[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 13, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8292-8293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2583]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Seafood 
Inspection and Certification Requirements

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 14, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to James Appel, (301) 713-2355 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) operates a voluntary 
fee-for-service seafood inspection program (Program) under the 
authorities of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, the 
Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, and the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 
1970.
    The regulations for the Program are contained in 50 CFR part 260. 
The Program offers inspection grading and certification services, 
including the use of official quality grade marks which indicate that 
specific products have been Federally inspected. Qualified participants 
are permitted to use the Program's official quality grade marks on 
their products to facilitate trade of fishery products.
    The participants in the inspection program are requested to submit 
specific information pertaining to the type of inspection services 
requested [Section 260.15]. In all cases, applicants provide 
information regarding the type of products to be inspected, the 
quantity, and location of the product. There are also application 
requirements if there is

[[Page 8293]]

an appeal of previous inspection results [Section 260.36]. Participants 
requesting regular inspection services on a contractual basis also 
submit a contract [Section 260.96]. The participants interested in 
using official grade marks are required to submit product labels and 
specifications for review and approval to ensure compliance with 
mandatory labeling regulations established by the U.S. Food and Drug 
Administration as well as proper use of the Program's marks [Section 
260.97 (12) and (13)].
    Current regulations require approval of drawings and specifications 
prior to approval of facilities [Section 260.96 (b) and (c)]. There are 
no respondents under this section. The Program will amend this part of 
the regulations in a future action.
    In July 1992, NMFS announced new inspection services, which were 
fully based on guidelines recommended by the National Academy of 
Sciences, known as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP). The 
information collection requirements fall under Section 260.15 of the 
regulations. These guidelines required that a facility's quality 
control system have a written plan of the operation, identification of 
control points with acceptance criteria and a corrective action plan, 
as well as identified personnel responsible for oversight of the 
system. The HACCP requires continuing monitoring and recordkeeping by 
the facility's personnel.
    Although HACCP involves substantial self-monitoring by the 
industry, the HACCP-based program is not a self-certification program. 
It relies on unannounced system audits by NMFS. The frequency of audits 
is determined by the ability of the firm to monitor its operation. By 
means of these audits, NMFS reviews the records produced through the 
Program participant's self-monitoring. The audits determine whether the 
participant's HACCP-based system is in compliance by checking for 
overall sanitation, accordance with good manufacturing practices, 
labeling, and other requirements. In addition, in-process reviews, end-
product sampling, and laboratory analyses are performed by NMFS at 
frequencies based on the potential consumer risk associated with the 
product and/or the firm's history of compliance with the Program's 
criteria.
    The information collected is used to determine a participant's 
compliance with the program. The reported information, a HACCP plan, is 
needed only once. Other information is collected and kept by the 
participant as part of its routine monitoring activities. NMFS audits 
the participant's records on unannounced frequencies to further 
determine compliance.

II. Method of Collection

    Information will be obtained via telephone, fax, hard-copy 
submission, or audit conducted by NMFS personnel.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0266.
    Form Number: NOAA Forms 89-800, 89-814, and 89-819.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,082.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes for an application of 
inspection services; 5 minutes for an application for an appeal; 5 
minutes for submitting a contract; 30 minutes to submit a label and 
specification; 105 hours for a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point 
(HACCP) plan; and 80 hours for HACCP monitoring and recordkeeping.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 13,065.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $3,579.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(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 respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: February 7, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-2583 Filed 2-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P