[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54232-54233]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21311]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 170 / Tuesday, September 3, 2013 / 
Notices  

[[Page 54232]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-FV-13-0060]


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is 
requesting approval from the Office of Management and Budget for 
revision to and extension of the information collection titled USDA 
Food Connect Web site.

DATES: Comments received by November 4, 2013 will be considered.
    Additional Information or Comments: Contact Debra Eisenbarth, 
Standardization Branch, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, Fruit and 
Vegetable Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, STOP 0247, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20250-0247, telephone: (202) 720-1941 and fax: (202) 690-1527; or 
Internet via http://www.regulations.gov. All comments should reference 
the document number, date, and page number of this issue of the Federal 
Register. All comments will be posted without change, including any 
personal information provided. All comments submitted in response to 
this notice will be included in the record and will be made available 
to the public on the Internet via http://www.regulations.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: USDA Food Connect Web site.
    OMB Number: 0581-0224.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 10, 2014.
    Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: The information collection requirements in this request 
are necessary for the operation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) Food Connect Web site, which operates pursuant to the authority 
of Section 32 of Public Law 74-320, 7 U.S.C. 612c, AMS administers the 
USDA Food Connect Web site, which supports our mission of facilitating 
the efficient and fair marketing of U.S. agricultural products. 
Registering to participate on, or use, the USDA Food Connect Web site 
is voluntary.
    The USDA Food Connect Web site provides a neutral, web-based 
resource where food processors and distributors can register their 
nutritious, value-added foods for institutional food service 
professionals to choose the products they require. Brokers can also 
list food processors and regions they represent on the Web site along 
with information about food associations.
    The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal 
program operating in more than 100,000 public and non-profit private 
schools and residential childcare institutions. The program provides 
nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to more than 30.5 
million children each school day. In 1998, Congress expanded the 
National School Lunch Program to include reimbursement for snacks 
served to children up to 18 years of age in after-school educational 
and enrichment programs. The USDA Food Connect Web site was developed 
to help schools find the most nutritious, value-added foods purchased 
by the Federal Government, as well as commercial product available for 
purchase directly from processors.
    Institutional food service professionals (public and private 
schools) who choose to register on the USDA Food Connect Web site 
provide the following information: The registrant's name, position, 
email address, telephone number, and the school/organization name and 
address. Information provided by institutional food service 
professionals helps processors and brokers view the school/
organization's meal-serving information.
    Processors who choose to register on the USDA Food Connect Web site 
provide the following information: Confirmation that the company is 
eligible to participate in Federal procurement; the registrant's name, 
position, email address, telephone number, company name, address, and 
country; and whether they are a national or regional processor. 
Processor information helps institutional food service professionals 
locate processors and distributors that handle food products for 
purchase.
    Brokers who choose to register on the USDA Food Connect Web site 
provide the following information: The registrant's name, position, 
email address, and telephone number; the brokerage company name, 
address, and country; and the States they serve. The information 
provided by brokers allows institutional food service professionals to 
know which manufacturers the broker represents, which States the broker 
serves, and contacts at the brokerage firm.
    Food related associations who choose to register on the USDA Food 
Connect Web site provide the following information: The association's 
name, address, city, state, zip code, country, email address, and 
telephone number; and, a description of association services.
    All registrants on the USDA Food Connect Web site use the USDA 
eAuthentication Web site to register (OMB No. 0503-0014). Each new user 
must create their own login identification and password that meet 
eAuthentication requirements.
    The USDA Food Connect Web site has undergone several changes since 
this information collection was approved on January 10, 2010. The 
database upload function was disabled because the function was not 
working properly. Processors used this upload function to input their 
products via electronic transfer. Also, new allergen information was 
provided. At the request of food service professionals, we added data 
fields for eight common allergens in foods: Milk, fish, wheat, 
crustacean shellfish, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, and soybean in foods. If 
the product does not contain these allergens, the processor must 
indicate this in the provided data field. This required an additional 
minute to complete the forms for each product submission. In addition, 
the Web site was enhanced to allow processors to indicate if their 
products meet any of the following

[[Page 54233]]

``Special Product Types'' criteria: Kosher, Organic, Whole Grain, 
Vegan, and Vegetarian (no meat). Five data fields were added for this 
information that added one minute to the form completion time for each 
product submission. Food Connect was also changed so processors may 
enter the Child Nutrition (CN) label number for CN-labeled products. 
The USDA, CN Labeling Program provides food manufacturers the option to 
include a standardized food crediting statement on their product label. 
Labels must be authorized by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) 
prior to use, and manufacturers must have quality control procedures 
and inspection oversight that meet FNS requirements. Products produced 
in accordance with the CN Labeling Program are generally purchased by 
foodservice providers for FNS meal programs. One data field was added 
for the CN label number and resulted in an additional half-minute to 
complete the forms for each product submission.
    In 2012, based upon the California Department of Education, AMS 
launched a modified USDA Food Connect Web site that included an 
enhanced link to the portal, titled ``CA Competitive Foods,'' that is 
viewable only by California schools. California has two sets of 
nutrition standards for competitive foods and beverages based on grade 
level: One for elementary schools and one for middle and high schools. 
The Web site enhancements allow California schools to select either one 
or both standards based on the type of school, and to find products 
that meet California's nutrition standards for competitive foods and 
beverages. The California portal adds a half-minute and two data fields 
for processors and distributors who want to sell their products in 
California, allowing them to identify their products as meeting the 
State's competitive foods laws.
    Estimating Burden: The estimated total burden for revision of a 
currently approved information collection for the USDA Food Connect Web 
site once USDA eAuthentication Web site registration is completed is as 
follows:
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.15 hours per response.
    Respondents: Institutional food service professionals (public and 
private schools), processors, distributors, brokers, and associations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,215 (620 institutional food 
service professionals, 430 processors, no distributors, 107 brokers, 
and 58 associations).
    Estimated Number of Responses: 1907.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.57.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 297 hours.
    A new option for California portal is being submitted with this 
collection.
    (1) Processors add a new product registration submission to the 
California portal for products that are compliant with California 
Competitive Food and Beverage Standards (A Single Product). Processors 
use this registration submission to register their products 
manufactured from USDA supplied commodities and their commercial food 
products that meet the California Competitive Food and Beverage 
Standards, on the USDA Food Connect Web site using this method. 
Processors may select either one or both nutrition standards based on 
the type of school to indicate that a product meets one or both of the 
California Competitive Food and Beverage Standards.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.008 hours per response.
    Respondents: Processors.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 9.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 135.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 15. Each respondent 
completes this submission once for each product they register.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1.08 hours.
    (2) Processors add a new product registration submission to the 
California portal for products that are compliant with California 
Competitive Food and Beverage Standards (Excel spreadsheet). Processors 
use this registration submission to register their products 
manufactured from USDA supplied commodities and their commercial food 
products that meet the California Competitive Food and Beverage 
Standards, on the USDA Food Connect Web site using this method. 
Processors may select either one or both nutrition standards based on 
the type of school to indicate that a product meets the one or both of 
the California Competitive Food and Beverage Standards.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.008 hours per response.
    Respondents: Processors.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 150.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 15. Each respondent 
completes this submission once for each product they register.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1.20 hours.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on 
those who are respond, including the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: August 27, 2013.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-21311 Filed 8-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P