[Federal Register: January 23, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 14)]
[Notices]
[Page 2852-2853]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23ja07-18]
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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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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2006-0043]
Notice of Request for a Revision of an Information Collection
(Pathogen Reduction/Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point)
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 that the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) intends to
request a revision of an approved information collection on Pathogen
Reduction and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)
Systems.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before March 26,
2007.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
notice. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROM's, and hand- or
courier-delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 300 12th Street, SW.,
Room 102 Cotton Annex, Washington, DC 20250.
Electronic mail: fsis.regulationscomments@fsis.usda.gov.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web page 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.regulation.gov
and in the ``Search for Open Regulations'' box,
select ``Food Safety and Inspection Service'' from the agency drop-down
menu, then click on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select FDMS
Docket Number FSIS-2006-0043 to submit or view public comments and to
view supporting and related materials available electronically.
All submissions received by mail or electronic mail must include
the Agency name and docket number. All comments submitted in response
to this document, as well as research and background information used
by FSIS in developing this document, will be available for public
inspection in the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed above between
8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. Comments will also be posted on the Agency's Web page at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/[fxsp0]regulations--&[fxsp0]--policies/
regulations--[fxsp0]directives--&--[fxsp0]notices/index.asp.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction
Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 300 12th
7Street, SW., Room 112, Washington, DC 20250-3700, (202) 720-0345.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Pathogen Reduction/HACCP Systems.
OMB Number: 0583-0103.
Expiration Date: 6/30/2007.
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, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.
FSIS is requesting a revision to an approved information collection
addressing paperwork and recordkeeping requirements regarding Pathogen
Reduction and HACCP systems. The Agency is revising the Pathogen
Reduction/HACCP systems information collection based on its most recent
plant data, which support a finding of fewer total burden hours than
there is in the currently approved information collection.
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 new framework for modernization of the meat and
poultry inspection system. The regulations (1) require that each
establishment develop and implement written sanitation standard
operating procedures (Sanitation SOPs); (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; (3) establish
pathogen reduction performance standards for Salmonella that slaughter
establishments and establishments producing raw ground products must
meet; and (4) 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.
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 .116 hours to comply with the Pathogen Reduction and HACCP
systems information collection.
Respondents: Meat and poultry establishments.
Estimated No. of Respondents: 7,721.
Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 7,244.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,505,024 hours.
Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained
from John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety
and Inspection Service, USDA, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 112,
Washington, DC 20250-3700, (202) 720-5627, (202) 720-0345.
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 the use of appropriate
[[Page 2853]]
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques, or other forms of information technology. Comments may be
sent to both John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, 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 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/2007_Notices_Index/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, recalls, 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 email 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_and_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 account.
Done at Washington, DC, on January 17, 2007.
Barbara J. Masters,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-949 Filed 1-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P