81_FR_46966 81 FR 46828 - Emergency Permit Control Regulations; Technical Amendments

81 FR 46828 - Emergency Permit Control Regulations; Technical Amendments

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 138 (July 19, 2016)

Page Range46828-46832
FR Document2016-16968

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is amending certain regulations pertaining to registration and process filings related to acidified foods and thermally processed low-acid foods packaged in hermetically sealed containers (historically referred to as ``low-acid canned foods'' or ``LACF''). The amendments reflect new FDA process filing form numbers, make changes to addresses or locations where such forms can be found or must be sent, remove obsolete references to the effective dates that occurred years ago, and update a reference to another Federal Agency.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 138 (Tuesday, July 19, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 19, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46828-46832]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16968]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

21 CFR Part 108

[Docket No. FDA-2015-N-2819]


Emergency Permit Control Regulations; Technical Amendments

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Final rule; technical amendments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is amending 
certain regulations pertaining to registration and process filings 
related to acidified foods and thermally processed low-acid foods 
packaged in hermetically sealed containers (historically referred to as 
``low-acid canned foods'' or ``LACF''). The amendments reflect new FDA 
process filing form numbers, make changes to addresses or locations 
where such forms can be found or must be sent, remove obsolete 
references to the effective dates that occurred years ago, and update a 
reference to another Federal Agency.

DATES: This rule is effective August 18, 2016. See section VI for 
further information on the filing of objections. Submit either 
electronic or written objections and requests for a hearing by August 
18, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit objections and requests for a hearing as 
follows:

Electronic Submissions

    Submit electronic objections in the following way:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the

[[Page 46829]]

instructions for submitting comments. Objections submitted 
electronically, including attachments, to http://www.regulations.gov 
will be posted to the docket unchanged. Because your objection will be 
made public, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your 
objection does not include any confidential information that you or a 
third party may not wish to be posted, such as medical information, 
your or anyone else's Social Security number, or confidential business 
information, such as a manufacturing process. Please note that if you 
include your name, contact information, or other information that 
identifies you in the body of your objection, that information will be 
posted on http://www.regulations.gov.
     If you want to submit an objection with confidential 
information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, 
submit the objection as a written/paper submission and in the manner 
detailed (see ``Written/Paper Submissions'' and ``Instructions'').

