2020-02697. Notice of Request for Revision of an Approved Information Collection (Advanced Meat Recovery)  

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    AGENCY:

    Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

    ACTION:

    Notice and request for comments.

    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 an approved information collection regarding the regulatory requirements associated with the production of meat from advanced meat recovery (AMR) systems. 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 13, 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 Start Printed Page 7714Independence 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-2020-0003. 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.

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    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.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Advanced Meat Recovery.

    OMB Number: 0583-0130.

    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.). This statute mandates that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat 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 regulatory requirements associated with the production of meat from advanced meat recovery systems. There are no changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on May 31, 2020.

    The regulations at 9 CFR 318.24 state that meat, as defined in 9 CFR 301.2, may be derived by mechanically separating skeletal muscle tissue from the bones of livestock, other than skulls or vertebral column bones of cattle 30 months of age and older as provided in 9 CFR 310.22, using advances in mechanical meat/bone separation machinery (i.e., AMR systems) that, recover meat (1) without significant incorporation of bone solids or bone marrow as measured by the presence of calcium and iron in excess of the requirements in this section, and (2) without the presence of any brain, trigeminal ganglia, spinal cord, or dorsal root ganglia. As a prerequisite to labeling or using AMR product, establishments are to develop, implement, and maintain written procedures that ensure that the establishment's production process is in control, which includes testing for calcium, iron, spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglia, documenting testing protocols, handling product in a manner that does not cause product to be misbranded or adulterated, and maintaining records on a daily basis sufficient to document the implementation and verification of its production process.

    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 a half hour per response.

    Respondents: Official establishments that produce meat from AMR systems.

    Estimated No. of Respondents: 47.

    Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 900.

    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 21,159 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: program.intake@usda.gov.

    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), Start Printed Page 7715should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

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    Carmen M. Rottenberg,

    Administrator.

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    [FR Doc. 2020-02697 Filed 2-10-20; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P

Document Information

Published:
02/11/2020
Department:
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice and request for comments.
Document Number:
2020-02697
Dates:
Submit comments on or before April 13, 2020.
Pages:
7713-7715 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. FSIS-2020-0003
PDF File:
2020-02697.Pdf