[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 124 (Tuesday, June 29, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37376-37377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-15743]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2010-0015]


Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection (Pathogen Reduction/HACCP)

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, this notice 
announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to 
request a revision of an approved information collection regarding 
pathogen reduction and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point 
(HACCP) Systems requirements because OMB approval will expire on 
December 31, 2010, and to include information on the use of video 
recordkeeping.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before August 30, 
2010.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
notice. Comments may be submitted by either of the following methods:
     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.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line 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, Room 2-2175 George 
Washington Carver Center, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2010-0015. Comments 
received in response to this docket will be made available for public 
inspection and posted without change, including any personal 
information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, go 
to the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
    For Additional Information: Contact John O'Connell, Paperwork 
Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 6065 South Building, Washington, DC 
20250, (202) 720-0345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Pathogen Reduction/HACCP Systems.
    OMB Number: 0583-0103.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 12/31/2010.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently 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.) and the Poultry Products Inspection 
Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.). These statutes provide that FSIS 
is to protect the public by verifying that meat and poultry products 
are safe, wholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled and 
packaged.
    FSIS is planning to request a revision of an approved information 
collection addressing paperwork and recordkeeping requirements 
regarding Pathogen Reduction and HACCP Systems because OMB approval 
will expire on December 31, 2010, and to include the use of video 
recordkeeping. The Agency is revising the Pathogen Reduction/HACCP 
systems information collection based on its most recent establishment 
data. In addition, FSIS is adding information concerning the use of 
video recordkeeping for HACCP records and Sanitation Standard Operating 
Systems (SOPs) records. Approximately one percent of meat and poultry 
establishments are using video records, which accounts for about one 
percent of the burden hours in this information collection.
    FSIS has established requirements applicable to meat and poultry 
establishments designed to reduce the occurrence and numbers of 
pathogenic microorganisms on meat and poultry products, reduce the 
incidence of foodborne illness associated with the consumption of those 
products, and provide a framework for modernization of the meat and 
poultry inspection system. The regulations (1) Require that each 
establishment develop, implement, and revise, as needed, written 
Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (Sanitation SOPs) (9 CFR

[[Page 37377]]

Part 416); (2) require regular microbial testing for generic E. coli by 
slaughter establishments to verify the adequacy of the establishment's 
process controls for the prevention and removal of fecal contamination 
and associated bacteria (9 CFR 310.25(a) and 381.94(a)); and (3) 
require that all meat and poultry establishments develop and implement 
a system of preventive controls designed to improve the safety of their 
products, known as HACCP (9 CFR part 417).
    Establishments may have programs that are prerequisite to HACCP 
that are designed to provide the basic environmental and operating 
conditions necessary for the production of safe, wholesome food. 
Because of its prerequisite programs an establishment may decide that a 
food safety hazard is not reasonably likely to occur in its operations. 
The establishment would need to document this determination in its 
Hazard Analysis and include the procedures it employs to ensure that 
the program is working and that the hazard is not likely to occur (9 
CFR 417.5(a)(1)).
    FSIS has made the estimates below based upon an information 
collection assessment. As noted above, approximately one percent of 
meat and poultry establishments are using video records, which accounts 
for about one percent of the burden hours below.
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an 
average of 858 hours per annum to comply with the Pathogen Reduction 
and HACCP Systems information collection.
    Respondents: Meat and poultry establishments.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 7,298.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 7,139.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,261,327 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, SW., Room 6065, 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's 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS's 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, 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.
    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.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination 
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, 
national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, 
sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited 
bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require 
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, 
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at 
202-720-2600 (voice and TTY).
    To file a written complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office 
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TTY). 
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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/2010_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 June 23, 2010.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-15743 Filed 6-28-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P