[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 182 (Thursday, September 20, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53752-53753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18574]


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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 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 182 / Thursday, September 20, 2007 / 
Notices  

[[Page 53752]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2007-0028]


Notice of Request for a Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection (Application for Inspection, Accreditation of 
Laboratories, and Exemptions)

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 application for inspection, accreditation 
of laboratories, and exemptions because of revised estimates that 
support a finding of fewer total burden hours.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before November 
19, 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-2007-0028 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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: Application for Inspection, Accreditation of Laboratories, 
and Exemptions.
    OMB Number: 0583-0082.
    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 a revision of an approved information collection 
addressing paperwork requirements specified in the regulations relating 
to the application for inspection, accreditation of laboratories, and 
exemptions.
    FSIS requires meat and poultry establishments and import facilities 
to apply for a grant of inspection before they can receive Federal 
inspection (9 CFR 304.1 & 381.17). FSIS also requires plants that wish 
to receive voluntary inspection to apply for inspection (9 CFR 350.5, 
351.4, 352.3, & 362.3). Establishments that wish to export or import 
product must also submit certain documents to the Agency.
    The FMIA (21 U.S.C. 642), the PPIA (21 U.S.C. 460(b)), and the EPIA 
(21 U.S.C. 1040) require certain parties to keep records that fully and 
correctly disclose all transactions involved in their businesses 
related to relevant animal carcasses and parts and egg products.
    FSIS requires accredited non-Federal analytical laboratories to 
maintain certain paperwork and records (9 CFR 319.10 & 590.580). The 
Agency uses this collected information to ensure that meat and poultry 
establishments and egg products plants provide safe, wholesome, and 
unadulterated product, and that non-Federal laboratories act in 
accordance with FSIS regulations.
    In addition, FSIS also collects information to ensure that meat and 
poultry establishments exempted from Agency inspection do not commingle 
inspected and non-inspected meat and poultry products (9 CFR 
303.1(b)(3) & 381.10(a)(1)), and that firms qualifying for a retail 
store exemption who have violated the provision of that exemption are 
no longer in violation (9 CFR 303.1(d)(3) & 381.10(d)(3)).
    The Agency is revising the information collection based on a 
revised estimate of the number of respondents, which support a finding 
of fewer total burden hours (113,048) than there are in the approved 
information collection (114,583).
    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 .034 hours per response.
    Respondents: Official meat and poultry establishments, official egg 
plants, and foreign establishments.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 24,622.

[[Page 53753]]

    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 136.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 113,048 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, (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.

    Done at Washington, DC, on: September 17, 2007.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-18574 Filed 9-19-07; 8:45 am]
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