[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72626-72627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28842]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 232 / Tuesday, December 3, 2013 / 
Notices  

[[Page 72626]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2013-0033]


Notice of Request for Renewal of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection (Pathogen Reduction/HACCP)

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

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 renewal of an approved information collection regarding 
pathogen reduction and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point 
(HACCP) Systems requirements because OMB approval will expire on 
February 28, 2014.

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 Room 
Manager, 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-2013-0024. 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: Pathogen Reduction/HACCP Systems.
    OMB Number: 0583-0103.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 2/28/2014.
    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.) and the Poultry Products Inspection 
Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.). These statutes provide that FSIS 
is to protect the public by verifying that meat and poultry products 
are safe, wholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled and 
packaged.
    FSIS is requesting a renewal of an approved information collection 
addressing paperwork and recordkeeping requirements regarding Pathogen 
Reduction and HACCP Systems because OMB approval will expire on 
February 28, 2014.
    FSIS has established requirements applicable to meat and poultry 
establishments designed to reduce the occurrence and numbers of 
pathogenic microorganisms on meat and poultry products, reduce the 
incidence of foodborne illness associated with the consumption of those 
products, and provide a framework for modernization of the meat and 
poultry inspection systems. The regulations (1) require that each 
establishment develop, implement, and revise, as needed, written 
Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (Sanitation SOPs) (9 CFR Part 
416); (2) require regular microbial testing for generic E. coli by 
slaughter establishments to verify the adequacy of the establishment's 
process controls for the prevention and removal of fecal contamination 
and associated bacteria (9 CFR 310.25(a) and 381.94(a)); and (3) 
require that all meat and poultry establishments develop and implement 
a system of preventive controls designed to improve the safety of their 
products, known as HACCP (9 CFR Part 417).
    Establishments may have programs that are prerequisite to HACCP 
that are designed to provide the basic environmental and operating 
conditions necessary for the production of safe, wholesome food. 
Because of its prerequisite programs an establishment may decide that a 
food safety hazard is not reasonably likely to occur in its operations. 
The establishment would need to document this determination in its 
Hazard Analysis and include the procedures it employs to ensure that 
the program is working, and that the hazard is not likely to occur (9 
CFR 417.5 (a)(1)).
    FSIS has made the estimates below based upon an information 
collection assessment.
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an 
average of 858 hours per annum to comply with the Pathogen Reduction 
and HACCP Systems information collection.
    Respondents: Meat and poultry establishments.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 7,298.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 7,139.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,263,327 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, SW., Room 6077, South 
Building, Washington, DC 20250, (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

[[Page 72627]]

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 26, 2013.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-28842 Filed 12-2-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P