[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 174 (Monday, September 10, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51582-51583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17735]


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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 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 174 / Monday, September 10, 2007 / 
Notices  

[[Page 51582]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2007-0029]


Notice of Request for a Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection (Marking, Labeling, and Packaging)

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 a 
revision of an approved information collection concerning the 
regulatory requirements for marking, labeling, and packaging of meat, 
poultry, and egg products because of revised estimates, which support a 
finding of more total burden hours.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before November 
9, 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-ROMs, and hand- or 
courier-delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Room 2534 South Building, 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-2007-0029 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. Individuals who do not wish FSIS to 
post their personal contact information--mailing address, e-mail 
address, and telephone number--on the Internet may leave the 
information off their comments.

For Additional Information: Contact John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction 
Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 3532 South Building, Washington, DC 
20250, (202) 720-0345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Marking, Labeling, and Packaging.
    OMB Number: 0583-0092.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 12/31/2007.
    Type of Request: Revision 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.). FSIS protects the public by 
verifying that meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, 
unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.
    FSIS is requesting revision of an approved information collection 
addressing paperwork requirements specified in the regulations relating 
to marking, labeling, and packaging of meat, poultry, and egg products.
    To control the manufacture of marking devices bearing official 
marks, FSIS requires official meat and poultry establishments and the 
manufacturers of such devices to submit an Authorization Certificate to 
the Agency. Such certification is necessary to help prevent the 
manufacture and use of counterfeit marks of inspection (9 CFR 312.1 & 
381.96).
    Meat and poultry establishments and egg products plants must 
develop labels (9 CFR 317.4, 381.115, & 590.410) in accordance with 
FSIS regulations. To receive approval for such labels, establishments 
must complete a form. Respondents also submit, in addition to the form, 
duplicate sketch copies of the labels. The establishment must maintain 
a copy of all the labeling used, along with product formulation and 
processing procedures.
    Previously approved labeling that contains changes such as holiday 
season designs, addition or deletion of coupons, UPC production codes, 
or recipe suggestions; newly assigned or revised establishment numbers; 
changes in the arrangement or language of directions for opening 
containers or serving the product; or the substitution of abbreviations 
for words or vice versa, do not need additional FSIS approval (9 CFR 
317.5). Establishments must keep a copy of the labeling used, along 
with the product formulation and processing procedures on file.
    FSIS requires establishments to keep a written guaranty on file to 
demonstrate that the packaging material they use to package product is 
safe and will not adulterate product (9 CFR 312.1 and 381.96).
    Poultry establishments producing Mechanically Separated (Kind of 
Poultry) must have adequate controls in place, including recordkeeping, 
to ensure that such product complies with the Agency's requirements (9 
CFR 381.173).
    The Agency is revising the information collection based on revised 
estimates of the number of establishments and the time necessary to 
complete forms, which support a finding of more total burden hours 
(85,508) than there are in the approved information collection 
(82,348).
    FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information 
collection assessment:

[[Page 51583]]

    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an 
average of 30 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Official meat and poultry establishments, official egg 
plants, and foreign establishments.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 7,536.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 21.7.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 85,508 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety 
and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 3532 
South Building, Washington, DC 20250, (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 establishments, including through the 
use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques, or other forms of information 
technology. Comments may also be sent to 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, 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 e-mail 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 accounts.

Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-17735 Filed 9-7-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P