[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 2, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24266-24267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-8341]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2007-0010]


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection (Procedures for the Notification of New 
Technology)

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, the Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request an 
extension of an approved information collection regarding the 
procedures for notifying the Agency about new technology.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before July 2, 
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 site 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-2007-0010 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 site 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 
Street, SW., Room 112, Washington, DC 20250-3700, (202) 720-0345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Procedures for the Notification of New Technology.
    OMB Number: 0583-0127.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 08/31/2007.
    Type of Request: Extension of an 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 provide that FSIS 
is to protect the public by verifying that meat, poultry, and egg 
products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and 
packaged.
    FSIS is requesting extension of an approved information collection 
addressing paperwork and recordkeeping requirements regarding new 
technology.
    FSIS has established procedures for notifying the Agency of any new 
technology intended for use in official establishments and plants (68 
FR 6873).

[[Page 24267]]

To follow the procedures, establishments, plants, and firms that 
manufacture and sell technology to official establishments and plants 
notify the Agency by submitting documents describing the operation and 
purpose of the new technology. The documents should explain why the new 
technology will not: Adversely affect the safety of the product, 
jeopardize the safety of Federal inspection personnel, interfere with 
inspection procedures, or require a waiver to a regulation. In 
addition, if the new technology could adversely affect the safety of 
the product, jeopardize the safety of Federal inspection personnel, 
interfere with inspection procedures, or require a waiver to a 
regulation, submitters are to provide a protocol for an in-plant trial 
as part of a pre-use review. FSIS expects the submitter of a protocol 
to provide data to the Agency throughout the duration of the in-plant 
trial.
    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 29 hours per response.
    Respondents: Official establishments and plants; firms that 
manufacture or sell technology.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 290.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 8,400 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 
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 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: April 26, 2007.
David P. Goldman,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-8341 Filed 5-1-07; 8:45 am]
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