2020-22422. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

October 6, 2020.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments are requested regarding whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments regarding this information collection received by November 9, 2020 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Food Safety and Inspection Service

Title: Accreditation of Laboratories, Transactions, and Exemptions.

OMB Control Number: 0583-0082.

Summary of Collection: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has been delegated the authority to exercise the functions of the Secretary as provided 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 ensuring that meat, poultry, and egg products are wholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled and packaged. The Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 642.), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 460 (b)) requires certain parties to keep records that fully and correctly disclose all transactions involved in their businesses related to relevant animal carcasses and part. FSIS requires FSIS accredited non-Federal analytical laboratories to maintain certain paperwork and records. FSIS will collect information using several FSIS forms.

Need and Use of the Information: FSIS will collect information to ensure that all meat and poultry establishments produce safe, wholesome, and unadulterated product, and that non-federal laboratories accord with FSIS regulations. In addition, FSIS also collects information to ensure that meat and poultry establishments exempted from FSIS's inspection do not commingle inspected and non-inspected meat and poultry products, and to ensure that retail firms qualifying for a retail store exemption and who have violated the provision of the exemption are no longer in violation. If the information was not collected or collected less frequently it would reduce the effectiveness of the meat and poultry inspection program.

Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 26,176.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion.

Total Burden Hours: 113,471.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.