Written/Paper Submissions

    Submit written/paper submissions as follows:
     Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for written/paper 
submissions): Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug 
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
     For written/paper objections submitted to the Division of 
Dockets Management, FDA will post your objection, as well as any 
attachments, except for information submitted, marked and identified, 
as confidential, if submitted as detailed in ``Instructions.''
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket No. 
FDA-2015-N-2819 for ``Emergency Permit Control Regulations; Technical 
Amendments.'' Received objections will be placed in the docket and, 
except for those submitted as ``Confidential Submissions,'' publicly 
viewable at http://www.regulations.gov or at the Division of Dockets 
Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
     Confidential Submissions--To submit an objection with 
confidential information that you do not wish to be made publicly 
available, submit your objections only as a written/paper submission. 
You should submit two copies total. One copy will include the 
information you claim to be confidential with a heading or cover note 
that states ``THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.'' The 
Agency will review this copy, including the claimed confidential 
information, in its consideration of comments. The second copy, which 
will have the claimed confidential information redacted/blacked out, 
will be available for public viewing and posted on http://www.regulations.gov. Submit both copies to the Division of Dockets 
Management. If you do not wish your name and contact information to be 
made publicly available, you can provide this information on the cover 
sheet and not in the body of your comments and you must identify this 
information as ``confidential.'' Any information marked as 
``confidential'' will not be disclosed except in accordance with 21 CFR 
10.20 and other applicable disclosure law. For more information about 
FDA's posting of comments to public dockets, see 80 FR 56469, September 
18, 2015, or access the information at: http://www.fda.gov/regulatoryinformation/dockets/default.htm.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
the electronic and written/paper comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov and insert the docket number, found in brackets in 
the heading of this document, into the ``Search'' box and follow the 
prompts and/or go to the Division of Dockets Management, 5630 Fishers 
Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Brecher, Center for Food Safety 
and Applied Nutrition (HFS-302), Food and Drug Administration, 5001 
Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20740-3835, 240-402-1781.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Among other things, our current regulations at part 108 (21 CFR 
part 108) provide that a commercial processor, when first engaging in 
the manufacture, processing, or packing of acidified foods or low-acid 
canned foods, must, not later than 10 days after first so engaging, 
register and file with FDA information including the name of the 
establishment, principal place of business, the location of each 
establishment in which that processing is carried on, the processing 
method, and a list of foods so processed in each establishment 
(Sec. Sec.  108.25(c)(1) and 108.35(c)(1) (21 CFR 108.25(c)(1) and 
108.35(c)(1))). In addition, our regulations require the submission of 
process filing forms. Specifically, our regulations require that 
commercial processors engaged in the processing of acidified foods 
must, not later than 60 days after registration, and before packing any 
new product, provide FDA with information on the scheduled processes 
for each acidified food in each container size (Sec.  108.25(c)(2)). An 
analogous requirement for process filing applies to commercial 
processors of low-acid canned foods (Sec.  108.35(c)(2)). The 
regulations specify the specific process filing forms to be used (Forms 
FDA 2541a and 2541c), and also state where the forms can be obtained 
and where the forms should be sent.
    We recently engaged in an effort to modernize our forms and to 
provide a means for submitting the forms using electronic ``smart 
form'' technology. This effort involved the drafting of four new 
process filing forms: Forms FDA 2541d, FDA 2541e, FDA 2541f, and FDA 
2541g. (For more information about the new process filing forms, see 
``Guidance for Industry: Submitting Form FDA 2541 (Food Canning 
Establishment Registration) and Forms FDA 2541d, FDA 2541e, FDA 2541f, 
and FDA 2541g (Food Process Filing Forms) to FDA in Electronic or Paper 
Format,'' available at http://www.fda.gov/FoodGuidances.) We announced 
that drafts of the new forms were available for public comment in a 
notice published in the Federal Register of January 14, 2014 (79 FR 
2448). After considering public comment, we modified the content of the 
forms where appropriate and announced the availability of the finalized 
new process filing forms in a notice published in the Federal Register 
of October 8, 2015 (80 FR 60909).

II. Legal Authority

    We are issuing this final rule under the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act). Section 404(a) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 
344(a)) provides that whenever the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services (the Secretary) finds after investigation that the 
distribution in interstate commerce of any class of food may, by reason 
of contamination with micro-organisms during the manufacture, 
processing, or packing thereof in any locality, be injurious to health, 
and that such injurious nature cannot be adequately determined after 
such articles have entered interstate commerce, the Secretary then 
shall issue regulations providing for the issuance, to manufacturers, 
processors, or packers of such class of food in such locality, of 
permits to which shall be attached such conditions governing the 
manufacture, processing, or packing of such class of food, for such 
temporary period of time, as may be necessary to protect the public 
health. Under section 404 of the FD&C Act, our regulations in part 108 
have long required registration of food processing establishments, 
filing of process information, and maintenance

[[Page 46830]]

of processing and production records for acidified foods and low-acid 
canned foods. Under section 701(e) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 371(e)), 
any action for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of any regulation 
under section 404(a) of the FD&C Act shall be begun by a proposal made 
either by the Secretary on his own initiative or by petition of any 
interested persons, showing reasonable grounds therefor, filed with the 
Secretary. The Secretary shall publish such proposal and shall afford 
all interested persons an opportunity to present their views thereon, 
orally or in writing. As soon as practicable thereafter, the Secretary 
shall by order act upon the proposal and make such order public. Except 
as provided in section 701(e)(2) of the FD&C Act, the order shall 
become effective at such time as may be specified therein, but not 
before the day following the last day on which objections may be filed 
under section 701(e)(2) of the FD&C Act.

