[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 2, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51946-51947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20839]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2014-0028]


Notice of Request for Renewal of an Information Collection: 
Application for Inspection, Accreditation of Laboratories, and 
Exemptions

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, this 
notice announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's intention to 
renew an information collection related to the application for 
inspection, accreditation of laboratories, and exemptions. FSIS is 
requesting the renewal because the current OMB approval will expire on 
January 31, 2015.

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

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, Docket 
Clerk, 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-2014-0027. 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 6067, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250; (202) 690-6510.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Application for Inspection, Accreditation of Laboratories, 
and Exemptions.
    OMB Number: 0583-0082.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 01/31/2015.

[[Page 51947]]

    Type of Request: Renewal of a currently approved information 
collection.
    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.), 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.). FSIS 
protects the public by verifying that meat, poultry, and egg products 
are safe, wholesome, not adulterated, and correctly labeled and 
packaged.
    FSIS is requesting a renewal of a currently approved information 
collection addressing paperwork requirements specified in the 
regulations relating to the application for inspection, accreditation 
of laboratories, and exemptions.
    FSIS requires meat and poultry establishments and import facilities 
to apply for a grant of inspection before receiving Federal inspection 
(9 CFR 304.1 & 381.17). FSIS also requires plants that wish to receive 
voluntary inspection to apply for service (9 CFR 350.5, 351.4, 352.3, & 
362.3). Establishments that wish to export or import product must also 
submit certain documents to the Agency.
    The FMIA (21 U.S.C. 642), the PPIA (21 U.S.C. 460(b)), and the EPIA 
(21 U.S.C. 1040) require certain parties to keep records that fully and 
correctly disclose all transactions involved in their businesses 
related to relevant animal carcasses and parts and egg products.
    FSIS requires accredited non-Federal analytical laboratories to 
maintain certain paperwork and records (9 CFR 439.20 & 590.580). The 
Agency uses this collected information to ensure that meat and poultry 
establishments and egg products plants provide safe, wholesome, and not 
adulterated product, and that non-Federal laboratories act in 
accordance with FSIS regulations.
    In addition, FSIS also requires establishments to keep records to 
ensure that meat and poultry products exempted from Agency inspection 
are not commingled with inspected meat and poultry products (9 CFR 
303.1(b)(3) & 381.175), and that firms qualifying for a retail store 
exemption who have violated the provisions of that exemption are no 
longer in violation (9 CFR 303.1(d)(3) & 381.10(d)(3)).
    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 .034 hours per response.
    Respondents: Official meat and poultry establishments, official egg 
plants, and foreign establishments.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 27,743.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 122.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 114,339.4 hours.
    All 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.
    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 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.

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

    No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds 
of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual 
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 
income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, 
exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to 
discrimination any person in the United States under any program or 
activity conducted by the USDA.

How To File a Complaint of Discrimination

    To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program 
Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or write 
a letter signed by you or your authorized representative.
    Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, 
or email:

Mail

    U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410.

Fax

    (202) 690-7442.

Email

    [email protected].

    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact 
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

    Done at Washington, DC, on August 27, 2014.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-20839 Filed 8-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P