[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 156 (Friday, August 13, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49455-49456]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19976]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2010-0018]


Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection (Procedures for the Notification of New 
Technology)

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 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, this notice 
announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to 
request a revision of a currently approved information collection 
regarding the procedures for notifying the Agency about new technology 
because the OMB approval will expire on November 30, 2010, and because 
FSIS has revised its total annual burden estimate in light of the 
latest available data.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before October 
12, 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-2010-0018. 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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: Procedures for the Notification of New Technology.
    OMB Number: 0583-0127.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 11/30/2010.
    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.), 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 provide that FSIS 
is to protect the public by verifying that meat, poultry, and egg 
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 new technology because the OMB

[[Page 49456]]

approval will expire on November 30, 2010, and because FSIS has revised 
its total annual burden estimate from 8,400 hours to 8,600 hours.
    FSIS has established procedures for notifying the Agency of any new 
technology intended for use in official establishments and plants (68 
FR 6873). To follow the procedures, establishments, plants, and firms 
that manufacture and sell technology to official establishments and 
plants notify the Agency by submitting documents describing the 
operation and purpose of the new technology. The documents should 
explain why the new technology will not (1) adversely affect the safety 
of the product, (2) jeopardize the safety of Federal inspection 
personnel, (3) interfere with inspection procedures, or (4) require a 
waiver of any Agency regulation. If use of the new technology will 
require a waiver of any Agency regulation, the notice should identify 
the regulation and explain why a waiver would be appropriate. If the 
new technology could affect FSIS regulations, product safety, 
inspection procedures, or the safety of inspection program personnel, 
the establishment or plant would need to submit a written protocol for 
an in-plant trial as part of a pre-use review. FSIS expects the 
submitter of a written protocol to provide data to the Agency 
throughout the duration of the in-plant trial.
    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 8 hours to complete a notification of intent to use new 
technology if no in-plant trial is necessary. If an in-plant trial is 
necessary, FSIS estimates that it will take an average of 80 hours to 
develop a protocol and an average of 80 more hours to collect data and 
keep records during the in-plant trial.
    Respondents: Official establishments and plants; firms that 
manufacture or sell technology to official establishments and plants.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 75 respondents will submit 
notifications of intent to use new technology; 50 respondents will 
develop a protocol for and conduct an in-plant trial.
    Estimated Numbers of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 8,600 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 both to FSIS, at the 
addresses provided above, and to 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: August 6, 2010.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-19976 Filed 8-12-10; 8:45 am]
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