[Federal Register: October 24, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 207)]
[Notices]
[Page 63425-63426]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24oc08-32]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2008-0033]
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved
Information Collection (Voluntary Recalls of Meat and Poultry 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, the Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request an
extension of an approved information collection regarding the voluntary
recalls from commerce of meat and poultry products because the approval
for this information collection is due to expire.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before December
23, 2008.
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 online instructions at that site for
submitting comments.
Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROMs, and hand- or
courier-delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Room 2534, South Agriculture Building, Washington, DC
20250-3700.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the
[[Page 63426]]
Agency name and docket number FSIS-2008-0033. 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 the address listed above between 8:30 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact John O'Connell, Paperwork
Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 3532 South Building, Washington, DC
20250-3700; 202-720-0345.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Voluntary Recalls of Meat and Poultry Products.
OMB Control Number: 0583-0135.
Expiration Date: 3/31/2009.
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.) and the Poultry Products Inspection
Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.). These statutes mandate that FSIS
protect the public by verifying that meat and poultry products are
safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.
FSIS is requesting an extension of an approved information
collection addressing paperwork requirements regarding the Agency's
voluntary recalls from commerce of meat and poultry products because
the approval for this information collection is due to expire. Although
FSIS is responsible for the inspection of egg products under the Egg
Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq.), the Food and
Drug Administration handles the recalls of egg products under a
Memorandum of Understanding with FSIS.
A firm that has produced or imported meat or poultry product that
is adulterated or misbranded and is being distributed in commerce, may
voluntarily recall the product in question. When there is a recall,
FSIS asks that the recalling firm provide the Agency with some basic
information, including the identity of the recalled product, the reason
for the recall, and information about the distributors and retail
consignees to whom the product was actually shipped. Under the FMIA,
firms are required to keep such records that fully and correctly
disclose all transactions in their business (21 U.S.C. 642). Under the
PPIA, firms are required to keep such records as are properly necessary
for the effective enforcement of the PPIA (21 U.S.C. 460(b)).
When a firm voluntarily recalls a product, FSIS conducts recall
effectiveness checks. In conducting recall effectiveness checks, if the
recall is to the retail or consumer level, the Agency contacts the
distributors and actual retail consignees to ensure that they were
notified of the recall, to verify the amount of product they received,
and to confirm that they are removing the product from commerce and
returning it to the recalling firm or otherwise disposing of the
product.
FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information
collection assessment.
Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take an average of
approximately one hour to collect and submit this information to FSIS.
Respondents: Official establishments, importers of record, and
retail consignees.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,060.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,100 hours.
Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained
from John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety
and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 3532
South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (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 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.
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
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/2008_Notices_Index/.
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, 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 available on the FSIS Web
page. Through the Listserv and the Web page, FSIS is able to provide
information to a much broader and more diverse audience.
In addition, FSIS offers an e-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/
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 October 17, 2008.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8-25397 Filed 10-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P