[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24850-24851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10676]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2011-0002]


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, this notice 
announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to 
request a revision of a currently approved information collection. The 
information collection addresses the paperwork requirements specified 
in the regulations relating to the application for inspection, 
accreditation of laboratories, and exemptions. FSIS is revising the 
information collection to increase the estimate of the total burden 
hours, and because the OMB approval will expire on July 31, 2011.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before July 5, 
2011.

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 2-2127 George 
Washington Carver Center, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Mailstop 5272, 
Beltsville, MD 20705-5272.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2011-0002. 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 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: Application for Inspection, Accreditation of Laboratories, 
and Exemptions.
    OMB Number: 0583-0082.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 07/31/2011.
    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 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 receiving Federal inspection 
(9 CFR 304.1 & 381.17). FSIS also requires plants that wish to receive 
voluntary inspection to apply for service (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 439.20 & 590.580). The 
Agency uses this collected information to ensure that meat and poultry 
establishments and egg products plants provide safe, wholesome, and not 
adulterated product, and that non-Federal laboratories act in 
accordance with FSIS regulations.
    In addition, FSIS also requires establishments to keep records to 
ensure that meat and poultry products exempted from Agency inspection 
are not commingled with inspected meat and poultry products (9 CFR 
303.1(b)(3) & 381.175), and that firms qualifying for a retail store 
exemption who have violated the provisions 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 due to an increase in the 
number of establishments. This increase in the number of establishments 
supports the finding of a total increase in burden hours (39.4) from 
that found in the previously approved information collection.
    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: 27,743.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 122.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 114,339.4 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 Avenue, 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

[[Page 24851]]

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_&_policies/Federal_Register_Notices/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_&_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: April 26, 2011.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011-10676 Filed 5-2-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P