[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 140 (Friday, July 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 37718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18401]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 140 / Friday, July 19, 1996 / 
Notices  

[[Page 37718]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 96-028N]


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

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 the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to 
request an extension for and revision to a currently approved 
information collection regarding applications for inspection, 
accreditation for laboratories, and exemptions for retail store, 
custom, and religious slaughter operations.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before September 
17, 1996.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Lee Puricelli, Paperwork 
Specialist, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Room 3812, Washington, DC 20250-3700, (202) 720-5276.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Application for Inspection, Laboratory Accreditation, and 
Retail Store, Custom, and Religious Slaughter Exemptions.
    OMB Number: 0583-0082.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 1996.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary as provided 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 
protects the public by ensuring that meat and poultry products are 
safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.
    FSIS requires meat and poultry establishments and FSIS accredited 
non-Federal analytical laboratories to maintain certain paperwork and 
records. FSIS uses this collected information to ensure that all meat 
and poultry establishments produce safe, wholesome, and unadulterated 
product, and that non-federal laboratories accord with FSIS 
regulations. In addition, FSIS also collects information to ensure that 
meat and poultry establishments exempted from the provisions of the 
FMIA and PPIA do not commingle inspected and non-inspected meat and 
poultry products, and to ensure that establishments qualifying for a 
retail store exemption and who have violated the provision of that 
exemption are no longer in violation.
    Therefore, FSIS is requesting OMB extension and revision of the 
Information Collection Request covering the following paperwork and 
recordkeeping activities: (1) The completion and submission to FSIS of 
an application for Federal inspection by all establishments 
slaughtering and processing meat and poultry products (9 CFR 304.1 and 
381.17); (2) the completion and submission of forms establishing 
accreditation and maintenance of laboratory results by FSIS accredited 
non-Federal analytical laboratory used in lieu of an FSIS laboratory 
for analyzing official regulatory samples (9 CFR 318.21 and 381.153); 
(3) the maintenance of records by establishments engaging in custom or 
religious slaughter, as defined in the FMIA and PPIA (9 CFR Part 303 
and Part 381, Subpart C); and (4) the maintenance of records by 
establishments that have been found to be in violation of the terms of 
a retail store exemption (9 CFR Part 303 and Part 381, Subpart C).
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average .61 hours (37 minutes) per 
response.
    Respondents: Meat and poultry establishments and private 
laboratories.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,336.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,885 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from Lee Puricelli, Paperwork Specialist, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave, SW., Room 3812, Washington, DC 
20250-3700, (202) 720-5276.
    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 use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques, or other forms of information 
technology. Comments may be sent to both Lee Puricelli, Paperwork 
Specialist, 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.

    Dated: July 15, 1996.
Michael Taylor,
Acting Under Secretary for Food Safety.
[FR Doc. 96-18401 Filed 7-18-96; 8:45 am]
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