III. The Proposed Rule

    The new process filing forms described in section I will make it 
easier for firms to submit information to us and will improve the 
accuracy of the information submitted in the forms. In conjunction with 
these changes in the forms, in the Federal Register of September 22, 
2015 (80 FR 57137), we proposed to make technical amendments to Sec.  
108.25, ``Acidified Foods,'' and Sec.  108.35, ``Thermal Processing of 
Low-Acid Foods Packaged in Hermetically Sealed Containers.'' 
Specifically, we proposed to incorporate the new FDA form numbers. By 
incorporating the new FDA form numbers into part 108, the proposed rule 
would cause the new forms to fully replace the forms currently listed 
in part 108.
    In addition, we proposed to make changes to the addresses or 
locations where forms can be found or must be sent. Finally, we 
proposed to remove obsolete references to dates that occurred years ago 
and update the name of the Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
that administers the meat and poultry inspection programs under the 
Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act.

IV. Public Comments

    We received one comment on the proposed rule. This comment alerted 
us to the omission of the word ``and'' in the name of the Federal 
Agency that administers the meat and poultry inspection programs under 
the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection 
Act. The name of that Federal Agency is the ``Food Safety and 
Inspection Service,'' not the ``Food Safety Inspection Service,'' and 
we have revised the rule accordingly.

V. Description of the Final Rule

    The final rule makes those technical amendments to Sec.  108.25, 
``Acidified Foods,'' and Sec.  108.35, ``Thermal Processing of Low-Acid 
Foods Packaged in Hermetically Sealed Containers'' that we described in 
the proposed rule and summarized in section I of this document, with 
the correction noted in section IV of this document. See the amended 
regulatory text of Sec. Sec.  108.25(c)(1) and (2) and 108.35(c)(1) and 
(2) and (i). The final rule will cause the new process filing forms to 
fully replace the forms currently listed in part 108 (i.e. Forms FDA 
2541a and FDA 2541c).

VI. Objections

    This rule is effective as shown in the DATES section, except as to 
any provisions that may be stayed by the filing of proper objections. 
If you will be adversely affected by one or more provisions of this 
regulation, you may file with the Division of Dockets Management (see 
ADDRESSES) either electronic or written objections. You must separately 
number each objection, and within each numbered objection you must 
specify with particularity the provision(s) to which you object, and 
the grounds for your objection. Within each numbered objection, you 
must specifically state whether you are requesting a hearing on the 
particular provision that you specify in that numbered objection. If 
you do not request a hearing for any particular objection, you waive 
the right to a hearing on that objection. If you request a hearing, 
your objection must include a detailed description and analysis of the 
specific factual information you intend to present in support of the 
objection in the event that a hearing is held. If you do not include 
such a description and analysis for any particular objection, you waive 
the right to a hearing on the objection.
    Any objections received in response to the regulation 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. We will publish notice of the objections that we 
have received or lack thereof in the Federal Register.

VII. Economic Analysis of Impacts

    We are publishing this final rule under the formal rulemaking 
process. Executive Order 12866 does not require us to analyze the costs 
and benefits of final rules that we publish under this rulemaking 
process.
    The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires Agencies to analyze 
regulatory options that would minimize any significant impact of a rule 
on small entities. The final rule amends Sec. Sec.  108.25 and 108.35 
to delete obsolete references to long-expired effective dates, make 
changes to FDA addresses or locations, and reflect new process filing 
forms. With regard to the new process filing forms, we are replacing 
references to Forms FDA 2541a and FDA 2541c with references to four new 
process filing forms: Forms FDA 2541d, FDA 2541e, FDA 2541f, and FDA 
2541g. Some of the data entry fields on the four new process filing 
forms are not on current Forms FDA 2541a and FDA 2541c. The new forms 
add certain data entry fields to improve the efficiency of our review 
of the process filings. For example, the new forms include data entry 
fields for the ``food product group'' (such as liquid, ready-to-eat 
``breakfast foods''). In addition, the new forms provide for ``smart 
form'' technology using an electronic submission system. The updated 
process filing portion of the electronic submission system queries the 
processor about the processes used to produce the food and presents 
only those data entry fields that are applicable. As a result, 
processors will no longer need to evaluate whether particular data 
entry fields are applicable to their products. For example, when a 
processor submits a process filing for a product that is processed 
using a low-acid retorted method with a process mode of ``agitating,'' 
smart form technology would bypass questions that are not applicable to 
this process mode option. We estimate that the additional time it would 
take processors to complete the new information requested on the new 
forms would be offset by the time processors will save by not having to 
evaluate whether certain data entry fields on Form FDA 2541a or FDA 
2541c are applicable to their products. Hence, we certify that the rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.
    Section 202(a) of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires 
that Agencies prepare a written statement, which includes an assessment 
of anticipated costs and benefits, before issuing ``any rule that 
includes any Federal mandate that may result in the expenditure by 
State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the 
private sector, of $100,000,000 or more (adjusted annually for 
inflation) in any one year.'' The current threshold

