[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 39 (Monday, February 28, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11039-11040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04121]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2022-0002]


Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Poultry 
Finished Product Standards

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 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request a new 
information collection for poultry Finished Product Standards (FPS). 
This is a new information collection because the existing forms for FPS 
are in use without approval. There is an estimated annual burden of 
68,899 hours.

DATES: Submit comments on or before April 29, 2022.

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 
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that 
site for submitting comments.
     Mail: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
     Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2022-0002. Comments 
received in response to this docket will be made available for public 
inspection and posted without change, including any personal 
information, to https://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, 
call (202) 205-0495 to schedule a time to visit the FSIS Docket Room at 
1400 Independence Avenue SW, 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, Mailstop 3758, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250-3700; (202) 720-5627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Poultry Finished Product Standards.
    OMB Number: 0583-NEW.
    Type of Request: Request for a new 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 
Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.). This 
statute mandates that FSIS protect the public by verifying that poultry 
products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and 
packaged.
    Since 1987, FSIS regulations have required that processed birds 
meet FPS before and after chilling to ensure that the product being 
produced is consistently wholesome and unadulterated. By design, FPS 
provides a clear picture of the effectiveness of the dressing and 
evisceration process and alerts FSIS and the establishment to a need 
for adjustments before unacceptable product is produced. Poultry 
slaughter establishments that operate under the Streamlined Inspection 
System (SIS) or the New Line Speed Inspection System (NELS) or the New 
Turkey Inspection (NTI) system are required to comply with the Poultry 
FPS regulatory requirements (9 CFR 381.76(b)). These regulations 
require establishments to perform and record the results of FPS tests 
throughout each shift. The forms used to document FPS tests include the 
defects that must be counted, as well as a method to calculate the 
results.

[[Page 11040]]

    Establishments use FSIS Form 6500-1, Poultry QC Finished Product 
Standards, to record poultry pre-chill processing nonconformance 
results; FSIS Form 6500-2, Poultry QC Finished Product Standards, to 
record poultry pre-chill trim nonconformance results, and FSIS Form 
6500-3, Poultry Finished Product Standards, to record poultry post-
chill processing nonconformance results. FSIS inspection program 
personnel also review all three forms to verify compliance with 9 CFR 
381.76(b).
    FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information 
collection assessment:
    Estimate of burden: FSIS estimates that it takes each respondent an 
average of 861.23 hours per year to complete FSIS Forms 6500-1, 6500-2, 
and 6500-3.
    Estimated total number of respondents: 80 Poultry Slaughter 
establishments that operate under the SIS, NELS or NTIS inspection 
systems.
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 9,085.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 726,800.
    Estimated annual burden on respondents: 68,899 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, 
Mailstop 3758, 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' functions, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of FSIS' 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.

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: 
https://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: https://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

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its 
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on 
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including 
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital 
status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance 
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil 
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA 
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing 
deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible 
Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or 
contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 
Additionally, program information may be made available in languages 
other than English.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA 
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint and 
at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in 
the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a 
copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.
    Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) Mail: U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil 
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) 
fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Paul Kiecker,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2022-04121 Filed 2-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P