[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80327-80328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32871]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2011-0027]


Notice of Request for a Revision and Extension of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection (Voluntary Recalls of Meat and Poultry 
Products)

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 
voluntary recalls from commerce of meat and poultry products. FSIS is 
revising the information collection to increase the estimate of the 
total burden hours. The Agency also is requesting an extension of the 
OMB approval for this information collection, which will expire on July 
31, 2012.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before February 
21, 2012.

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 online instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.
     Mail, including floppy disks or CD-ROMs, and hand- or 
courier-delivered items: Send to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food 
Safety and Inspection Service, Docket Clerk, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 8-163A, Mailstop 3782, Washington, DC 
20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2011-0027. 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: John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction 
Act

[[Page 80328]]

Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 6065 South Building, Washington, DC 
20250-3700; (202) 720-0345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Voluntary Recalls of Meat and Poultry Products.
    OMB Control Number: 0583-0135.
    Expiration Date: 07/31/2012.
    Type of Request: Revision of an approved information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS, by delegation (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53), exercises 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 mandate that FSIS 
protect the public by verifying that meat and poultry products are 
safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.
    FSIS is requesting a revision of an approved information collection 
addressing paperwork requirements regarding the Agency's voluntary 
recalls from commerce of meat and poultry products to increase the 
estimate of the total burden hours because the number of recalls has 
increased. The Agency also is requesting an extension of the approval 
for this information collection because it will expire July 31, 2012. 
Although FSIS is responsible for the inspection of egg products under 
the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq.), the 
Food and Drug Administration handles the recalls of egg products under 
a Memorandum of Understanding with FSIS.
    A firm that has produced or imported meat or poultry product that 
is adulterated or misbranded and is being distributed in commerce may 
voluntarily recall the product in question. When there is a recall, 
FSIS asks that the recalling firm (e.g., a manufacturer, distributor, 
or importer of record) provide the Agency with some basic information, 
including the identity of the recalled product, the reason for the 
recall, and information about the distributors and retail consignees to 
whom the product was actually shipped. Under the FMIA, firms are 
required to keep such records that fully and correctly disclose all 
transactions in their business (21 U.S.C. 642). Under the PPIA, firms 
are required to keep such records as are properly necessary for the 
effective enforcement of the PPIA (21 U.S.C. 460(b)).
    When a firm voluntarily recalls a product, FSIS conducts recall 
effectiveness checks. In conducting recall effectiveness checks, if the 
recall is to the retail or consumer level, the Agency contacts the 
distributors and actual retail consignees to ensure that they were 
notified of the recall, to verify the amount of product they received, 
and to confirm that they are removing the product from commerce and 
returning it to the recalling firm or otherwise disposing of the 
product.
    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 approximately 1.1 hours to collect and make this information 
available to FSIS.
    Respondents: Official establishments, importers of record, and 
retail consignees.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,087.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,740 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 6065 
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'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 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.
    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

    FSIS will announce this notice online through the FSIS Web page 
located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Federal_Register_Notices/index.asp.
    FSIS will also 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 also available on the FSIS 
Web page. In addition, FSIS offers an electronic 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 December 19, 2011.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011-32871 Filed 12-22-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P