[[Page 46831]]

after adjustment for inflation is $146 million, using the most current 
(2015) Implicit Price Deflator for the Gross Domestic Product. FDA does 
not expect this final rule to result in any 1-year expenditure that 
would meet or exceed this amount.

VIII. Analysis of Environmental Impact

    FDA has determined, under 21 CFR 25.30(i), that this final rule is 
of a type that does not individually or cumulatively have a significant 
effect on the human environment. Therefore, neither an environmental 
assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.

IX. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This final rule contains information collection provisions that are 
subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). These 
collections of information have been previously approved under OMB 
control number 0910-0037, which expires September 30, 2017.

X. Federalism

    We have analyzed this final rule in accordance with the principles 
set forth in Executive Order 13132. FDA has determined that the rule 
does not contain policies that have substantial direct effects on the 
States, on the relationship between the National Government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. Accordingly, we conclude that the rule 
does not contain policies that have federalism implications as defined 
in the Executive order and, consequently, a federalism summary impact 
statement is not required.

List of Subjects in 21 CFR Part 108

    Administrative practice and procedure, Foods, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Therefore, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and under 
authority delegated to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, part 108 is 
amended as follows:

PART 108--EMERGENCY PERMIT CONTROL

0
1. The authority citation for part 108 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 21 U.S.C. 342, 344, 371.


0
2. In Sec.  108.25, revise paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  108.25  Acidified foods.

* * * * *
    (c)(1) Registration. A commercial processor, when first engaging in 
the manufacture, processing, or packing of acidified foods in any 
State, as defined in section 201(a)(1) of the act, shall, not later 
than 10 days after first so engaging, register and file with the Food 
and Drug Administration on Form FDA 2541 (food canning establishment 
registration) information including, but not limited to, the name of 
the establishment, principal place of business, the location of each 
establishment in which that processing is carried on, the processing 
method in terms of acidity and pH control, and a list of foods so 
processed in each establishment. These forms are available from the 
LACF Registration Coordinator (HFS-303), Center for Food Safety and 
Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Dr., 
College Park, MD 20740, or at any Food and Drug Administration district 
office. The completed form shall be submitted to the Center for Food 
Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-565), Food and Drug Administration, 
5001 Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20740. These forms also are available 
on the Food and Drug Administration's Web site at http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FoodFacilityRegistration/AcidifiedLACFRegistration/ucm2007436.htm. For electronic submission go 
to FDA's Industry Systems Web site at www.access.fda.gov. Foreign 
processors shall register before any offering of foods for import into 
the United States. Commercial processors duly registered under this 
section shall notify the Food and Drug Administration not later than 90 
days after the commercial processor ceases or discontinues the 
manufacture, processing, or packing of the foods in any establishment, 
except that this notification shall not be required for temporary 
cessations due to the seasonal character of an establishment's 
production or by temporary conditions including, but not limited to, 
labor disputes, fire, or acts of God.
    (2) Process filing. A commercial processor engaged in the 
processing of acidified foods shall, not later than 60 days after 
registration, and before packing any new product, provide the Food and 
Drug Administration information on the scheduled processes including, 
as necessary, conditions for heat processing and control of pH, salt, 
sugar, and preservative levels and source and date of the establishment 
of the process, for each acidified food in each container size. Filing 
of this information does not constitute approval of the information by 
the Food and Drug Administration, and information concerning processes 
and other data so filed shall be regarded as trade secrets within the 
meaning of 21 U.S.C. 331(j) and 18 U.S.C. 1905. This information shall 
be submitted on Form FDA 2541e (Food Process Filing for Acidified 
Method). Forms are available from the LACF Registration Coordinator 
(HFS-303), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug 
Administration, 5001 Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20740, or at any Food 
and Drug Administration district office. The completed form shall be 
submitted to the LACF Registration Coordinator (HFS-618), Center for 
Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 5001 
Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20740. These forms also are available on 
the Food and Drug Administration's Web site at http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FoodFacilityRegistration/AcidifiedLACFRegistration/ucm2007436.htm. For electronic submission go to FDA's Industry Systems 
Web site at www.access.fda.gov.
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec.  108.35, revise paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2) introductory text, 
(c)(2)(ii), and (i) to read as follows:


