[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27284-27285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11582]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 92 / Wednesday, May 13, 2015 / 
Notices  

[[Page 27284]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2015-0022]


Notice of Request To Extend a Currently Approved Information 
Collection (Voluntary Recalls 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 extend the 
approved information collection regarding voluntary recalls from 
commerce of meat and poultry products. FSIS is making no changes to the 
approved collection. The approval for this information collection will 
expire on August 31, 2015.

DATES: Submit comments on or before July 13, 2015.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
information collection. 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-2015-0022. 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: Voluntary Recalls of Meat and Poultry Products.
    OMB Control Number: 0583-0135.
    Expiration Date: 8/31/2015.
    Type of Request: Extension of an approved information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS, by delegation (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53), exercises 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 mandate that FSIS 
protect the public by verifying that meat and poultry products are 
safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.
    FSIS is requesting an extension of an approved information 
collection addressing paperwork requirements regarding the Agency's 
voluntary recalls from commerce of meat and poultry products. The 
approval for this information collection will expire August 31, 2015. 
Although FSIS is responsible for the inspection of egg products under 
the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq.), the 
Food and Drug Administration typically handles the recalls of egg 
products.
    A firm that has produced or imported meat or poultry product that 
is adulterated or misbranded and has distributed it in commerce, may 
voluntarily recall the product in question. When there is a recall, 
FSIS asks that the recalling firm (e.g., a manufacturer, distributor, 
or importer of record) provide the Agency with some basic information, 
including the identity of the recalled product, the reason for the 
recall, and information about the distributors and retail consignees to 
whom the product was actually shipped. Under the FMIA, firms are 
required to keep such records that fully and correctly disclose all 
transactions in their business (21 U.S.C. 642). Under the PPIA, firms 
are required to keep such records as are properly necessary for the 
effective enforcement of the PPIA (21 U.S.C. 460(b)).
    When a firm voluntarily recalls a product, FSIS conducts recall 
effectiveness checks. In conducting recall effectiveness checks, if the 
recall is to the retail or consumer level, the Agency contacts the 
distributors and actual retail consignees to ensure that they were 
notified of the recall, to verify the amount of product they received, 
and to confirm that they are removing the product from commerce and 
returning it to the recalling firm or otherwise disposing of the 
product.
    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 approximately 1.1 hours to collect and make this information 
available to FSIS.
    Respondents: Official establishments, importers of record, and 
retail consignees.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,087.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,740 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 collection of information, including the

[[Page 27285]]

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

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal 
Register publication on-line through the FSIS Web page located at: 
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
    FSIS also will make copies of this 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 our constituents and 
stakeholders. The Update is available on the FSIS Web page. Through the 
Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more 
diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an email 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/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export 
information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or 
delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password 
protect their accounts.

USDA Non-Discrimination 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: May 8, 2015.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-11582 Filed 5-12-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P