[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 130 (Wednesday, July 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36881-36882]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17981]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Seafood Inspection Services

ACTION: Proposed Collection; Comment Request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 8, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Rita Creitz, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD, 301-713-2355.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) operates a voluntary 
fee-for-service seafood inspection program (Program) under the 
authorities of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, the 
Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, and Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970. 
The regulations for the Program are contained in 50 CFR Part 260. The 
program offers inspection grading, and certification services, 
including the use of official quality grade marks which indicate that 
specific products have been Federally inspected. In addition, the NMFS 
inspection program is the only Federal entity which establishes quality 
grade standards for seafood marketed in the United States. Qualified 
participants are permitted to use the program's official quality grade 
marks on their products to facilitate trade of fishery products.
    Participants in the inspection program are requested to submit 
specific information pertaining to the type of inspection service 
requested [Sec. 260.15]. In all cases, applicants provide the program 
information regarding the type of products to be inspected, the 
quantity, and location of the product. There are also application 
requirements if there is an appeal on previous inspection results 
[Sec. 260.36]. Participants requesting regular inspection services on a 
contractual basis also submit a contract [Sec. 260.96]. Participants 
interested in using official grade marks are required to submit product 
labels and specifications for review and approval to ensure compliance 
with mandatory labeling regulations established by the U.S. Food and 
Drug Administration as well as proper use of the Program's marks 
[Sec. 260.97(c)(12) and (13)].
    Current regulations state requirements for approval of drawings and 
specifications prior to approval of facilities [Sec. 260.96(b) and 
(c)]. There are no respondents under this section. The Program will 
amend this part of the regulations in a future action.
    In July 1992, NMFS announced new inspection services, which were 
fully based on guidelines recommended by the National Academy of 
Sciences, known as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP). The 
information collection requirements fall under Sec. 260.15 of the 
regulations. These guidelines required that a facility's quality 
control system have a written plan of the operation, identification of 
control points with acceptance criteria and a corrective action plan, 
as well as identified personnel responsible for oversight of the 
system. HACCP requires continuing monitoring and recordkeeping by the 
facility's personnel.
    Although HACCP involves substantial self-monitoring by the 
industry, the HACCP-based program is not a self-certification program. 
It relies on unannounced system audits by NMFS. The frequency of audits 
is determined by the ability of the firm to monitor its operation. By 
means of these audits, NMFS reviews the records produced through the 
program participant's self-monitoring. The audits determine whether the 
participant's HACCP-based system is in compliance by checking for 
overall sanitation, accordance with good manufacturing practices, 
labeling, and other requirements. In addition, in-process reviews, end-
product sampling, and laboratory analyses are performed by NMFS at 
frequencies based on the potential consume risk associated with the 
product and/or the firm's history of compliance with the program's 
criteria.
    The information collected is used to determine a participant's 
compliance with the program. The reported information, a HACCP plan, is 
needed only once. Other information is collected and kept by the 
participant as part of its routine monitoring activities. NMFS audits 
the participant's records on unannounced frequencies to further 
determine compliance.
    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) implemented mandatory 
HACCP seafood safety requirements in December 1997. The burden hours 
identified are those beyond the FDA's mandatory HACCP requirements. 
HACCP-related burden hours are identified separately below and are 
based on an estimate of 30 new HACCP facilities a year and include 
annual monitoring and recordkeeping estimates for 100 facilities 
already in the Program.

II. Method of Collection

    Information will be obtained via telephone, fax, or hard-copy 
submission or audit conducted by NMFS personnel.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0266.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Business and other for-profit organizations 
(participants in the NMFS voluntary seafood inspection program).
    Estimated Number of Respondents, Response Times, and Total Burden:

Section 260.15  Application for Inspection Services

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,952.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 571.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

Section 260.36  Application for Appeal

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 75.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

Section 260.96  Contract Completion

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 35.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

Section 260.96 (b) and (c)  Drawing and Floor Plan Approval

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 0.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 0 minutes.

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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 0.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

Section 260.97(c) (12) and (13)  Label and Specification Submission

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,624.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 16 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 700.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
HACCP Participants
New Respondents
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 30.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 105 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,150.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
Current Respondents
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 80 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Total Respondents: 7,082.
    Total Burden Hours: 12,430.
    Total Cost: $0--no capita expenditures required.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(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 respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: July 1, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-17981 Filed 7-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P