Notice of Request for a New Information Collection (Laboratory Assessment Requests)
| Published date | 30 March 2020 |
| Citation | 85 FR 17529 |
| Record Number | 2020-06564 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Food Safety And Inspection Service |
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 61 (Monday, March 30, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 61 (Monday, March 30, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17529-17530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06564]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2020-0011]
Notice of Request for a New Information Collection (Laboratory
Assessment Requests)
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 collect
information from laboratories that test food samples during illness
outbreak investigations. This is a new information collection with 22.5
burden hours.
DATES: Submit comments on or before May 29, 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-2020-0011. 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: Laboratory Assessment Requests.
OMB Number: 0583-NEW.
Type of Request: New 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 collect information from
laboratories that test food samples during illness outbreak
investigations. This is a new information collection with 22.5 burden
hours.
As a public health regulatory agency, FSIS investigates reports of
foodborne illness, contamination, and adulteration potentially
associated with FSIS-regulated products. During these investigations,
non-FSIS laboratories may test FSIS regulated product and share the
results with FSIS. FSIS OPHS Science Staff (SciS) will review the
results and associated documentation shared by the non-FSIS laboratory
to determine whether FSIS will accept the results. If the SciS lead
investigator determines the non-FSIS laboratory result is acceptable,
FSIS may use the result to inform regulatory action (e.g. request a
recall or detain product).
As part of the process to determine if the non-FSIS laboratory
result is acceptable, the SciS lead investigator collects information
from the non-FSIS laboratory and verifies that the non-FSIS laboratory
can provide the appropriate
[[Page 17530]]
certifications and documentation of accreditation, such as ISO17025, or
another third-party accreditation entity covering the methods
performed. The SciS lead investigator also verifies that the laboratory
has submitted all the necessary information, including evidence of
chain of custody, the appropriate laboratory reports with sample
identification, final results, and authorization by the responsible
official for affirming results. Finally, the SciS investigator collects
and verifies laboratory methods and quality assurance records
documentation from the accredited, non-FSIS laboratory.
FSIS has made the estimates below based upon an information
collection assessment.
Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an
average of 7.5 hours each year to comply with the information request
associated with this collection.
Respondents: Non-FSIS laboratories.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 3.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 22.5 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. 2020-06564 Filed 3-27-20; 8:45 am]
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