[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 123 (Monday, June 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36057-36058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14582]


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 Notices
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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. 69, No. 123 / Monday, June 28, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 36057]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. 04-010N]


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 the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice 
announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to 
request a revision to a currently approved information collection 
regarding Marking, Labeling, and Packaging.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before August 27, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
Information Collection request. Comments may be submitted by any of the 
following methods:
     Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROM's, and hand- or 
courier-delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 300 12th Street, SW., 
Room 102 Cotton Annex, Washington, DC 20250.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.
    All submissions received must include the Agency name and docket 
number 04-010N.
    All comments submitted in response to this notice, as well as 
research and background information used by FSIS in developing this 
document, will be available for public inspection in the FSIS Docket 
Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The comments also will 
be posted on the Agency's Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRDockets.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction 
Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 300 12th 
Street, SW., Room 112, Washington, DC 20250-3700, (202) 720-0345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Marking, Labeling, and Packaging.
    OMB Number: 0583-0092.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 9/30/2004.
    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.). 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 is requesting a revision to the information collection 
addressing paperwork and recordkeeping requirements regarding marking, 
labeling, and packaging because of an anticipated decrease of 
information collection burden hours due to a decrease in the submission 
of new labels. To ensure that meat, poultry, and egg products are 
accurately labeled, FSIS approves meat, poultry, and egg products 
labeling. Meat, poultry, and egg products establishments and plants 
must develop product labels (9 CFR 317.4, 381.132 & 590.411) in 
accordance with FSIS regulations. Each establishment must maintain a 
copy of all labeling used, along with all records of product 
formulation and processing procedures.
    Approved labeling to which minor changes are made, 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 an additional FSIS approval 
(Sec. Sec.  317.5 & 381.133).
    FSIS requires establishments to have a written guaranty that 
packaging materials are safe for intended use within the meaning of 
section 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended 
(Sec. Sec.  317.24 & 381.144).
    To control the manufacture of marking devices bearing official 
marks, FSIS requires official meat and poultry establishments and the 
manufacturers of such marking devices to submit a form to the Agency. 
The establishment completes the first part of the form requesting that 
certain brands or other devices be manufactured. The manufacturer of 
the brands then provides its business name and address, and serial 
numbers of brands and devices. Such certification is necessary to help 
prevent the manufacture and use of counterfeit marks of inspection 
(Sec. Sec.  312.1 & 381.96).
    Poultry establishments producing meat using advanced meat/bone 
separation machinery and recovery systems must have adequate controls 
in place, including the maintenance of proper recordkeeping, to ensure 
that such product complies with the Agency's definition and criteria 
for ``meat'' (Sec. Sec.  381.172 & 381.173).
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average .03 hours per response.
    Respondents: Official establishments and plants; foreign 
establishments; device manufacturer.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 16,720.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 202.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 114,558. Copies of 
this information collection assessment can be obtained from John 
O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, USDA, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 112, Washington, 
DC 20250-3700, (202) 720-5627, (202) 720-0345.
    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

[[Page 36058]]

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; 
ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques, 
or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to both 
John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, 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 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.
    The Regulations.gov Web site is the central online rulemaking 
portal of the United States government. It is being offered as a public 
service to increase participation in the Federal government's 
regulatory activities. FSIS participates in Regulations.gov and will 
accept comments on documents published on the site. The site allows 
visitors to search by keyword or Department or Agency for rulemakings 
that allow for public comment. Each entry provides a quick link to a 
comment form so that visitors can type in their comments and submit 
them to FSIS. The Web site is located at http://www.regulations.gov.
    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, recalls, 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.

    Done at Washington, DC, on June 23, 2004.
Barbara J. Masters,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 04-14582 Filed 6-25-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P