[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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