Notice of Request for Renewal of an Approved Information Collection (Procedures for the Notification of New Technology and Requests for Waivers)
| Published date | 25 February 2020 |
| Citation | 85 FR 10648 |
| Record Number | 2020-03764 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Food Safety And Inspection Service |
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10648-10649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03764]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2020-0004]
Notice of Request for Renewal of an Approved Information
Collection (Procedures for the Notification of New Technology and
Requests for Waivers)
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 procedures
for notifying the Agency about new technology and requests for waivers.
There are no changes to the existing information collection. The
approval for this information collection will expire on May 31, 2020.
DATES: Submit comments on or before April 27, 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-2020-0004. 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: Procedures for the Notification of New Technology and
Requests for Waivers
OMB Number: 0583-0127.
Expiration Date of Approval: 5/31/2020.
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 and 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 announcing its intention to request renewal of the approved
information collection regarding the procedures for notifying the
Agency about new technology and requests for waivers. There are no
changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this
information collection will expire on May 31, 2020.
FSIS has established procedures for notifying the Agency of any new
technology intended for use in official meat and poultry establishments
and egg products plants (68 FR 6873). To follow the procedures,
establishments, plants, and firms that manufacture and sell technology
to official establishments and egg products plants notify the Agency by
submitting documents describing the operation and purpose of the new
technology. The documents should explain why the new technology will
not (1) adversely affect the safety of the product, (2) jeopardize the
safety of Federal inspection personnel, (3) interfere with inspection
procedures, or (4) require a waiver of any Agency regulation. If use of
the new technology will require a waiver of any Agency regulation, the
notice must also identify the regulation and explain why a waiver would
be appropriate (9 CFR 303.1(h), 381.3(b), and 590.10). If the new
technology could affect FSIS regulations, product safety, inspection
procedures, or the safety of inspection program personnel, the
establishment or plant would need to submit a written protocol for an
in-plant trial as part of a pre-use review. The submitter of a written
protocol should provide data to the Agency throughout the duration of
the in-plant trial.
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 8 hours to complete a notification of intent to use new
technology if no in-plant trial is necessary. If an in-plant trial is
necessary, FSIS estimates that it will take an average of 80 hours to
develop a protocol and an average of 80 additional hours to collect
data and keep records during the in-plant trial. FSIS estimates it will
take respondents an average of 120 hours to collect data and conduct
recordkeeping under a waiver.
Respondents: Official meat and poultry establishments and egg
product plants; firms that manufacture or sell technology to official
establishments and plants.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 75 respondents will submit
notifications of intent to use new technology. 50 respondents will
develop a protocol for
[[Page 10649]]
and conduct an in-plant trial. 50 respondents will collect data and
conduct recordkeeping for the duration of the in-plant trial. 35
respondents will collect data and conduct recordkeeping under the
waiver.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 12,800 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,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-03764 Filed 2-24-20; 8:45 am]
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