Sec.  108.35  Thermal processing of low-acid foods packaged in 
hermetically sealed containers.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) Registration. A commercial processor when first engaging in the 
manufacture, processing, or packing of thermally processed low-acid 
foods in hermetically sealed containers in any State, as defined in 
section 201(a)(1) of the act, shall, not later than 10 days after first 
so engaging, register with the Food and Drug Administration on Form FDA 
2541 (food canning establishment registration) information including 
(but not limited to) his name, principal place of business, the 
location of each establishment in which such processing is carried on, 
the processing method in terms of the type of processing equipment 
employed, and a list of the low-acid foods so processed in each such 
establishment. These forms are available from the LACF Registration 
Coordinator (HFS-303), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 
Food and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20740, 
or at any Food and Drug Administration district office. The completed 
form shall be submitted to the LACF Registration Coordinator (HFS-618), 
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug 
Administration, 5001 Campus Dr.,

[[Page 46832]]

College Park, MD 20740. These forms also are available on the Food and 
Drug Administration's Web site at http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FoodFacilityRegistration/AcidifiedLACFRegistration/default.htm. For electronic submission go to FDA's Industry Systems Web 
site at www.access.fda.gov. Commercial processors duly registered in 
accordance with this section shall notify the Food and Drug 
Administration not later than 90 days after such commercial processor 
ceases or discontinues the manufacture, processing, or packing of 
thermally processed foods in any establishment: Provided, that such 
notification shall not be required as to the temporary cessation 
necessitated by the seasonal character of the particular 
establishment's production or caused by temporary conditions including 
but not limited to strikes, lockouts, fire, or acts of God.
    (2) Process filing. A commercial processor engaged in the thermal 
processing of low-acid foods packaged in hermetically sealed containers 
shall, not later than 60 days after registration and prior to the 
packing of a new product, provide the Food and Drug Administration 
information as to the scheduled processes including but not limited to 
the processing method, type of retort or other thermal processing 
equipment employed, minimum initial temperatures, times and 
temperatures of processing, sterilizing value (Fo), or other equivalent 
scientific evidence of process adequacy, critical control factors 
affecting heat penetration, and source and date of the establishment of 
the process, for each such low-acid food in each container size: 
Provided, that the filing of such information does not constitute 
approval of the information by the Food and Drug Administration, and 
that information concerning processes and other data so filed shall be 
regarded as trade secrets within the meaning of 21 U.S.C. 331(j) and 18 
U.S.C. 1905. This information shall be submitted on the following forms 
as appropriate: Form FDA 2541d (Food Process Filing for Low-Acid 
Retorted Method), Form FDA 2541f (Food Process Filing for Water 
Activity/Formulation Control Method), or Form FDA 2541g (Food Process 
Filing for Low-Acid Aseptic Systems). These forms are available from 
the LACF Registration Coordinator (HFS-303), Center for Food Safety and 
Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Dr., 
College Park, MD 20740, or at any Food and Drug Administration district 
office. The completed form(s) shall be submitted to the LACF 
Registration Coordinator (HFS-303), Center for Food Safety and Applied 
Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Dr., College Park, 
MD 20740. These forms also are available on the Food and Drug 
Administration's Web site at http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FoodFacilityRegistration/AcidifiedLACFRegistration/default.htm. For electronic submission, go to FDA's Industry Systems 
Web site at www.access.fda.gov.
* * * * *
    (ii) If a packer intentionally makes a change in a previously filed 
scheduled process by reducing the initial temperature or retort 
temperature, reducing the time of processing, or changing the product 
formulation, the container, or any other condition basic to the 
adequacy of scheduled process, he shall prior to using such changed 
process obtain substantiation by qualified scientific authority as to 
its adequacy. Such substantiation may be obtained by telephone, 
telegram, or other media, but must be promptly recorded, verified in 
writing by the authority, and contained in the packer's files for 
review by the Food and Drug Administration. Within 30 days after first 
use, the packer shall submit to the LACF Registration Coordinator (HFS-
303), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug 
Administration, 5001 Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20740 a complete 
description of the modifications made and utilized, together with a 
copy of his file record showing prior substantiation by a qualified 
scientific authority as to the safety of the changed process. Any 
intentional change of a previously filed scheduled process or 
modification thereof in which the change consists solely of a higher 
initial temperature, a higher retort temperature, or a longer 
processing time, shall not be considered a change subject to this 
paragraph, but if that modification is thereafter to be regularly 
scheduled, the modified process shall be promptly filed as a scheduled 
process, accompanied by full information on the specified forms as 
provided in this paragraph.
* * * * *
    (i) This section shall not apply to the commercial processing of 
any food processed under the continuous inspection of the meat and 
poultry inspection program of the Food Safety and Inspection Service of 
the Department of Agriculture under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (34 
Stat. 1256, as amended by 81 Stat. 584 (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)) and the 
Poultry Products Inspection Act (71 Stat. 441, as amended by 82 Stat. 
791 (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.)).
* * * * *

