2013-27537. Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Food Canning Establishment Registration, Process Filing, and Recordkeeping for Acidified Foods and Thermally Processed Low-Acid Foods in Hermetically Sealed ...

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice; extension of comment period.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is extending the comment period for the information collection entitled “Food Canning Establishment Registration, Process Filing, and Recordkeeping for Acidified Foods and Thermally Processed Low-Acid Foods in Hermetically Sealed Containers” that appeared in the Federal Register of September 18, 2013 (78 FR 57391). In the notice requesting comment on the proposed information collection, we requested comments on the information collection provisions that are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). We are taking this action in response to a request for an extension to allow interested persons additional time to submit comments on the proposed information collection.

DATES:

FDA is extending the comment period on the proposed information collection. Submit either electronic or written comments by February 18, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

Submit electronic comments on the collection of information to http://www.regulations.gov. Submit written comments on the collection of information to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. All comments should be identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

FDA PRA Staff, Office of Operations, Food and Drug Administration, 1350 Piccard Dr., PI50-400B, Rockville, MD 20850, [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

In the Federal Register of September 18, 2013 (78 FR 57391), FDA published a notice with a 60-day comment period to request comment on a proposed collection of information related to “Food Canning Establishment Registration, Process Filing, and Recordkeeping for Acidified Foods and Thermally Processed Low-Acid Foods in Hermetically Sealed Containers.” Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal Agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. “Collection of information” is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and includes Agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires Federal Agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval.

We have received a request to extend the comment period for the proposed collection of information. The request noted that we intend to issue a draft guidance document further explaining the forms that are the subject of the collection of information and requested that the comment period for the proposed collection of information be extended to match the comment period that will be announced in a future notice requesting comments on such a draft guidance document. The requestor expected that a likely comment period for the draft guidance would be 60 days.

We have considered the request and are extending the comment period for the information collection for 90 days, until February 18, 2014. We believe that a 90-day extension allows adequate time for interested persons to submit comments without significantly delaying our submission of the proposed collection of information to OMB for review under the PRA. We are not granting the specific request to extend the comment period to match the date when we publish a notice of availability for a related draft guidance because we cannot say with certainty when that notice will publish. However, we expect to issue that notice in a timely manner such that we would announce a comment period until approximately February 18, 2014. In addition, we note that comments are welcome on guidance documents at any time (21 CFR 10.115(g)(5)).

II. Request for Comments

Interested persons may submit either electronic comments regarding this document to http://www.regulations.gov or written comments to the Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES). It is only necessary to send one set of comments. Identify comments with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document. Received comments may be seen in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and will be posted to the docket at http://www.regulations.gov.

Dated: November 13, 2013.

Leslie Kux,

Assistant Commissioner for Policy.