[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 145 (Tuesday, July 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45370-45371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16250]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2020-0022]


Notice of Request for Revision of an Approved Information 
Collection (Salmonella Initiative Program)

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, Agriculture (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 a 
revision of the approved information collection regarding the 
Salmonella Initiative Program (SIP). Based on an increase in SIP 
participation, FSIS has increased its total annual burden estimate by 
9,363 hours. The approval for this information collection will expire 
on January 31, 2021.

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 28, 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-2020-0022. 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, 
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: Salmonella Initiative Program.
    OMB Number: 0583-0154.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 1/31/2021.
    Type of Request: Revision of an approved information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53), as specified in the 
Federal Meat Inspection Act

[[Page 45371]]

(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 requesting a revision of the approved information 
collection regarding the Salmonella Initiative Program (SIP). Based on 
an increase in SIP participation, FSIS has increased its total annual 
burden estimate by 9,363 hours. The approval for this information 
collection will expire on January 31, 2021. The SIP offers incentives 
to meat and poultry slaughter establishments to control Salmonella in 
their operations. SIP does this by granting waivers of certain 
regulatory requirements under the condition that establishments test 
for Salmonella, Campylobacter (if applicable), and generic Escherichia 
coli or other indicator organisms and share all sample results with 
FSIS. SIP benefits public health because it encourages establishments 
to test for microbial pathogens, which is a key feature for measuring 
process control. In return for meeting the conditions of SIP, the 
Agency grants establishments appropriate waivers of certain regulatory 
requirements, based upon establishment proposals and documentation, 
under FSIS regulations at 9 CFR 303.1(h) and 381.3(b). These 
regulations specifically provide for the Administrator to waive for 
limited periods any provisions of the regulations to permit 
experimentation so that new procedures, equipment, or processing 
techniques may be tested to facilitate definite improvements. 
Establishments participating in SIP agree to the conditions of SIP 
regarding pathogen testing and sharing of test result data with FSIS.
    FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information 
collection assessment:
    Respondents: Official slaughter establishments that are under a 
waiver.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 79.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 325.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 17,628 hours.
    All 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. 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,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-16250 Filed 7-27-20; 8:45 am]
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