[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10648-10649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03764]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2020-0004]


Notice of Request for Renewal of an Approved Information 
Collection (Procedures for the Notification of New Technology and 
Requests for Waivers)

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, the Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request 
renewal of the approved information collection regarding the procedures 
for notifying the Agency about new technology and requests for waivers. 
There are no changes to the existing information collection. The 
approval for this information collection will expire on May 31, 2020.

DATES: Submit comments on or before April 27, 2020.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
Federal Register notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides 
commenters the ability to type short comments directly into the comment 
field on the web page or to 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, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Room 6065, Washington, DC 20250-
3700.
     Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2020-0004. 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, 
call (202) 720-5627 to schedule a time to visit the FSIS Docket Room at 
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, Washington, DC 20250-3700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and 
Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250-3700; (202) 720-5627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Procedures for the Notification of New Technology and 
Requests for Waivers
    OMB Number: 0583-0127.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 5/31/2020.
    Type of Request: Renewal of an approved information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary (7 CFR 2.18 and 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.). These 
statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat, 
poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and 
properly labeled and packaged.
    FSIS is announcing its intention to request renewal of the approved 
information collection regarding the procedures for notifying the 
Agency about new technology and requests for waivers. There are no 
changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this 
information collection will expire on May 31, 2020.
    FSIS has established procedures for notifying the Agency of any new 
technology intended for use in official meat and poultry establishments 
and egg products plants (68 FR 6873). To follow the procedures, 
establishments, plants, and firms that manufacture and sell technology 
to official establishments and egg products 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 must also identify the regulation and explain why a waiver would 
be appropriate (9 CFR 303.1(h), 381.3(b), and 590.10). 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. The submitter of a written 
protocol should 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 additional hours to collect 
data and keep records during the in-plant trial. FSIS estimates it will 
take respondents an average of 120 hours to collect data and conduct 
recordkeeping under a waiver.
    Respondents: Official meat and poultry establishments and egg 
product plants; firms that manufacture or sell technology to official 
establishments and plants.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 75 respondents will submit 
notifications of intent to use new technology. 50 respondents will 
develop a protocol for

[[Page 10649]]

and conduct an in-plant trial. 50 respondents will collect data and 
conduct recordkeeping for the duration of the in-plant trial. 35 
respondents will collect data and conduct recordkeeping under the 
waiver.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 12,800 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety 
and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, 
South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 720-5627.
    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 
method 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 
(OMB), 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 will also announce and provide a link to this Federal Register 
publication 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 Constituent Update is available on 
the FSIS web page. Through the web page, FSIS can 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).

Paul Kiecker,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-03764 Filed 2-24-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P