[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66873-66874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30993]



[[Page 66873]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. 99-049N]


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 January 
31, 2000.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Lee Puricelli, Paperwork 
Specialist, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 300 12th Street, 
SW, Room 109, Washington, DC 20250-3700, (202) 720-0346.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Application for Inspection, Laboratory Accreditation, and 
Retail Store, Custom, and Religious Slaughter Exemptions.
    OMB Number: 0583-0082.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 1999.
    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.), the Poultry Products Inspection Act 
(PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.), and the Egg Product Inspection Act 
(EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq.). These statutes mandate that FSIS 
protect the public by ensuring that meat, poultry, and egg 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 operate in accordance 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 that have violated the prohibition on 
commingling product are no longer violating the prohibition.
    FSIS is requesting OMB extension and revision of this Information 
Collection Request that covers the following paperwork and 
recordkeeping activities: (1) The completion and submission to FSIS of 
an application for Federal inspection by all meat, poultry, and egg 
seeking a grant of Federal inspection; (2) the completion and 
submission of forms establishing accreditation and maintenance of 
laboratory results by FSIS-accredited non-Federal analytical 
laboratories used in lieu of an FSIS laboratories for analyzing 
official regulatory samples; (3) the maintenance of records by 
establishments engaging in custom or religious slaughter, as defined in 
the FMIA and PPIA; and (4) the maintenance of records by establishments 
that have been found to be in violation of the terms of a retail store 
exemption.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average 1.49 hours per response.
    Respondents: Meat and poultry establishments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,460.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 18,565 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from Lee Puricelli, Paperwork Specialist, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service, USDA, 300 12th Street, SW, Room 109, Washington, DC 20250-
3700, (202) 720-0346.
    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.

Additional Public Notification

    This notice is designed to provide information to the public and 
request their comments on FSIS' information collection requirements 
regarding applications for inspection, accreditation for laboratories, 
and exemptions for retail store custom, and religious slaughter 
operations. Public involvement is important. Consequently, in an effort 
to better ensure that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities 
are made aware of this request for the extension and revision of the 
currently approved information collection request 0583-0082 and are 
informed about the mechanism for providing their comments, FSIS will 
announce it and provide copies of this Federal Register publication in 
the FSIS Constituent Update.
    FSIS provides a weekly FSIS Constituent Update, which is 
communicated via fax to over 300 organizations and individuals. In 
addition, the update is available on line through the FSIS web page 
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov. The update is used to provide 
information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal 
Register Notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and any other types of 
information that could affect or would be of interest to our 
constituents/stakeholders. The constituent fax list consists of 
industry, trade, and farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied 
health professionals, scientific professionals and other individuals 
that have requested to be included. Through these various channels, 
FSIS is able to provide information with a much broader, more diverse 
audience.
    For more information and to be added to the constituent fax list, 
fax your request to the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, at 
(202) 720-5704.


[[Page 66874]]


    Done at Washington, DC, on: November 23, 1999.
Thomas J. Billy,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-30993 Filed 11-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P