[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23898-23899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09514]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2012-0046]


Notice of Request for a New Information Collection (Accredited 
Laboratory Contact Update Form)

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request a new 
information collection regarding the compilation of updated contact 
information for Accredited Laboratories.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before June 24, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
notice. Comments may be submitted by one 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 CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Patriots 
Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, Room 8-163A, 
Washington, DC 20250-3700.
     Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots 
Plaza 3, 355 E Street SW., Room 8-163A, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2012-0046. 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

[[Page 23899]]

the FSIS Docket Room at Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E Street, Room 8-164, 
Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 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: Accredited Laboratory Program Annual Contact Update Form.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53) as specified in the 
Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.) and the 
Poultry Products and Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.). 
FSIS protects the public by verifying that meat and poultry products 
are safe, wholesome, not adulterated, and correctly labeled.
    In addition, the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 
1990, as amended, (7 U.S.C. 138-138i) provides authority for the 
accreditation of non-Federal laboratories. Under these provisions, FSIS 
accredits non-Federal laboratories as eligible to perform analysis on 
official regulatory meat and poultry samples.
    Non-Federal laboratories that are part of the FSIS Accredited 
Laboratory Program will annually complete the FSIS Accredited 
Laboratory Program Annual Contact Update form. FSIS will use the 
information collected by the form to maintain necessary contact 
information for responsibly connected personnel at the laboratories 
(see 9 CFR 439.20 (e) and 9 CFR 439.1(w)). The completed FSIS 
Accredited Laboratory Program Annual Contact Update form will also 
inform the Agency if a laboratory, or responsibly connected person or 
entity, has been charged, indicted, or convicted of any crime listed in 
9 CFR 439.52. If a laboratory or a responsibly connected person or 
entity has been charged or indicted of such a crime, FSIS will suspend 
the laboratory from the Accredited Laboratory Program (9 CFR 439.52). 
If a laboratory or a responsibly connected person or entity has been 
convicted of such a crime, FSIS will revoke the laboratory's 
accreditation (9 CFR 439.53).
    FSIS has made the following estimates on the basis of an 
information collection assessment.
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it takes respondents an 
average of 30 hours per year to complete the forms.
    Respondents: Accredited Laboratories.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 60.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 30 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

    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: April 18, 2013.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-09514 Filed 4-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P