[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 11 (Thursday, January 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2252-2255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-624]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. FV-06-378]


Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces that the Agricultural 
Marketing Service (AMS) is requesting approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget of a new information collection: the USDA Food 
and Commodity Connection Web site.

DATES: Comments received by March 19, 2007 will be considered.
    Additional Information or Comments: Contact Lynne E. Yedinak, Food 
Quality Assurance Staff, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 0243, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0243, telephone: (202) 
720-9939 and Fax: (202) 690-0102.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web site.
    OMB Number: 0581-0224.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 2007.

[[Page 2253]]

    Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: The information collection requirements in this request 
are needed for the operation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) Food and Commodity Connection Web site, which operates pursuant 
to the authority of Section 32 of Public Law 320. The USDA Food and 
Commodity Connection Web site supports the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service mission of facilitating the 
efficient, fair marketing of U.S. agricultural products. Registering to 
participate on or use the USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web site 
is voluntary.
    The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal 
program operating in over 100,000 public and non-profit private schools 
and residential childcare institutions. It provides nutritionally 
balanced, low-cost or free lunches to more than 29 million children 
each school day. In 1998, Congress expanded the National School Lunch 
Program to include reimbursement for snacks served to children in 
after-school educational and enrichment programs to include children 
through 18 years of age. The USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web 
site was developed to assist schools and other feeding groups to find 
the most nutritious value-added foods made from the vast diversity of 
agricultural products purchased by the Federal Government for the 
National School Lunch Program and other feeding programs that utilize 
these commodities such as Native American facilities, health care 
facilities, colleges and universities, prisons, and needy families. The 
USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web site identifies processors who 
can further process USDA supplies commodities and the brokers, 
distributors, and food associations that offer information and support 
to purchase the value-added products.
    Institutional food service professionals (public and private 
schools, the military, Veterans Administration facilities, Native 
American facilities, health care facilities, colleges and universities, 
prisons, child care facilities and facilities for needy families) who 
choose to register on the USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web site 
provide the following information: The registrant's name, position, e-
mail address, telephone number, school/organization name, and address. 
Processors who choose to register on the USDA Food and Commodity 
Connection Web site provide the following information: Confirmation 
that the company is eligible to participate in Federal procurement, the 
registrant's name, position, e-mail address, telephone number, company 
name, address, country, and whether they are a national or regional 
processor. Distributors who choose to register on the USDA Food and 
Commodity Connection Web site provide the following information: The 
registrant's name, position, e-mail address, telephone number, company 
name, address, country, and whether they are a national or regional 
distributor. Brokers who choose to register on the USDA Food and 
Commodity Connection Web site provide the following information: The 
registrant's name, position, e-mail address, telephone number, 
brokerage company name, address, country, and the States they serve. 
Food related associations who choose to register on the USDA Food and 
Commodity Connection Web site provide the following information: The 
association name, address, city, state, zip code, country, e-mail 
address, telephone number, and a description of association services. 
Information provided by institutional food service professionals assist 
processors, distributors, and brokers to view meal-serving information 
of a school or organization. Processor and distributor food products 
and contact information are available to the institutional food service 
professionals to assist them in locating processors and distributors 
that handle the food products that they want to use. The information 
provided by brokers enables institutional food service professionals to 
know which manufacturers the broker represents, which States the broker 
serves, and contacts at the brokerage firm. All registrants on the USDA 
Food and Commodity Connection Web site will be redirected to the USDA 
eAuthentication Web site to register their Level 1 Access (OMB No. 
0503-0014). Each new user must create their own login ID and password, 
meeting the eAuthentication requirements.
    The USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web site has under gone 
numerous changes since this information collection was approved October 
31, 2004. Prior to launching the USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web 
site in 2004, the food manufacturers requested changes to streamline 
the data entry process. These changes were made and the Web site was 
redeployed September 2006. The changes to the Web site provide 
processors and distributors with three methods to load product data to 
the USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web site. The new methods of 
entering data have dramatically reduced our estimate of the number of 
responses and burden hours: Total estimated responses reduced from 
15,200 to 1,845; total burden estimated hours reduced from 3,948 hours 
to 292 hours annually. These estimates are based on current processor 
registrations and our Web site testing. Previous estimates were based 
on a single product input process versus a new multiple products input 
process. Processors and distributors may continue to enter products one 
product at a time, but now have the opportunity to download their 
product information from existing product databases and use a template 
which they complete and download to the USDA Food and Commodity 
Connection Web site.

Estimating Burden

    The estimated total burden for revision of a currently approved 
information collection for the USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web 
site once USDA eAuthentication Web site registration is completed as 
follows:
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.16 hours per response.
    Respondents: Institutional food service professionals (public and 
private schools, the military, Veterans Administration facilities, 
Native American facilities, health care facilities, colleges and 
universities, prisons, child care facilities, and facilities for needy 
families), processors, distributors, brokers, and associations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 850 (300 institutional food 
service professionals, 300 processors, 100 distributors, 100 brokers, 
and 50 associations).
    Estimated Number of Responses: 1,845.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 292 hours.
    Specific information for respondents listed above is given. For 
each new registration submission, for the proposed request for revision 
of a currently approved information collections on the USDA Food and 
Commodity Connection Web site, is completed as follows:
    (1) Institutional Food Service Professional registration 
submission. Institutional food service professionals (public and 
private schools, the military, Veterans Administration facilities, 
Native American facilities,

