[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 18, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71818-71820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22978]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2022-0001]
Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Salmonella
Control Strategies Pilot Projects
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of
Agriculture (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, FSIS is announcing
its intention to request a new information collection for pilot
projects that test different control strategies for Salmonella
contamination in poultry products. This is a new information collection
with an estimated annual burden of 620 hours. On April 8, 2022, FSIS
published a notice announcing this new information collection with an
estimated annual burden of 310 hours. However, since publication, FSIS
received an increased number of requests for participation in the pilot
projects program. Therefore, FSIS is republishing the notice to
increase the estimated annual burden by 310 hours for a total of 620
hours.
DATES: Submit comments on or before December 18, 2023.
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, Jamie L.
[[Page 71819]]
Whitten Building, Room 350-E, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2022-0001. 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) 937-4272 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) 937-4272.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Salmonella Control Strategies Pilot Projects.
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.
FSIS is requesting a new information collection for pilot projects
that test different control strategies for Salmonella contamination in
poultry products. This is a new information collection with an
estimated annual burden of 620 hours. On April 8, 2022, FSIS published
a notice announcing this new information collection with an estimated
annual burden of 310 hours. However, since publication, FSIS received
an increased number of requests for participation in the pilot projects
program. Therefore, FSIS is republishing the notice to increase the
estimated annual burden by 310 hours for a total of 620 hours.
On October 19, 2021, USDA announced that FSIS would mobilize a
stronger and more comprehensive effort to reduce Salmonella illnesses
associated with poultry products.\1\ A key component of this effort is
identifying ways to incentivize the use of preharvest controls to
reduce Salmonella contamination coming into the slaughterhouse. Under
the pilot projects program, establishments will experiment with new or
existing pathogen control and measurement strategies and share data
with FSIS. Associations may also submit aggregate data. The data will
be analyzed by FSIS to determine whether they support changes to FSIS
existing Salmonella control strategies.
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\1\ The announcement can be found at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/compliance-guidance/microbial-risk/salmonella/pilot-projects-salmonella-control.
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FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information
collection assessment:
Estimate of burden: FSIS estimates that it will take each
respondent an average of 15.5 hours per year for this collection of
information.
Estimated total number of respondents: 40.
Estimated average number of responses per respondent: 7.
Estimated annual number of responses: 260.
Estimated annual burden on respondents: 620 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) 937-
4272.
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 USDA civil rights
regulations and policies, USDA, its Mission Areas, agencies, staff
offices, 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.
Program information may be made available in languages other than
English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the
responsible Mission Area, agency, or staff office; the USDA TARGET
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY); or the Federal Relay Service
at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should
complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form,
which can be obtained online at https://www.usda.gov/forms/electronic-
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forms, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a
letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's
name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the
alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date
of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or
letter must be submitted 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: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: [email protected].
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Theresa Nintemann,
Deputy Administrator, FSIS.
[FR Doc. 2023-22978 Filed 10-17-23; 8:45 am]
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