[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72627-72628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28841]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2013-0032]


Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection (Procedures for the Notification of New 
Technology)

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 
regarding the procedures for notifying the Agency about new technology 
because the OMB approval will expire on January 31, 2014, and because 
FSIS has revised its total annual burden estimate in light of the 
latest available data.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before February 
3, 2014.

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 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 8-164, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2013-0024. 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 SW., Room 8-
164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Paperwork Reduction Act 
Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 6077, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250; Telephone: (202) 690-6510.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Procedures for the Notification of New Technology.
    OMB Number: 0583-0127.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 1/31/2014.
    Type of Request: Renewal 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.), the Poultry Products Inspection 
Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.), and the Egg Products Inspection 
Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq.). These statutes provide that FSIS 
is to protect the public by verifying that meat, poultry, and egg 
products are safe, wholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled and 
packaged.
    FSIS is planning to request a renewal of an approved information 
collection addressing paperwork and recordkeeping requirements 
regarding new technology because the OMB approval will expire on 
January 31, 2014.
    FSIS has established procedures for notifying the Agency of any new 
technology intended for use in official establishments and plants (68 
FR 6873). To follow the procedures, establishments, plants, and firms 
that manufacture and sell technology to

[[Page 72628]]

official establishments and plants notify the Agency by submitting 
documents describing the operation and purpose of the new technology. 
The documents should explain why the new technology will not (1) 
adversely affect the safety of the product, (2) jeopardize the safety 
of Federal inspection personnel, (3) interfere with inspection 
procedures, or (4) require a waiver of any Agency regulation. If use of 
the new technology will require a waiver of any Agency regulation, the 
notice should identify the regulation and explain why a waiver would be 
appropriate. If the new technology could affect FSIS regulations, 
product safety, inspection procedures, or the safety of inspection 
program personnel, the establishment or plant would need to submit a 
written protocol for an in-plant trial as part of a pre-use review. 
FSIS expects the submitter of a written protocol to provide data to the 
Agency throughout the duration of the in-plant trial.
    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 8 hours to complete a notification of intent to use new 
technology if no in-plant trial is necessary. If an in-plant trial is 
necessary, FSIS estimates that it will take an average of 80 hours to 
develop a protocol and an average of 80 more hours to collect data and 
keep records during the in-plant trial.
    Respondents: Official establishments and plants; firms that 
manufacture or sell technology to official establishments and plants.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 75 respondents will submit 
notifications of intent to use new technology. 50 respondents will 
develop a protocol for and conduct an in-plant trial.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 8,600 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from Gina Kouba, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 6077, 
South Building, Washington, DC 20250; Telephone: (202) 690-6510.
    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 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.

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.

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.

    Done at Washington, DC on: November 25, 2013.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-28841 Filed 12-2-13; 8:45 am]
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