[[Page 2254]]

health care facilities, colleges and universities, prisons, child care 
facilities and facilities for needy families) use this registration 
submission to create their user profile on the USDA Food and Commodity 
Connection Web site.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 7 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Institutional food service professionals (public and 
private schools, the military, Veterans Administration facilities, 
Native American facilities, health care facilities, colleges and 
universities, prisons, child care facilities and facilities for needy 
families).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 300.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 300.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: Respondents only 
complete the registration once.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 33 hours.
    (2) Processors registration submission. Processors use this 
registration submission to register their companies on the USDA Food 
and Commodity Connection Web site.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 9 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Processors.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 300.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 300.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: Respondents only 
complete the registration once.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 45 hours.
    (3) Processors Add a Plant and Request an Audit registration 
submission. Processors use this submission to register the plants in 
which they manufacture their products on the USDA Food and Commodity 
Connection Web site.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 8 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Processors.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 300.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 300.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: Each respondent 
completes this submission once for each plant they register.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 41 hours.
    (4) Processors Add a New Product registration submission (A Single 
Product). Processors use this registration submission to register their 
products manufactured from USDA supplied commodities and their 
commercial food products, on the USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web 
site using this method. Processors may include additional product 
information including but not limited to: Ingredients, product 
description, preparation and cooking instructions, nutrients, packaging 
data, and product fact sheet link.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 16 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Processors.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 200.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 10. Each respondent 
completes this submission once for each product they register.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 54 hours.
    (5) Processors Add a New Product registration submission (Sales 
Partners Systems Upload). Processors use this registration submission 
to register their products manufactured from USDA supplied commodities 
and their commercial food products, on the USDA Food and Commodity 
Connection Web site using this method. Processors may include 
additional product information including but not limited to: 
Ingredients, product description, preparation and cooking instructions, 
nutrients, packaging data, and product fact sheet link.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Processors.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 60.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 60.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1. Each respondent 
that uses the Sales Partners Systems to register their products 
completes this submission once.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2 hours.
    (6) Processors Add a New Product registration submission (Excel 
spreadsheet). Processors use this registration submission to register 
their products manufactured from USDA supplied commodities and their 
commercial food products, on the USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web 
site using this method. Processors may include additional product 
information including but not limited to: Ingredients, product 
description, preparation and cooking instructions, nutrients, packaging 
data, and product fact sheet link.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 10 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Processors.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 220.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 220.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1. Each respondent 
that uses the Excel spreadsheet to register their products completes 
this submission once.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 35 hours.
    (7) Distributors registration submission. Distributors use this 
registration submission to register their food service distribution 
companies on the USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web site.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 9 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Distributors.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 100.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: Respondents only 
complete the registration once.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 15 hours.
    (8) Distributors Add a Warehouse and Request an Audit registration 
submission. Distributors use this submission to register the warehouses 
in which they store the products they list on the USDA Food and 
Commodity Connection Web site.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 8 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Distributors.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 100.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: Each respondent 
completes this submission once for each warehouse they register.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 14 hours.
    (9) Distributors Add a New Product registration submission (A 
Single Product). Distributors use this registration submission to 
register their branded commercial food products on the USDA Food and 
Commodity Connection Web site using this method. Distributors may 
include additional product information including but not limited to: 
Ingredients, product description, preparation and cooking instructions, 
nutrients, package and

[[Page 2255]]

packaging data, and product fact sheet link.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 16 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Distributors.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 10.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 10. Each respondent 
completes this submission once for each product they register.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 14 hours.
    (10) Distributors Add a New Product registration submission (Sales 
Partners Systems Upload). Distributors use this registration submission 
to register their branded commercial food products on the USDA Food and 
Commodity Connection Web site using this method. Distributors may 
include additional product information including but not limited to: 
Ingredients, product description, preparation and cooking instructions, 
nutrients, package and packaging data, and product fact sheet link.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Distributors.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 1.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1. Each respondent 
that uses the Sales Partners Systems to register their products 
completes this submission once.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1 hour.
    (11) Distributors Add a New Product registration submission (Excel 
spreadsheet). Distributors use this registration submission to register 
their branded commercial food products on the USDA Food and Commodity 
Connection Web site using this method. Distributors may include 
additional product information including but not limited to: 
Ingredients, product description, preparation and cooking instructions, 
nutrients, package and packaging data, and product fact sheet link.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 10 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Distributors.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 1.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1. Each respondent 
that uses the Excel spreadsheet to register their products completes 
this submission once.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4 hours.
    (12) Brokers registration submission. Brokers use this registration 
submission to register the brokerage and the companies they represent 
on the USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web site.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 16 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Brokers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 100.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1. Respondents only 
complete the registration once.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 27 hours.
    (13) Brokers Add a Branch registration submission. Brokers use this 
submission to register any branches for the brokerage on the USDA Food 
and Commodity Connection Web site.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 9 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Brokers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 20.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1. Respondents only 
complete this submission when they have branch offices and than they 
complete one for each branch office.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3 hours.
    (14) Association registration submission. Associations in the food 
service arena use this registration submission to create their user 
profile on the USDA Food and Commodity Connection Web site.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 7 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Associations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 50.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1. Respondents only 
complete the registration once.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6 hours.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency'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 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Lynne E. 
Yedinak, Food Quality Assurance Staff, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 
0243, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0243, 
telephone: (202) 720-9939 and Fax: (202) 690-0102. All comments 
received will be available for public inspection during regular 
business hours at the same address.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: January 12, 2007.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-624 Filed 1-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P