[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40090-40091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15980]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2013-0021]


Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection (Interstate Shipment of Meat and Poultry 
Products)

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 
revision of an information collection for the voluntary cooperative 
interstate shipment program because the Agency has more recent data 
concerning the program, and the information collection approval is 
scheduled to expire on August 31, 2013. FSIS is estimating fewer burden 
hours for this information collection than are currently approved 
because fewer States and State establishments are participating in the 
cooperative interstate shipment program than the Agency had originally 
estimated three years ago.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before September 
3, 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 8-163B, 
Washington, DC 20250-3700.
     Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots 
Plaza 3, 355 E. Street SW., Room 8-163B, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2013-0021. 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 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: John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction 
Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 6065, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250; Telephone (202) 720-0345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Cooperative Inspection Programs: Interstate Shipment of Meat 
and Poultry Products.
    Type of Request: Revision of an approved information collection.
    OMB Control Number: 0583-0143.
    Expiration Date: 8/31/2013.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary of Agriculture (7 CFR 2.18, 2.55) 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.). FSIS protects the public by verifying that meat and poultry 
products are wholesome, not adulterated, and properly marked, labeled, 
and packaged.
    FSIS is planning to request a revision of an approved information 
collection addressing paperwork requirements for the voluntary 
cooperative interstate shipment program of meat and poultry products 
because the Agency has more recent data about the program, and the OMB 
approval of the information collection will expire on August 31, 2013. 
FSIS is estimating fewer burden hours for this information collection 
than are currently approved because fewer States and State 
establishments are participating in the cooperative interstate shipment 
program than the Agency had originally estimated three years ago.
    FSIS administers a voluntary cooperative inspection program under 
which State-inspected establishments with 25 or fewer employees are 
eligible to ship meat and poultry products in interstate commerce (21 
U.S.C. 683 and U.S.C. 472) (9 CFR 321.3, Part 332, 381.187, and Part 
381 Subpart Z). In participating States, State-inspected establishments 
selected to take part in this program are required to comply with all 
Federal standards under the FMIA and the PPIA, as well as with all 
State standards. These establishments receive inspection services from 
State inspection personnel that have been trained in the enforcement of 
the FMIA and PPIA. Meat and poultry products produced under the program 
that have been inspected and passed by designated State personnel bear 
an official Federal mark of inspection and are permitted to be 
distributed in interstate commerce. FSIS provides oversight and 
enforcement of the program.
    States that are interested in participating in the cooperative 
interstate shipment program need to submit a request for an agreement 
to establish such a program through the appropriate FSIS District 
Office (9 CFR 332.4 and 381.514). In its request, a State must agree to 
comply with certain

[[Page 40091]]

conditions in order to qualify for the interstate shipment program. The 
State must also: (1) identify establishments in the State that the 
State recommends for initial selection into the program, if any, and 
(2) include documentation to demonstrate that the State is able to 
provide necessary inspection services to selected establishments in the 
State and conduct any related activities that would be required under a 
cooperative interstate shipment program.
    If a State determines that an establishment qualifies to 
participate in the cooperative interstate shipment program, and the 
State is able, and willing, to provide the necessary inspection 
services at the establishment, the State is to submit its evaluation of 
the establishment to the FSIS District Office that covers the State (74 
FR 24729). FSIS, in coordination with the State, will then decide 
whether to select the establishments for the program.
    Establishments that qualify for this program have to meet all 
requirements under the FMIA or PPIA, and implementing regulations, 
including FSIS requirements for recordkeeping (9 CFR 332.5 and 
381.515). Most State-inspected establishments will already have met 
these recordkeeping requirements, but some establishments will need to 
make minor adjustments to their recordkeeping in order to meet FSIS 
requirements.
    The FSIS selected establishment coordinator (SEC) is responsible 
for overseeing a State's cooperative inspection program. The SEC will 
visit each selected establishment in the State on a regular basis to 
verify that the establishment is operating in a manner that is 
consistent with the FMIA or PPIA and the implementing regulations (9 
CFR 332.7 and 381.517).
    FSIS has made the following estimates on the basis of an 
information collection assessment:
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take each new State 
an average of 40 hours for to prepare and submit a request to establish 
a cooperative interstate shipment program. It will take each State 24 
hours to prepare and submit an evaluation for each new establishment 
entering the program. States will submit approximately 3 evaluations 
per year.
    FSIS estimates that 15 establishments per year will spend 16 hours 
to modify their recordkeeping procedures to comply with Federal 
standards and 5 minutes per establishment to file these records.
    FSIS estimates that it will take each new establishment 15 minutes 
to assist the SEC to locate the necessary records for review on the 
initial visit. Every selected establishment will spend 10 minutes 
assisting the SEC review its records approximately once a month.
    Respondents: States and establishments.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 20 states and 60 establishments.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: One request per 
each new State to establish a cooperative interstate shipment program 
and approximately 3 evaluations of State-inspected establishments per 
State.
    A one-time modification of records for each newly selected 
establishment whose recordkeeping does not comply with all Federal 
standards. One initial SEC visit in which each newly selected 
establishment will need to provide the SEC with access to all required 
records. Each establishment selected for the program will need to 
provide the FSIS access to its records on an ongoing basis. Total 
number of estimated annual responses is 830.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,005 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; Telephone: (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/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulations/federal-register.
    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/wps/portal/fsis/programs-and-services/email-subscription-service.
    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 27, 2013.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-15980 Filed 6-28-13; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P