[Federal Register: August 13, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 156)]
[Notices]
[Page 49455-49456]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13au10-31]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2010-0018]
Notice of Request for Revision 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
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice
announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to
request a revision of a currently approved information collection
regarding the procedures for notifying the Agency about new technology
because the OMB approval will expire on November 30, 2010, and because
FSIS has revised its total annual burden estimate in light of the
latest available data.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before October
12, 2010.
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 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, Room 2-2175, George
Washington Carver Center, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2010-0018. 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact John O'Connell, Paperwork
Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 6065, South Building, Washington,
DC 20250, (202) 720-0345.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Procedures for the Notification of New Technology.
OMB Number: 0583-0127.
Expiration Date of Approval: 11/30/2010.
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.), 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, not adulterated, and properly labeled and
packaged.
FSIS is planning to request a revision of an approved information
collection addressing paperwork and recordkeeping requirements
regarding new technology because the OMB
[[Page 49456]]
approval will expire on November 30, 2010, and because FSIS has revised
its total annual burden estimate from 8,400 hours to 8,600 hours.
FSIS has established procedures for notifying the Agency of any new
technology intended for use in official establishments and plants (68
FR 6873). 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 (1) adversely affect the safety
of the product, (2) jeopardize the safety of Federal inspection
personnel, (3) interfere with inspection procedures, or (4) require a
waiver of any Agency regulation. If use of the new technology will
require a waiver of any Agency regulation, the notice should identify
the regulation and explain why a waiver would be appropriate. If the
new technology could affect FSIS regulations, product safety,
inspection procedures, or the safety of inspection program personnel,
the establishment or plant would need to submit a written protocol for
an in-plant trial as part of a pre-use review. FSIS expects the
submitter of a written 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 8 hours to complete a notification of intent to use new
technology if no in-plant trial is necessary. If an in-plant trial is
necessary, FSIS estimates that it will take an average of 80 hours to
develop a protocol and an average of 80 more hours to collect data and
keep records during the in-plant trial.
Respondents: Official establishments and plants; firms that
manufacture or sell technology to official establishments and plants.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 75 respondents will submit
notifications of intent to use new technology; 50 respondents will
develop a protocol for and conduct an in-plant trial.
Estimated Numbers of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 8,600 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, SW., Room 6065, South
Building, Washington, DC 20250, (202) 720-0345.
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 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 both to FSIS, at the
addresses provided above, and to 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.
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.
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/2010_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, 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 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 accounts.
Done at Washington, DC, on: August 6, 2010.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-19976 Filed 8-12-10; 8:45 am]
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