[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2852-2853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-949]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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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 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 14 / Tuesday, January 23, 2007 / 
Notices  

[[Page 2852]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2006-0043]


Notice of Request for a Revision of an Information Collection 
(Pathogen Reduction/Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point)

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 that the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) intends to 
request a revision of an approved information collection on Pathogen 
Reduction and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) 
Systems.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before March 26, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
notice. 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.
     Electronic mail: [email protected].
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web page provides the 
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this 
Web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulation.gov and in the ``Search for Open Regulations'' box, 
select ``Food Safety and Inspection Service'' from the agency drop-down 
menu, then click on ``Submit.'' In the Docket ID column, select FDMS 
Docket Number FSIS-2006-0043 to submit or view public comments and to 
view supporting and related materials available electronically.
    All submissions received by mail or electronic mail must include 
the Agency name and docket number. All comments submitted in response 
to this document, 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. Comments will also be posted on the Agency's Web page at 
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/regulations_directives_&_notices/index.asp.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction 
Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 300 12th 
7Street, SW., Room 112, Washington, DC 20250-3700, (202) 720-0345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Pathogen Reduction/HACCP Systems.
    OMB Number: 0583-0103.
    Expiration Date: 6/30/2007.
    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.) and the Poultry Products Inspection 
Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.). These statutes provide that FSIS 
is to protect the public by verifying that meat and poultry products 
are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.
    FSIS is requesting a revision to an approved information collection 
addressing paperwork and recordkeeping requirements regarding Pathogen 
Reduction and HACCP systems. The Agency is revising the Pathogen 
Reduction/HACCP systems information collection based on its most recent 
plant data, which support a finding of fewer total burden hours than 
there is in the currently approved information collection.
    FSIS has established requirements applicable to meat and poultry 
establishments designed to reduce the occurrence and numbers of 
pathogenic microorganisms on meat and poultry products, reduce the 
incidence of foodborne illness associated with the consumption of those 
products, and provide a new framework for modernization of the meat and 
poultry inspection system. The regulations (1) require that each 
establishment develop and implement written sanitation standard 
operating procedures (Sanitation SOPs); (2) require regular microbial 
testing for generic E. coli by slaughter establishments to verify the 
adequacy of the establishment's process controls for the prevention and 
removal of fecal contamination and associated bacteria; (3) establish 
pathogen reduction performance standards for Salmonella that slaughter 
establishments and establishments producing raw ground products must 
meet; and (4) require that all meat and poultry establishments develop 
and implement a system of preventive controls designed to improve the 
safety of their products, known as HACCP.
    FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information 
collection assessment:
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an 
average of .116 hours to comply with the Pathogen Reduction and HACCP 
systems information collection.
    Respondents: Meat and poultry establishments.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 7,721.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 7,244.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,505,024 hours.
    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 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 the use of appropriate

[[Page 2853]]

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/regulations/2007_Notices_Index/index.asp.
    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.
    In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription service which 
provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news 
and information. This service is available at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/email_subscription/ Options range from recalls to 
export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers 
can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the option to 
password protect their account.

    Done at Washington, DC, on January 17, 2007.
Barbara J. Masters,
Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E7-949 Filed 1-22-07; 8:45 am]
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