[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58530-58531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23681]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2008-0034]


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection (Consumer Complaint Monitoring System and Food 
Safety Mobile Questionnaire)

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 both its 
Consumer Complaint Monitoring System web portal and its electronic Food 
Safety Mobile questionnaire because the approval for this information 
collection is due to expire. The public may comment on either the 
entire information collection or on one of its two parts.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before December 
8, 2008.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
notice. Comments may be submitted by either of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions at that site for submitting comments.
    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, FSIS Docket Room, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Room 2534, Washington, DC 20250.
    All submissions received must include the Agency name and docket 
number FSIS-2008-0034. Documents referred to in this notice, and all 
comments submitted in response to this notice 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 also will be posted on the Agency's Web site at 
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/2008_Notices_Index/index.asp. Individuals who do not wish FSIS to post their personnel 
contact information--mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number-
on the Internet may leave this information off of 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 
20250-3700; (202) 720-0345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Consumer Complaint Monitoring System; the Food Safety Mobile 
Questionnaire.
    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 mandate that FSIS 
protect the public by verifying that meat, poultry, and egg products 
are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.
    FSIS is requesting an extension of an approved information 
collection addressing paperwork and recordkeeping requirements 
regarding the Agency's Consumer Complaint Monitoring System web portal 
and regarding its electronic Food Safety Mobile questionnaire.
    FSIS tracks consumer complaints about meat, poultry, and egg 
products. Consumer complaints are usually filed because the food made 
the consumer sick, caused an allergic reaction, was not properly 
labeled (misbranded), or contained a foreign object. FSIS has developed 
a web portal to allow consumers to electronically file a complaint with 
the Agency about a meat, poultry, or egg product. FSIS will use this 
information to look for trends that will enhance the Agency's food 
safety efforts.
    FSIS uses a Food Safety Mobile, a vehicle that travels throughout 
the continental United States, to educate consumers about the risks 
associated with the mishandling of food and the steps they can take to 
reduce their risk of foodborne illness.
    Organizations can request a visit from the FSIS Food Safety Mobile 
although the availability of the Mobile is limited. To facilitate the 
scheduling of the Food Safety Mobile's visits when it is available, the 
Agency has put an electronic questionnaire on its web site. The 
questionnaire solicits information about the person/organization 
requesting the visit, the timing of the visit, and the type of event at 
which the Food Safety Mobile is to appear.
    FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information 
collection assessment.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for this collection 
of information is estimated to average .214 hours per response.
    Respondents: Consumers and organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 650.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 139 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 Ave., SW., Room 3532 
South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (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

[[Page 58531]]

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 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 
FSIS, at the addresses 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 
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/2008_Notices_Index/.
    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 constituents and 
stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free 
electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade groups, 
consumer interest groups, health professionals and other individuals 
who have asked to be included. The Update is available on the FSIS Web 
page. Through the Listserv and the Web page, FSIS is able to provide 
information to a much broader and 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 
account.

    Done at Washington, DC on: October 2, 2008.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E8-23681 Filed 10-6-08; 8:45 am]
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