[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 106 (Friday, June 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32095-32096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8566]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. 2006N-0187]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Survey of Health Care Professionals on the Food Safety 
and Nutrition Information That They Provide to Pregnant Women

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an 
opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain 
information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the 
Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information and 
to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This 
notice solicits comments on a voluntary survey of health care 
professional on the food safety and nutrition information that they 
provide to pregnant women.

DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on the collection of 
information by August 1, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information 
to http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments. Submit written comments on the 
collection of information to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-
305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, 
Rockville, MD 20852. All comments should be identified with the docket 
number found in brackets in the heading of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: JonnaLynn Capezzuto, Office of 
Management Programs (HFA-250), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 
Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-827-4659.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal 
agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. 
``Collection of information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 
1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of 
the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a 
third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) 
requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal 
Register concerning each proposed collection of information before 
submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this 
requirement, FDA is publishing notice of the proposed collection of 
information set forth in this document.
    With respect to the following collection of information, FDA 
invites comments on these topics: (1) Whether the proposed collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of FDA's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on

[[Page 32096]]

respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques, when appropriate, and other forms of information 
technology.

Survey of Health Care Professionals on the Food Safety and Nutrition 
Information that they Provide to Pregnant Women

    Under section 903(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 
(21 U.S.C. 393(b)(2)), FDA is authorized to conduct research relating 
to foods and to conduct educational and public information programs 
relating to the safety of the nation's food supply. FDA is planning to 
conduct a survey of health care professionals to determine what 
information, advice, and recommendations they are offering to pregnant 
women about the following topics: (1) Methyl mercury and seafood 
consumption; (2) Listeriosis prevention; (3) weight control and 
nutrition; (4) dietary supplement usage; (5) food allergies; (6) 
Toxoplasmosis prevention; and (7) infant feeding practices. FDA is 
interested in obtaining this data since FDA has recently issued advice 
for pregnant women about food safety risks and diet risks such as 
mercury in seafood, Listeriosis, and Toxoplamosis. (``Food Safety for 
Moms-to-Be'', 2005 and ``What You Need to Know about Mercury in Fish 
and Shellfish'', 2004). Data from this survey will be used to evaluate 
whether health care professionals are aware of this advice and if they 
are educating their patients about information in the FDA advisories.
    FDA will also use this survey to get a better understanding of what 
resources health care professionals use to stay abreast of current 
practices for caring for pregnant women. This will help FDA provide 
timely recommendations to health care professionals that will reach the 
largest audience.
    A sample of 400 obstetrician/gynecologists, 200 nurse 
practitioners, 200 nurse midwives, 200 physician assistants, and 200 
dietitians from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, 
Infants, and Children (WIC) will be included in this survey. The sample 
of nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and physician assistants will 
be drawn from those specializing in obstetrics. The samples will be 
randomly selected from lists obtained from national associations. The 
survey will be conducted using a mailed questionnaire. Cognitive 
interviews and a pretest will be conducted prior to fielding the 
survey.
    FDA estimates the burden of this collection of information as 
follows:

                                 Table 1.--Estimated Annual Reporting Burden\1\
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                                    Annual Frequency      Total Annual          Hours per
       No. of  Respondents            per Response          Responses            Response         Total Hours
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1,200 - Survey                                     1                 1,200               .167              200.4
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75 - Pretest                                       1                    75               .167               12.5
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16 - Cognitive Interview                           1                    16                .75                 12
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Total                                              1                 1,291  .................              224.9
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\1\There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of information.

    The burden estimate is based on FDA's experience with previous 
surveys.

    Dated: May 25, 2006.
Jeffrey Shuren,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. E6-8566 Filed 6-1-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S