[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 101 (Tuesday, May 26, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31432-31433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11187]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-ST-20-0050]


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, 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 July 27, 2020 to be 
assured of consideration.
    Additional Information or Comments: Interested persons are invited 
to submit comments concerning this notice by using the electronic 
process available at http://www.regulations.gov. Written comments may 
also be submitted to Laboratory Approval and Testing Division, Science 
and Technology Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0272, Washington, DC 
20250-0272; or by facsimile to (202) 720-4631. All comments should 
reference the docket number AMS-ST-20-0050, the date, and page number 
of this issue of the Federal Register. All comments will become a 
matter of public record and 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, 2020.
    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 trade. 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); 
established methods and accepted equipment; and on-site audits. 
Laboratories voluntarily participate in the program and pay program 
fees. Currently, LAS administers four LAPs with 60 participants.
    The information collection includes customer/business information 
and quality management system (QMS) documentation essential to examine 
laboratories for entrance and continual participation in the following 
programs:
    (1) Aflatoxin Program--this program approves laboratories to 
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 (ACP), laboratories may also participate in the program for 
pistachio nuts destined for EU through the Pistachio Export Aflatoxin 
Reporting (PEAR) program of ACP.
    (2) Export Program--this program approves laboratories to perform 
testing of meat and poultry products offered for export certification 
by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). 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 of Poultry Products for the Federal 
Purchase Program (FPP)--this program approves laboratories to perform 
microbiological testing of frozen, cooked, diced chicken procured for 
the Federal Purchase Program and is limited to the analysis of aerobic 
plate counts, coliform counts, coagulase positive Staphylococcus 
aureus, generic Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, and Listeria 
monocytogenes.
    (4) Dairy Program--this program supports the Dairy Grading Branch 
for laboratories testing butter for quality and grading standards. LAS 
collaborates with the Dairy Grading Branch and the dairy industry to 
administer an audit program to provide reliable analysis for the 
grading of butter.
    All LAPs follow similar general procedures for application process 
and evaluations for continual participation. Applicants (laboratories 
applying to be approved or accredited by AMS) and participants 
(laboratories approved or accredited under a LAP) are responsible for 
paying applicable program fees. An applicant or participant may 
withdraw or voluntarily request suspension at any time and if deemed 
necessary LAS can suspend or dismiss a participant.
    The greatest information collection burden is during the 
application process. The application process can occur when an 
applicant seeks approval into a program and when a participant seeks to 
expand their scope of approval. Generally, the application process 
includes, submission of an application letter and application package, 
including customer/business information for billing and QMS 
documentation; and receive an audit by AMS. The customer/business 
information collected includes business legal name, Federal Tax ID 
Number, mailing address, billing address, management contacts and 
accounts payable contact. The burden hours incurred for an applicant to 
submit application package materials for application or expansion of 
scope is typically a one-time occurrence and is

[[Page 31433]]

essential for evaluating an applicant's ability to meet program 
requirements and gain approval.
    Once an applicant is approved into the program, the information 
collection burden decreases for the continual participation process. A 
participant verifies intent to continue participation and its customer/
business information annually, and on a periodic basis submits 
proficiency testing reports to evaluate analytical proficiency, and QMS 
documentation in response to audits by AMS. The information listed is 
essential to examine a participant's ability to continually meet 
program requirements and maintain program status.
    Occasionally, a participant withdraws, is suspended, or is 
dismissed from a program. When a participant withdraws it submits a 
letter of request. When a participant requests voluntary suspension or 
is suspended by LAS it may request reinstatement of approval and must 
demonstrate its ability to meet program requirements through the 
continual participation process. On the rare occasion a participant 
fails to continually meet program requirements the participant may be 
notified of its danger of being dismissed. The dismissal process 
includes an evaluation using the continual participation process to 
substantiate reason for dismissal.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 2.24 hours per response.
    Respondents: Laboratories.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 60.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 538.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 8.97.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1204.00.
    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.
    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.

Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-11187 Filed 5-22-20; 8:45 am]
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