. Information provided by institutional food service
professionals helps processors and brokers view the school/
organization's meal-serving information.
Processors who choose to register on the USDA Food Connect Web site
provide the following information: Confirmation that the company is
eligible to participate in Federal procurement; the registrant's name,
position, email address, telephone number, company name, address, and
country; and whether they are a national or regional processor.
Processor information helps institutional food service professionals
locate processors and distributors that handle food products for
purchase.
Brokers who choose to register on the USDA Food Connect Web site
provide the following information: The registrant's name, position,
email address, and telephone number; the brokerage company name,
address, and country; and the States they serve. The information
provided by brokers allows institutional food service professionals to
know which manufacturers the broker represents, which States the broker
serves, and contacts at the brokerage firm.
Food related associations who choose to register on the USDA Food
Connect Web site provide the following information: The association's
name, address, city, state, zip code, country, email address, and
telephone number; and, a description of association services.
All registrants on the USDA Food Connect Web site use the USDA
eAuthentication Web site to register (OMB No. 0503-0014). Each new user
must create their own login identification and password that meet
eAuthentication requirements.
The USDA Food Connect Web site has undergone several changes since
this information collection was approved on January 10, 2010. The
database upload function was disabled because the function was not
working properly. Processors used this upload function to input their
products via electronic transfer. Also, new allergen information was
provided. At the request of food service professionals, we added data
fields for eight common allergens in foods: Milk, fish, wheat,
crustacean shellfish, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, and soybean in foods. If
the product does not contain these allergens, the processor must
indicate this in the provided data field. This required an additional
minute to complete the forms for each product submission. In addition,
the Web site was enhanced to allow processors to indicate if their
products meet any of the following
[[Page 54233]]
``Special Product Types'' criteria: Kosher, Organic, Whole Grain,
Vegan, and Vegetarian (no meat). Five data fields were added for this
information that added one minute to the form completion time for each
product submission. Food Connect was also changed so processors may
enter the Child Nutrition (CN) label number for CN-labeled products.
The USDA, CN Labeling Program provides food manufacturers the option to
include a standardized food crediting statement on their product label.
Labels must be authorized by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
prior to use, and manufacturers must have quality control procedures
and inspection oversight that meet FNS requirements. Products produced
in accordance with the CN Labeling Program are generally purchased by
foodservice providers for FNS meal programs. One data field was added
for the CN label number and resulted in an additional half-minute to
complete the forms for each product submission.
In 2012, based upon the California Department of Education, AMS
launched a modified USDA Food Connect Web site that included an
enhanced link to the portal, titled ``CA Competitive Foods,'' that is
viewable only by California schools. California has two sets of
nutrition standards for competitive foods and beverages based on grade
level: One for elementary schools and one for middle and high schools.
The Web site enhancements allow California schools to select either one
or both standards based on the type of school, and to find products
that meet California's nutrition standards for competitive foods and
beverages. The California portal adds a half-minute and two data fields
for processors and distributors who want to sell their products in
California, allowing them to identify their products as meeting the
State's competitive foods laws.
Estimating Burden: The estimated total burden for revision of a
currently approved information collection for the USDA Food Connect Web
site once USDA eAuthentication Web site registration is completed is as
follows:
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 0.15 hours per response.
Respondents: Institutional food service professionals (public and
private schools), processors, distributors, brokers, and associations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,215 (620 institutional food
service professionals, 430 processors, no distributors, 107 brokers,
and 58 associations).
Estimated Number of Responses: 1907.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.57.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 297 hours.
A new option for California portal is being submitted with this
collection.
(1) Processors add a new product registration submission to the
California portal for products that are compliant with California
Competitive Food and Beverage Standards (A Single Product). Processors
use this registration submission to register their products
manufactured from USDA supplied commodities and their commercial food
products that meet the California Competitive Food and Beverage
Standards, on the USDA Food Connect Web site using this method.
Processors may select either one or both nutrition standards based on
the type of school to indicate that a product meets one or both of the
California Competitive Food and Beverage Standards.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 0.008 hours per response.
Respondents: Processors.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 9.
Estimated Number of Responses: 135.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 15. Each respondent
completes this submission once for each product they register.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1.08 hours.
(2) Processors add a new product registration submission to the
California portal for products that are compliant with California
Competitive Food and Beverage Standards (Excel spreadsheet). Processors
use this registration submission to register their products
manufactured from USDA supplied commodities and their commercial food
products that meet the California Competitive Food and Beverage
Standards, on the USDA Food Connect Web site using this method.
Processors may select either one or both nutrition standards based on
the type of school to indicate that a product meets the one or both of
the California Competitive Food and Beverage Standards.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 0.008 hours per response.
Respondents: Processors.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 10.
Estimated Number of Responses: 150.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 15. Each respondent
completes this submission once for each product they register.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1.20 hours.
Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) 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; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of
the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on
those who are respond, including the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public
record.
Dated: August 27, 2013.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-21311 Filed 8-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P