    Dated: July 12, 2016.
Leslie Kux,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-16968 Filed 7-18-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4164-01-P



                                           46828               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 138 / Tuesday, July 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                           establishment of the Program Fraud                       investment, productivity, innovation, or              PART 185—PROGRAM FRAUD CIVIL
                                           Civil Remedies Act of 1986 serves as the                 the ability of United States-based                    REMEDIES: CIVIL MONETARY
                                           base figure for the inflation calculation.               enterprises to compete with foreign-                  PENALTY INFLATION ADJUSTMENT
                                           Between October 1986 and October                         based enterprises.
                                           2015, the CPI–U has increased by                                                                               ■  1. The authority citation for part 185
                                                                                                    D. Unfunded Mandate Reform Act of                     is revised to read as follows:
                                           215.628 percent. The post-adjustment
                                                                                                    1995 (2 U.S.C. 1532)
                                           penalty amount or range is obtained by                                                                           Authority: 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; 31 U.S.C.
                                           multiplying the pre-adjustment penalty                     This rule does not involve a Federal                3801–3812.
                                           amount or range by the percent change                    mandate that may result in the
                                           in the CPI–U over the relevant time                      expenditure by State, local and tribal                § 185.103    [Amended]
                                           period, and rounding to the nearest                      governments, in the aggregate, or by the              ■  2. Section 185.103 is amended as
                                           dollar. Therefore, the new, post-                        private sector, of $100 million or more               follows:
                                           adjustment penalty under the PFCRA is                    and that such rulemaking will not                     ■ a. In paragraph (a) introductory text,
                                           $5,000 × 2.15628 = $10,781.40, which                     significantly or uniquely affect small                remove ‘‘$5,000’’ and add in its place
                                           rounds to $10,781. The new, post-                        governments.                                          ‘‘$10,781’’.
                                           adjustment penalties are less than 250                   E. E.O. 12630, Takings                                ■ b. In paragraph (f)(2), remove
                                           percent of the pre-adjustment penalties,                                                                       ‘‘$5,000’’ and add in its place
                                           so the limitation on the amount of the                     This rule does not have takings                     ‘‘$10,781’’.
                                           adjustment is not implicated.                            implications.
                                                                                                                                                          [FR Doc. 2016–17026 Filed 7–18–16; 8:45 am]
                                           III. Procedural Requirements                             F. E.O. 13132, Federalism                             BILLING CODE 6325–48–P

