[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 106 (Thursday, June 2, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31930-31932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office
[FR Doc No: 2011-13555]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2011-0003]
Notice of Request for a Revision of a Currently Approved
Information Collection (Marking, Labeling, and Packaging)
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 regulatory requirements for marking, labeling, and
packaging of meat, poultry, and egg products; and for establishments
that produce mechanically separated poultry. FSIS has revised its total
annual burden estimate in light of the latest available data. Also,
FSIS is requesting permission to use a new form related to the label
approval process.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before August 1,
2011.
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 2-2127, George
Washington Carver Center, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Mailstop 5272,
Beltsville, MD 20705-5272.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2011-0003. Comments
received in
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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 a.m. and
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For Additional Information: 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, Telephone: (202) 720-0345.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Marking, Labeling, and Packaging.
OMB Number: 0583-0092.
Expiration Date of Approval: 11/30/2011.
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.). FSIS protects the public by
verifying that meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome,
unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.
FSIS is requesting a revision of a currently approved information
collection addressing paperwork requirements specified in the
regulations related to marking, labeling, and packaging of meat,
poultry, and egg products; and to establishments that produce
mechanically separated poultry.
To control the manufacture of marking devices bearing official
marks, FSIS requires official meat and poultry establishments and the
manufacturers of such devices to submit an Authorization Certificate to
the Agency (FSIS Form 5200-7). Such certification is necessary to help
prevent the manufacture and use of counterfeit marks of inspection (9
CFR 312.1, 317.3, 381.96 & 381.131).
Meat and poultry establishments and egg products plants must
develop labels in accordance with FSIS regulations (9 CFR 317.1,
381.115, & 590.410). To receive approval for such labels,
establishments must complete a form (``Application for Approval of
Labels, Marking or Device,'' FSIS Form 7234-1). Respondents also must
submit duplicate copies of the labels. The establishment must maintain
a copy of all the labeling used, along with product formulation and
processing procedures (9 CFR 317.4). Additionally, FSIS has developed a
new form to be used by establishments requesting reconsideration of a
label application that the Agency has modified or rejected (``Request
for Label Reconsideration,'' FSIS Form 8822-4).
Previously approved labeling that contains changes such as holiday
season designs, addition or deletion of coupons, UPC production codes,
or recipe suggestions; newly assigned or revised establishment numbers;
changes in the arrangement or language of directions for opening
containers or serving the product; or the substitution of abbreviations
for words or vice versa, do not need additional FSIS approval (9 CFR
317.5). Establishments must keep a copy of the labeling used, along
with the product formulation and processing procedures on file.
FSIS requires establishments to keep a written guaranty on file to
demonstrate that the packaging material they use to package product is
safe and will not adulterate product (9 CFR 317.24 and 381.144).
Poultry establishments producing mechanically separated poultry
must have adequate controls in place, including recordkeeping, to
ensure that such product complies with the Agency's requirements (9 CFR
381.173).
The Agency is revising the information collection because it has
developed a new form that will be used by establishments seeking
reconsideration of label applications. Also, FSIS has revised estimates
of the total number of respondents based on the most current data
available. These revisions support a finding of fewer total burden
hours (128,267) than there are in the approved information collection
(155,288).
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 4 minutes per response related to marking; 75 minutes per
response related to labeling applications and recordkeeping; 120
minutes per response related to labeling reconsideration requests; 15
minutes per response related to generically approved labeling
recordkeeping; 2 minutes per response related to packaging materials
recordkeeping; and 5 minutes per response related to mechanically
separated poultry recordkeeping.
Respondents: Official meat and poultry establishments, official egg
plants, and foreign establishments.
Estimated No. of Respondents: 5,736 related to marking; 3,682
related to labeling applications and recordkeeping; 74 related to
labeling reconsideration requests; 6,333 related to generically
approved labeling recordkeeping; 5,735 related to packaging materials
recordkeeping; and 82 related to mechanically separated poultry
recordkeeping.
Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1 related to
marking; 20 related to labeling applications and recordkeeping; 2
related to labeling reconsideration requests; 20 related to generically
approved labeling recordkeeping; 2 related to packaging materials
recordkeeping; and 455 related to mechanically separated poultry
recordkeeping.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 128,267 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 Avenue, SW, Room 6065,
South Building, Washington, DC 20250, Telephone: (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
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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_&_policies/Federal_Register_Notices/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_&_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 May 24, 2011.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011-13555 Filed 6-1-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P