2010-15743. Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection (Pathogen Reduction/HACCP)

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, this notice announces the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) intention to request a revision of an approved information collection regarding pathogen reduction and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems requirements because OMB approval will expire on December 31, 2010, and to include information on the use of video recordkeeping.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received on or before August 30, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this notice. Comments may be submitted by either of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Web site provides the ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this Web page or 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 floppy disks or CD-ROMs, and hand- or courier-delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 2-2175 George Washington Carver Center, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705.

Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2010-0015. 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, go to the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For Additional Information: Contact John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 6065 South Building, Washington, DC 20250, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Pathogen Reduction/HACCP Systems.

OMB Number: 0583-0103.

Expiration Date of Approval: 12/31/2010.

Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information collection.

Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the functions of the Secretary as specified in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.) and the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.). These statutes provide that FSIS is to protect the public by verifying that meat and poultry products are safe, wholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.

FSIS is planning to request a revision of an approved information collection addressing paperwork and recordkeeping requirements regarding Pathogen Reduction and HACCP Systems because OMB approval will expire on December 31, 2010, and to include the use of video recordkeeping. The Agency is revising the Pathogen Reduction/HACCP systems information collection based on its most recent establishment data. In addition, FSIS is adding information concerning the use of video recordkeeping for HACCP records and Sanitation Standard Operating Systems (SOPs) records. Approximately one percent of meat and poultry establishments are using video records, which accounts for about one percent of the burden hours in this information collection.

FSIS has established requirements applicable to meat and poultry establishments designed to reduce the occurrence and numbers of pathogenic microorganisms on meat and poultry products, reduce the incidence of foodborne illness associated with the consumption of those products, and provide a framework for modernization of the meat and poultry inspection system. The regulations (1) Require that each establishment develop, implement, and revise, as needed, written Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (Sanitation SOPs) (9 CFR Part 416); (2) require regular microbial testing for generic E. coli by slaughter establishments to verify the adequacy of the establishment's process controls for the prevention and removal of fecal contamination and associated bacteria (9 CFR 310.25(a) and 381.94(a)); and (3) require that all meat and poultry establishments develop and implement a system of preventive controls designed to improve the safety of their products, known as HACCP (9 CFR part 417).

Establishments may have programs that are prerequisite to HACCP that are designed to provide the basic environmental and operating conditions necessary for the production of safe, wholesome food. Because of its prerequisite programs an establishment may decide that a food safety hazard is not reasonably likely to occur in its operations. The establishment would need to document this determination in its Hazard Analysis and include the procedures it employs to ensure that the program is working and that the hazard is not likely to occur (9 CFR 417.5(a)(1)).

FSIS has made the estimates below based upon an information collection assessment. As noted above, approximately one percent of meat and poultry establishments are using video records, which accounts for about one percent of the burden hours below.

Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an average of 858 hours per annum to comply with the Pathogen Reduction and HACCP Systems information collection.

Respondents: Meat and poultry establishments.

Estimated No. of Respondents: 7,298.

Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 7,139.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,261,327 hours.

Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained from John O'Connell, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence, SW., Room 6065, South Building, Washington, DC 20250, [phone].

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 methodology 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, 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.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's Target Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TTY).

To file a written complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Additional Public Notification

Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with disabilities, are aware of this notice, FSIS will announce it on-line through the FSIS Web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/​regulations/​2010_​Notices_​Index/​index.asp.

FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication available 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 Update is communicated via Listserv, a free e-mail subscription service consisting of industry, trade, and farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific professionals, and other individuals who have requested to be included. The Update also is available on the FSIS Web page. Through Listserv and the Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more diverse audience.

In addition, FSIS offers an e-mail 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/​news_​and_​events/​email_​subscription/​. Options range from recalls to export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password protect their accounts.

Done at Washington, DC, on June 23, 2010.

Alfred V. Almanza,

Administrator.