                                           A. Regulatory Impact Analysis:                             This rule does not have federalism
                                           Executive Order 12866, as                                implications. The rule does not have
                                           Supplemented by Executive Order                          substantial direct effects on the States,             DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
                                           13563                                                    on the relationship between the                       HUMAN SERVICES
                                                                                                    National Government and the States, or
                                              OPM, with the concurrence of the                      on the distribution of power and                      Food and Drug Administration
                                           Office of Management and Budget                          responsibilities among the various
                                           (OMB), has determined that this is not                   levels of government.                                 21 CFR Part 108
                                           a significant regulatory action under
                                           Executive Order 12866, as                                G. E.O. 12988, Civil Justice Reform                   [Docket No. FDA–2015–N–2819]
                                           supplemented by Executive Order                             This rule complies with the                        Emergency Permit Control
                                           13563. Therefore, no regulatory impact                   requirements of E.O. 12988.                           Regulations; Technical Amendments
                                           analysis is required.                                    Specifically, this rule:
                                           B. Regulatory Flexibility Act                               (a) Does not unduly burden the                     AGENCY:     Food and Drug Administration,
                                                                                                    judicial system.                                      HHS.
                                             The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)                      (b) Meets the criteria of section 3(a)                   Final rule; technical
                                                                                                                                                          ACTION:
                                           requires an agency to prepare a                          requiring that all regulations be                     amendments.
                                           regulatory flexibility analysis for rules                reviewed to eliminate errors and
                                           unless the agency certifies that the rule                ambiguity and be written to minimize                  SUMMARY:    The Food and Drug
                                           will not have a significant economic                     litigation; and                                       Administration (FDA or we) is
                                           impact on a substantial number of small                     (c) Meets the criteria of section 3(b)(2)          amending certain regulations pertaining
                                           entities. The RFA applies only to rules                  requiring that all regulations be written             to registration and process filings
                                           for which an agency is required to first                 in clear language and contain clear legal             related to acidified foods and thermally
                                           publish a proposed rule. See 5 U.S.C.                    standards.                                            processed low-acid foods packaged in
                                           603(a) and 604(a). The Federal Civil                                                                           hermetically sealed containers
                                           Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act                       H. E.O. 13175, Consultation With Indian
                                                                                                                                                          (historically referred to as ‘‘low-acid
                                           Improvements Act of 2015 requires                        Tribes
                                                                                                                                                          canned foods’’ or ‘‘LACF’’). The
                                           agencies to adjust civil penalties with an                 In accordance with Executive Order                  amendments reflect new FDA process
                                           initial catch-up adjustment through an                   13175, OPM has evaluated this rule and                filing form numbers, make changes to
                                           interim final rule. An interim final rule                determined that it has no tribal                      addresses or locations where such forms
                                           does not include first publishing a                      implications.                                         can be found or must be sent, remove
                                           proposed rule. Thus, the RFA does not                                                                          obsolete references to the effective dates
                                           apply to this final rule.                                I. Paperwork Reduction Act
                                                                                                                                                          that occurred years ago, and update a
                                                                                                       This document does not contain                     reference to another Federal Agency.
                                           C. Small Business Regulatory
                                                                                                    information collection requirements
                                           Enforcement Fairness Act (5 U.S.C.                                                                             DATES: This rule is effective August 18,
                                                                                                    subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
                                           804(2))                                                                                                        2016. See section VI for further
                                                                                                    of 1995, Public Law 104–13.
                                              This rule is not a major rule under the                                                                     information on the filing of objections.
                                           Small Business Regulatory Enforcement                    List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 185                    Submit either electronic or written
                                           Fairness Act. This rule:                                   Administrative practice and                         objections and requests for a hearing by
                                              (a) Does not have an annual effect on                 procedure, Claims, Fraud, Penalties.                  August 18, 2016.
                                           the economy of $100 million or more.                                                                           ADDRESSES: You may submit objections
                                                                                                    U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
                                              (b) Will not cause a major increase in                                                                      and requests for a hearing as follows:
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                                                                                                    Beth F. Cobert,
                                           costs or prices for consumers,
                                                                                                    Acting Director.                                      Electronic Submissions
                                           individual industries, Federal, State, or
                                           local government agencies, or                              For the reasons set forth in the                      Submit electronic objections in the
                                           geographic regions.                                      preamble, amend part 185 of title 5 of                following way:
                                              (c) Does not have significant adverse                 the Code of Federal Regulations as                      • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
                                           effects on competition, employment,                      follows:                                              www.regulations.gov. Follow the


