[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43271-43272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16193]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 01-039N2]


Notice of Request for New Information Collection Regarding 
Consumer Practices, Concerns, and Awareness Specific to Meat, Poultry, 
and Egg Products

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 information collection regarding consumer food safety 
practices, concerns, and awareness, specific to meat, poultry, and egg 
products. Also, in this same issue of the Federal Register, FSIS is 
publishing a notice of request for new information collection regarding 
industry practices specific to meat, poultry, and egg products.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before August 26, 
2002.

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:

[[Page 43272]]

    Title: Consumer Data to Support Risk Assessments, Regulation 
Development, and Food Safety Education Initiatives.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 3 years.
    Type of Request: Regular.
    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 Products Inspection Act 
(EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031-1056). These statutes provide that FSIS is to 
protect the public by ensuring that meat, poultry, and egg products are 
safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.
    To accomplish this objective, several program areas within FSIS 
need consumer data. The Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) 
needs consumer behavior data for food safety risk assessments. The 
Office of Policy, Program Development, and Evaluation (OPPDE) needs 
data on consumer practices and expectations for regulatory impact 
analyses and policy development. The Food Safety Education and 
Communications Staff needs data on consumer knowledge and behavior to 
identify food safety education needs and to develop and evaluate 
educational campaigns. Since FSIS now works in a risk analysis policy 
framework, the timeliness and comprehensiveness of consumer data is 
increasingly important to achieve the Agency goal of protecting the 
public health by significantly reducing the prevalence of foodborne 
hazards from meat, poultry, and egg products.
    To meet the Agency's need for timely consumer data related to meat, 
poultry, and egg products, FSIS has considered three options: (1) 
Depending on other recurring government surveys, (2) conducting surveys 
via the Internet, and (3) conducting probability web-enabled panel 
surveys. The first option, adding questions to other recurring 
government surveys, is not feasible because FSIS requires specific 
consumer data obtained in a timely manner. These surveys usually occur 
only periodically and limit the content and quantity of questions that 
FSIS may add. The second option, Internet surveys, does not provide 
statistically valid results that are representative of the U.S. 
population. The third option, web-enabled panel surveys, is the best 
option because it has the speed of Internet surveys, but, unlike 
Internet surveys, it is based on true probability sampling and is a 
research method that produces reliable information for decision-making.
    FSIS is requesting OMB approval of a new Information Collection 
Request to conduct consumer surveys that use the web-enabled panel 
survey methodology. Specifically, the initial survey will include 
questions on:
     How consumers store, handle, and prepare specific meat, 
poultry, and egg products;
     How well consumers understand and follow the 4 Fight 
BAC!\TM\ food safety messages and other safe food handling 
instructions;
     Consumers' expectations and concerns regarding labeling; 
and
     Consumers' awareness of food safety rules related to 
residues.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average .25 hours (15 minutes) per 
response.
    Respondents: Adult household food preparers in the United States 
who prepare meat or poultry products at least three times a week.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2400.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 600 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from Lee Puricelli. See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS.
    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 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

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, in an effort to better ensure 
that minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are aware of this 
notice, FSIS will announce it and make copies of this Federal Register 
publication available through the FSIS Constituent Update. FSIS 
provides a weekly Constituent Update, which is communicated via 
Listserv, a free e-mail subscription service. 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 
effect or would be of interest to our constituents/stakeholders. The 
constituent Listserv 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 the Listserv and web page, FSIS is able to provide 
information to a much broader, more diverse audience.
    For more information contact the Congressional and Public Affairs 
Office, at (202) 720-9113. To be added to the free e-mail subscription 
service (Listserv) go to the ``Constituent Update'' page on the FSIS 
web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/update/update.htm. Click on the 
``Subscribe to the Constituent Update Listserv'' link, then fill out 
and submit the form.

    Done at Washington, DC, on: May 31, 2002.
William J. Hudnall,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-16193 Filed 6-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P