[Federal Register: May 2, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 84)]
[Notices]
[Page 24266-24267]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02my07-24]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2007-0010]
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved
Information Collection (Procedures for the Notification of New
Technology)
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, the Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request an
extension of an approved information collection regarding the
procedures for notifying the Agency about new technology.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before July 2,
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 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.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-2007-0010 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 site at
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/regulations_directives_&_notices/index.asp
.
For Additional Information: Contact John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction
Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 300 12th
Street, SW., Room 112, Washington, DC 20250-3700, (202) 720-0345.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Procedures for the Notification of New Technology.
OMB Number: 0583-0127.
Expiration Date of Approval: 08/31/2007.
Type of Request: Extension of an 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.), 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, et seq.). These statutes provide that FSIS
is to protect the public by verifying that meat, poultry, and egg
products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and
packaged.
FSIS is requesting extension of an approved information collection
addressing paperwork and recordkeeping requirements regarding new
technology.
FSIS has established procedures for notifying the Agency of any new
technology intended for use in official establishments and plants (68
FR 6873).
[[Page 24267]]
To follow the procedures, establishments, plants, and firms that
manufacture and sell technology to official establishments and plants
notify the Agency by submitting documents describing the operation and
purpose of the new technology. The documents should explain why the new
technology will not: Adversely affect the safety of the product,
jeopardize the safety of Federal inspection personnel, interfere with
inspection procedures, or require a waiver to a regulation. In
addition, if the new technology could adversely affect the safety of
the product, jeopardize the safety of Federal inspection personnel,
interfere with inspection procedures, or require a waiver to a
regulation, submitters are to provide a protocol for an in-plant trial
as part of a pre-use review. FSIS expects the submitter of a protocol
to provide data to the Agency throughout the duration of the in-plant
trial.
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 29 hours per response.
Respondents: Official establishments and plants; firms that
manufacture or sell technology.
Estimated No. of Respondents: 290.
Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 8,400 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
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 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: April 26, 2007.
David P. Goldman,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-8341 Filed 5-1-07; 8:45 am]
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