2013-15980. Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection (Interstate Shipment of Meat and Poultry Products)

AGENCY:

Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to request revision of an information collection for the voluntary cooperative interstate shipment program because the Agency has more recent data concerning the program, and the information collection approval is scheduled to expire on August 31, 2013. FSIS is estimating fewer burden hours for this information collection than are currently approved because fewer States and State establishments are participating in the cooperative interstate shipment program than the Agency had originally estimated three years ago.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received on or before September 3, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this notice. Comments may be submitted by one 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 CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Patriots Plaza 3, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 3782, Room 8-163B, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
• Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E. Street SW., Room 8-163B, Washington, DC 20250-3700.

Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2013-0021. 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 Patriots Plaza 3, 355 E. Street, Room 8-164, Washington, DC 20250-3700 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER 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; Telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Cooperative Inspection Programs: Interstate Shipment of Meat and Poultry Products.

Type of Request: Revision of an approved information collection.

OMB Control Number: 0583-0143.

Expiration Date: 8/31/2013.

Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the functions of the Secretary of Agriculture (7 CFR 2.18, 2.55) 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.). FSIS protects the public by verifying that meat and poultry products are wholesome, not adulterated, and properly marked, labeled, and packaged.

FSIS is planning to request a revision of an approved information collection addressing paperwork requirements for the voluntary cooperative interstate shipment program of meat and poultry products because the Agency has more recent data about the program, and the OMB approval of the information collection will expire on August 31, 2013. FSIS is estimating fewer burden hours for this information collection than are currently approved because fewer States and State establishments are participating in the cooperative interstate shipment program than the Agency had originally estimated three years ago.

FSIS administers a voluntary cooperative inspection program under which State-inspected establishments with 25 or fewer employees are eligible to ship meat and poultry products in interstate commerce (21 U.S.C. 683 and U.S.C. 472) (9 CFR 321.3, Part 332, 381.187, and Part 381 Subpart Z). In participating States, State-inspected establishments selected to take part in this program are required to comply with all Federal standards under the FMIA and the PPIA, as well as with all State standards. These establishments receive inspection services from State inspection personnel that have been trained in the enforcement of the FMIA and PPIA. Meat and poultry products produced under the program that have been inspected and passed by designated State personnel bear an official Federal mark of inspection and are permitted to be distributed in interstate commerce. FSIS provides oversight and enforcement of the program.

States that are interested in participating in the cooperative interstate shipment program need to submit a request for an agreement to establish such a program through the appropriate FSIS District Office (9 CFR 332.4 and 381.514). In its request, a State must agree to comply with certain conditions in order to qualify for the interstate shipment program. The State must also: (1) identify establishments in the State that the State recommends for initial selection into the program, if any, and (2) include documentation to demonstrate that the State is able to provide necessary inspection services to selected establishments in the State and conduct any related activities that would be required under a cooperative interstate shipment program.

If a State determines that an establishment qualifies to participate in the cooperative interstate shipment program, and the State is able, and willing, to provide the necessary inspection services at the establishment, the State is to submit its evaluation of the establishment to the FSIS District Office that covers the State (74 FR 24729). FSIS, in coordination with the State, will then decide whether to select the establishments for the program.

Establishments that qualify for this program have to meet all requirements under the FMIA or PPIA, and implementing regulations, including FSIS requirements for recordkeeping (9 CFR 332.5 and 381.515). Most State-inspected establishments will already have met these recordkeeping requirements, but some establishments will need to make minor adjustments to their recordkeeping in order to meet FSIS requirements.

The FSIS selected establishment coordinator (SEC) is responsible for overseeing a State's cooperative inspection program. The SEC will visit each selected establishment in the State on a regular basis to verify that the establishment is operating in a manner that is consistent with the FMIA or PPIA and the implementing regulations (9 CFR 332.7 and 381.517).

FSIS has made the following estimates on the basis of an information collection assessment:

Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take each new State an average of 40 hours for to prepare and submit a request to establish a cooperative interstate shipment program. It will take each State 24 hours to prepare and submit an evaluation for each new establishment entering the program. States will submit approximately 3 evaluations per year.

FSIS estimates that 15 establishments per year will spend 16 hours to modify their recordkeeping procedures to comply with Federal standards and 5 minutes per establishment to file these records.

FSIS estimates that it will take each new establishment 15 minutes to assist the SEC to locate the necessary records for review on the initial visit. Every selected establishment will spend 10 minutes assisting the SEC review its records approximately once a month.

Respondents: States and establishments.

Estimated No. of Respondents: 20 states and 60 establishments.

Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: One request per each new State to establish a cooperative interstate shipment program and approximately 3 evaluations of State-inspected establishments per State.

A one-time modification of records for each newly selected establishment whose recordkeeping does not comply with all Federal standards. One initial SEC visit in which each newly selected establishment will need to provide the SEC with access to all required records. Each establishment selected for the program will need to provide the FSIS access to its records on an ongoing basis. Total number of estimated annual responses is 830.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,005 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; Telephone: [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 both to FSIS, at the addresses provided above, and to 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 [phone] (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 [phone] (voice and TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Additional Public Notification

FSIS will announce this notice online through the FSIS Web page located at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/​wps/​portal/​fsis/​topics/​regulations/​federal-register.

FSIS will also 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 constituents and stakeholders. The Update is communicated via Listserv, a free electronic mail subscription service for industry, trade groups, consumer interest groups, health professionals, and other individuals who have asked to be included. The Update is also available on the FSIS Web page. In addition, FSIS offers an electronic 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/​wps/​portal/​fsis/​programs-and-services/​email-subscription-service.

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 27, 2013.

Alfred V. Almanza,

Administrator.