[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 4, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16334-16335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06641]


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 Notices
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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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  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 63 / Tuesday, April 4, 2017 / 
Notices  

[[Page 16334]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-ST-17-0021]


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision 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 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), for an extension of and revision to the 
currently approved information collection ``Laboratory Approval 
Programs.''

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 5, 2017 to be 
assured of consideration.
    Additional Information or Comments: Interested persons are invited 
to submit comments on this proposal to Grace Vaillant, Laboratory 
Approval and Testing Division, Science and Technology, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., Stop 0272, Washington, DC 20250-0272; Phone 202-690-0621, 
Fax 202-720-4631. Comments should be submitted in triplicate. Comments 
may also be submitted electronically through http://www.regulations.gov. All comments should reference the docket number 
and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All comments 
received will be made available for public inspection at the above 
address during regular business hours and may be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Laboratory Approval Programs.
    OMB Number: 0581-0251.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2017.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended 
(7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), AMS' Laboratory Approval Service (LAS) approves, 
or accredits, laboratories to perform testing services in support of 
domestic and international trades. At the request of industry, other 
Federal agencies, or foreign governments, AMS develops and administers 
laboratory approval programs (LAPs) to verify that the analysis of food 
and agricultural products meet country or customer-specified 
requirements. LAS ensures the testing of products marketed is conducted 
by qualified and approved laboratories. LAPs requirements include good 
laboratory, quality assurance and control practices; applicable 
domestic and international standards (such as ISO/IEC 17025:2005); 
established methods and accepted equipment; and on-site audits. 
Laboratories voluntarily participate in the program and pay program 
fees. Currently, LAS administers four overarching LAPs with over 70 
laboratories.
    The information collection includes submission of a letter of 
intent and analyses related documentation. These requirements are 
essential to examine laboratories for entrance into and continued 
participation in the following programs:
    (1) Aflatoxin Program--laboratories perform aflatoxin testing in 
support of domestic and/or export trade of almonds, peanuts, and 
pistachio nuts. (a) Almond. At the request of the Almond Board of 
California (ABC), AMS administers the program for aflatoxin testing of 
almonds destined for export to the European Union (EU) through the Pre-
Export Certification program of ABC. (b) Peanuts. AMS administers 
Minimum Quality and Handling Standards for Domestic and Imported 
Peanuts Marketed in the United States (7 CFR 996 Parts 996.1--996.75). 
The regulation requires domestically marketed peanuts for human 
consumption to be analyzed for aflatoxin by a USDA or USDA-approved 
laboratory. AMS consults with the Peanut Standards Board on program 
requirements. (c) Pistachio Nuts. AMS administers mandatory domestic 
and import aflatoxin requirements for pistachio nuts under Pistachios 
Grown in California, Arizona, and New Mexico (7 CFR part 983) and 
Specialty Crops, Import Regulations (7 CFR part 999, Section 999.600), 
respectively. All domestic and import shipments of pistachio nuts 
intended for human consumption must be tested for aflatoxin 
contamination. At the request of the Administrative Committee for 
Pistachios, laboratories may also participate in the program for 
pistachio nuts destined for EU.
    (2) Export Program--this program ensures the testing of meat and 
poultry products offered for export certification by the Food Safety 
and Inspection Service (FSIS) is conducted by qualified and approved 
laboratories. LAS collaborates with FSIS, the Foreign Agricultural 
Service, and the meat and poultry industries to administer a flexible 
and comprehensive program to provide reliable analyses of pesticide 
residues, environmental contaminants, veterinary drug residues, 
antibiotic residues, microorganisms, and parasites.
    (3) Microbiological Testing for the Federal Purchase Program 
(FPP)--testing is limited to the analysis of aerobic plate counts, 
coliform counts, coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus, generic 
Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, and Listeria monocytogenes in 
frozen, cooked, and diced chicken procured for the FPP. This is a new 
program added to the LAPs since the last OMB information collection 
approval.
    (4) Any additional programs which may be requested in the future to 
facilitate the marketing of U.S. agricultural products.
    All LAPs will follow the similar general procedures. Applicants 
would submit a letter of intent, provide related documentation on 
analyses they intend to perform, participate in proficiency testing 
(PT) sample analyses, and be audited by AMS auditors. The time required 
for information collection will depend on the complexity of the 
methodology and the time necessary to perform the analysis. The burden 
hours incurred for these laboratories to submit the initial letter 
requesting entrance and completion of analyses documentation is a one-
time occurrence. Once a laboratory is accepted into the program, the 
information collection burden will

[[Page 16335]]

decrease and will be based on the number of PT samples analyzed by the 
laboratory throughout the year in order to maintain its program status.
    Form ST-212 (Alternate Payment Form) is an option applicant/
approved laboratories may use to pay for participation in AMS LAPs. 
Interested parties can obtain a copy of the form (ST-212) by calling or 
writing to the point of contact listed above.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 10.94 hours per response.
    Respondents: Laboratories.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 56.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 380.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 7.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,157.30.
    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 completion of analyses 
related documentation; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on those who are to 
respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Comments may be sent to Grace Vaillant, 
Laboratory Approval and Testing Division, Science and Technology, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0272, Washington, DC 20250-0272; Phone 
202-690-0621, Fax 202-720-4631. All comments received will be available 
for public inspection during regular business hours at the same 
address.
    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: March 30, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-06641 Filed 4-3-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P