[Federal Register: June 27, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 124)]
[Notices]
[Page 43271-43272]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27jn02-32]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 01-039N2]
Notice of Request for New Information Collection Regarding
Consumer Practices, Concerns, and Awareness Specific to Meat, Poultry,
and Egg Products
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 information collection regarding consumer food safety
practices, concerns, and awareness, specific to meat, poultry, and egg
products. Also, in this same issue of the Federal Register, FSIS is
publishing a notice of request for new information collection regarding
industry practices specific to meat, poultry, and egg products.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before August 26,
2002.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Lee Puricelli, Paperwork
Specialist, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 300 12th Street,
SW., Room 109, Washington, DC 20250-3700, (202) 720-0346.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 43272]]
Title: Consumer Data to Support Risk Assessments, Regulation
Development, and Food Safety Education Initiatives.
Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years.
Type of Request: Regular.
Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the
functions of the Secretary as provided in the Federal Meat Inspection
Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Poultry Products Inspection Act
(PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.), and the Egg Products Inspection Act
(EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031-1056). These statutes provide that FSIS is to
protect the public by ensuring that meat, poultry, and egg products are
safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.
To accomplish this objective, several program areas within FSIS
need consumer data. The Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS)
needs consumer behavior data for food safety risk assessments. The
Office of Policy, Program Development, and Evaluation (OPPDE) needs
data on consumer practices and expectations for regulatory impact
analyses and policy development. The Food Safety Education and
Communications Staff needs data on consumer knowledge and behavior to
identify food safety education needs and to develop and evaluate
educational campaigns. Since FSIS now works in a risk analysis policy
framework, the timeliness and comprehensiveness of consumer data is
increasingly important to achieve the Agency goal of protecting the
public health by significantly reducing the prevalence of foodborne
hazards from meat, poultry, and egg products.
To meet the Agency's need for timely consumer data related to meat,
poultry, and egg products, FSIS has considered three options: (1)
Depending on other recurring government surveys, (2) conducting surveys
via the Internet, and (3) conducting probability web-enabled panel
surveys. The first option, adding questions to other recurring
government surveys, is not feasible because FSIS requires specific
consumer data obtained in a timely manner. These surveys usually occur
only periodically and limit the content and quantity of questions that
FSIS may add. The second option, Internet surveys, does not provide
statistically valid results that are representative of the U.S.
population. The third option, web-enabled panel surveys, is the best
option because it has the speed of Internet surveys, but, unlike
Internet surveys, it is based on true probability sampling and is a
research method that produces reliable information for decision-making.
FSIS is requesting OMB approval of a new Information Collection
Request to conduct consumer surveys that use the web-enabled panel
survey methodology. Specifically, the initial survey will include
questions on:
How consumers store, handle, and prepare specific meat,
poultry, and egg products;
How well consumers understand and follow the 4 Fight
BAC!\TM\ food safety messages and other safe food handling
instructions;
Consumers' expectations and concerns regarding labeling;
and
Consumers' awareness of food safety rules related to
residues.
Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection
of information is estimated to average .25 hours (15 minutes) per
response.
Respondents: Adult household food preparers in the United States
who prepare meat or poultry products at least three times a week.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 2400.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 600 hours.
Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained
from Lee Puricelli. See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS' functions,
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the
accuracy of FSIS' 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 on those who are to respond, including
through use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques, or other forms of information
technology. Comments may be sent to both Lee Puricelli at the address
provided above, and the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, DC 20253.
All 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
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to better ensure
that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this
notice, FSIS will announce it and make copies of this Federal Register
publication available through the FSIS Constituent Update. FSIS
provides a weekly Constituent Update, which is communicated via
Listserv, a free e-mail subscription service. In addition, the update
is available on-line through the FSIS web page located at http://
www.fsis.usda.gov. The update is used to provide information regarding
FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS
public meetings, recalls, and any other types of information that could
effect or would be of interest to our constituents/stakeholders. The
constituent Listserv consists of industry, trade, and farm groups,
consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific
professionals, and other individuals that have requested to be
included. Through the Listserv and web page, FSIS is able to provide
information to a much broader, more diverse audience.
For more information contact the Congressional and Public Affairs
Office, at (202) 720-9113. To be added to the free e-mail subscription
service (Listserv) go to the ``Constituent Update'' page on the FSIS
web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/update/update.htm. Click on the
``Subscribe to the Constituent Update Listserv'' link, then fill out
and submit the form.
Done at Washington, DC, on: May 31, 2002.
William J. Hudnall,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-16193 Filed 6-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P