[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 151 (Wednesday, August 5, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47338-47339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17047]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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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 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 151 / Wednesday, August 5, 2020 / 
Notices  

[[Page 47338]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2020-0021]


Notice of Request for Renewal of an Approved Information 
Collection (Marking, Labeling and Packaging)

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 regulatory 
requirements for marking, labeling, and packaging of meat, poultry, and 
egg products. This collection covers the labeling approval process 
whereby establishments are to submit their labels to FSIS for approval 
and maintain related files. There are no changes to the information 
collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on 
May 31, 2021.

DATES: Submit comments on or before October 5, 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-2020-0021. 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: Marking, Labeling, and Packaging of Meat, Poultry, and Egg 
Products.
    OMB Number: 0583-0092.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 5/31/2021.
    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, 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 requesting renewal of the approved information collection 
regarding the regulatory requirements for marking, labeling, and 
packaging of meat, poultry, and egg products. There are no changes to 
the existing information collection. The approval for this information 
collection will expire on May 31, 2021.
    To control the manufacture of marking devices bearing official 
marks, FSIS requires official meat and poultry establishments and the 
manufacturers of such devices to submit an Authorization Certificate to 
the Agency (FSIS Form 5200-7). Such certification is necessary to help 
prevent the manufacture and use of counterfeit marks of inspection (9 
CFR 312.1, 317.3, 381.96, and 381.131).
    Meat and poultry establishments and egg products plants must 
develop labels in accordance with FSIS regulations (9 CFR 317.1, 
381.115, 590.410, and 412.2). Unless its labels are generically 
approved (meaning, they do not need to be submitted to FSIS prior to 
use on product in commerce), establishments must complete an 
application for approval (``Application for Approval of Labels, Marking 
or Device,'' FSIS Form 7234-1)(9 CFR 412.1). Respondents must submit 
duplicate copies of the labels when submitting the applications by 
paper. Establishments may also submit labels through the Label 
Submission and Approval System (LSAS), which is an internet-based 
application that allows respondents to gain label approval through a 
secure website. The establishment must maintain a copy of all the 
labeling used, along with product formulation and processing procedures 
and any additional documentation needed to support that the labels are 
consistent with FSIS regulations and policies on labeling (9 CFR 
320.1(b)(11) and 381.175(b)(6)). Additionally, establishments 
requesting reconsideration of a label application that the Agency has 
modified or rejected under 9 CFR 500.8 would submit their request using 
the ``Request for Label Reconsideration,'' FSIS Form 8822-4.
    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 4 minutes per response related to marking; 75 minutes per 
response related to labeling applications and recordkeeping; 120 
minutes per response related to labeling reconsideration requests; 15 
minutes per response related to generically approved labeling 
recordkeeping; and 2 minutes per response related to packaging 
materials recordkeeping.
    Respondents: Official meat and poultry establishments, official egg 
plants, and foreign establishments.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 5,736 related to marking; 3,682 
related to labeling applications and

[[Page 47339]]

recordkeeping; 74 related to labeling reconsideration requests; 6,333 
related to generically approved labeling recordkeeping; and 5,735 
related to packaging materials recordkeeping.
    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1 related to 
marking; 20 related to labeling applications and recordkeeping; 2 
related to labeling reconsideration requests; 20 related to generically 
approved labeling recordkeeping; and 2 related to packaging materials 
recordkeeping.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 128,267 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,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-17047 Filed 8-4-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P