[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72626-72627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28842]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 3, 2013 /
Notices
[[Page 72626]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2013-0033]
Notice of Request for Renewal of a Currently Approved Information
Collection (Pathogen Reduction/HACCP)
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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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 renewal of an approved information collection regarding
pathogen reduction and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point
(HACCP) Systems requirements because OMB approval will expire on
February 28, 2014.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before February
3, 2014.
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 CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Room
Manager, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection
Service, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782,
Room 8-163B, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots
Plaza 3, 355 E. Street SW., Room 8-163B, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2013-0024. 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 Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E. Street SW., Room 8-
164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Paperwork Reduction Act
Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., Room 6077, South Building, Washington, DC
20250; Telephone: (202) 690-6510.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Pathogen Reduction/HACCP Systems.
OMB Number: 0583-0103.
Expiration Date of Approval: 2/28/2014.
Type of Request: Renewal 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 renewal of an approved information collection
addressing paperwork and recordkeeping requirements regarding Pathogen
Reduction and HACCP Systems because OMB approval will expire on
February 28, 2014.
FSIS has established requirements applicable to meat and poultry
establishments designed to reduce the occurrence and numbers of
pathogenic microorganisms on meat and poultry products, reduce the
incidence of foodborne illness associated with the consumption of those
products, and provide a framework for modernization of the meat and
poultry inspection systems. The regulations (1) require that each
establishment develop, implement, and revise, as needed, written
Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (Sanitation SOPs) (9 CFR Part
416); (2) require regular microbial testing for generic E. coli by
slaughter establishments to verify the adequacy of the establishment's
process controls for the prevention and removal of fecal contamination
and associated bacteria (9 CFR 310.25(a) and 381.94(a)); and (3)
require that all meat and poultry establishments develop and implement
a system of preventive controls designed to improve the safety of their
products, known as HACCP (9 CFR Part 417).
Establishments may have programs that are prerequisite to HACCP
that are designed to provide the basic environmental and operating
conditions necessary for the production of safe, wholesome food.
Because of its prerequisite programs an establishment may decide that a
food safety hazard is not reasonably likely to occur in its operations.
The establishment would need to document this determination in its
Hazard Analysis and include the procedures it employs to ensure that
the program is working, and that the hazard is not likely to occur (9
CFR 417.5 (a)(1)).
FSIS has made the estimates below based upon an information
collection assessment.
Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an
average of 858 hours per annum to comply with the Pathogen Reduction
and HACCP Systems information collection.
Respondents: Meat and poultry establishments.
Estimated No. of Respondents: 7,298.
Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 7,139.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,263,327 hours.
Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained
from Gina Kouba, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and
Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence, SW., Room 6077, South
Building, Washington, DC 20250, (202)690-6510.
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
[[Page 72627]]
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 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.
Additional Public Notification
FSIS will announce this notice online through the FSIS Web page
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulations/federal-register.
FSIS will also 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 constituents and
stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free
electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade groups,
consumer interest groups, health professionals, and other individuals
who have asked to be included. The Update is also available on the FSIS
Web page. In addition, FSIS offers an electronic 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/wps/portal/fsis/programs-and-services/email-subscription-service.
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.
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.
Done at Washington, DC, on November 26, 2013.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-28842 Filed 12-2-13; 8:45 am]
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