[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 61 (Friday, March 30, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15140-15141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1577]



[[Page 15140]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. 2007N-0105]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Mental Models Study of Food Bioterrorism Risk 
Awareness

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 the information collection provisions of 
the mental models study of food bioterrorism risk awareness.

DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on the collection of 
information by May 29, 2007.

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:  Jonna Capezzuto, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer (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 respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques, when 
appropriate, and other forms of information technology.

Mental Models Study of Food Bioterrorism Risk Awareness

    The proposed information collection will help FDA protect the 
public from food bioterrorism by preparing the agency to take 
appropriate action in the event of a crisis. Under the Federal Food, 
Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938, as amended, FDA has authority to act to 
protect the safety of the nation's food supply. Under title 42 of the 
Public Health Service Act (1944), FDA has authority to act to protect 
the public health. In addition, title III of the Public Health Security 
and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-
188), FDA has authority to act to improve the ability of the United 
States to prevent, prepare for, and respond to bioterrorism and other 
public health emergencies.
    FDA has crafted and disseminated messages intended to raise the 
awareness of state and local government agency and industry 
representatives regarding food defense issues and preparedness, but FDA 
does not currently have similar initiatives for consumers. Extensive 
research exists in disaster preparedness and in effective communication 
to the public of risk or crisis information by government or non-
government entities. However, additional research is needed to help FDA 
design communications that will increase consumer awareness of the 
potential for food bioterrorism and help consumers to make good 
decisions in the event of a food bioterrorism emergency.
    The project will use ``mental modeling,'' a qualitative research 
method wherein the decision-making processes of a group of consumer 
respondents (described in the next paragraph) concerning food 
bioterrorism are modeled and compared to a model based on expert 
knowledge and experience in food bioterrorism. The information will be 
collected via a telephone interview concerning the factors that 
influence the perceptions and motivations related to the threat of food 
bioterrorism. A comparison between expert and consumer models based on 
the collected information may identify ``consequential knowledge gaps'' 
that can be redressed through messages or information campaigns 
designed by FDA.
    Description of Respondents: Respondents will be adult parents over 
the age of 18 who have at least one child age 4 to 13 residing in the 
home at least half-time. The sample will be divided by gender.
    FDA estimates the burden of this collection of information as 
follows:

                                                     Table 1.--Estimated Annual Reporting Burden\1\
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                                                       Annual Frequency  per
                 No. of Respondents                           Response         Total Annual  Responses    Hours per  Response          Total Hours
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45                                                                          1                        1                      .75                    33.75
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\1\There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of information.


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    The study will involve 45 respondents and take approximately 45 
minutes each to complete. These estimates are based on FDA's experience 
with consumer research.

    Dated: March 23, 2007.
Jeffrey Shuren,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 07-1577 Filed 3-29-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S