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                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 138 / Tuesday, July 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                         46829

                                           instructions for submitting comments.                    second copy, which will have the                      processes for each acidified food in each
                                           Objections submitted electronically,                     claimed confidential information                      container size (§ 108.25(c)(2)). An
                                           including attachments, to http://                        redacted/blacked out, will be available               analogous requirement for process filing
                                           www.regulations.gov will be posted to                    for public viewing and posted on http://              applies to commercial processors of
                                           the docket unchanged. Because your                       www.regulations.gov. Submit both                      low-acid canned foods (§ 108.35(c)(2)).
                                           objection will be made public, you are                   copies to the Division of Dockets                     The regulations specify the specific
                                           solely responsible for ensuring that your                Management. If you do not wish your                   process filing forms to be used (Forms
                                           objection does not include any                           name and contact information to be                    FDA 2541a and 2541c), and also state
                                           confidential information that you or a                   made publicly available, you can                      where the forms can be obtained and
                                           third party may not wish to be posted,                   provide this information on the cover                 where the forms should be sent.
                                           such as medical information, your or                     sheet and not in the body of your                        We recently engaged in an effort to
                                           anyone else’s Social Security number, or                 comments and you must identify this                   modernize our forms and to provide a
                                           confidential business information, such                  information as ‘‘confidential.’’ Any                  means for submitting the forms using
                                           as a manufacturing process. Please note                  information marked as ‘‘confidential’’                electronic ‘‘smart form’’ technology.
                                           that if you include your name, contact                   will not be disclosed except in                       This effort involved the drafting of four
                                           information, or other information that                   accordance with 21 CFR 10.20 and other                new process filing forms: Forms FDA
                                           identifies you in the body of your                       applicable disclosure law. For more                   2541d, FDA 2541e, FDA 2541f, and FDA
                                           objection, that information will be                      information about FDA’s posting of                    2541g. (For more information about the
                                           posted on http://www.regulations.gov.                    comments to public dockets, see 80 FR                 new process filing forms, see ‘‘Guidance
                                             • If you want to submit an objection                   56469, September 18, 2015, or access                  for Industry: Submitting Form FDA
                                           with confidential information that you                   the information at: http://www.fda.gov/               2541 (Food Canning Establishment
                                           do not wish to be made available to the                  regulatoryinformation/dockets/                        Registration) and Forms FDA 2541d,
                                           public, submit the objection as a                        default.htm.                                          FDA 2541e, FDA 2541f, and FDA 2541g
                                           written/paper submission and in the                         Docket: For access to the docket to                (Food Process Filing Forms) to FDA in
                                           manner detailed (see ‘‘Written/Paper                     read background documents or the                      Electronic or Paper Format,’’ available at
                                           Submissions’’ and ‘‘Instructions’’).                     electronic and written/paper comments                 http://www.fda.gov/FoodGuidances.)
                                                                                                    received, go to http://                               We announced that drafts of the new
                                           Written/Paper Submissions
                                                                                                    www.regulations.gov and insert the                    forms were available for public
                                              Submit written/paper submissions as                   docket number, found in brackets in the               comment in a notice published in the
                                           follows:                                                 heading of this document, into the                    Federal Register of January 14, 2014 (79
                                              • Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for                                                                           FR 2448). After considering public
                                                                                                    ‘‘Search’’ box and follow the prompts
                                           written/paper submissions): Division of                                                                        comment, we modified the content of
                                                                                                    and/or go to the Division of Dockets
                                           Dockets Management (HFA–305), Food                                                                             the forms where appropriate and
                                                                                                    Management, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm.
                                           and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers                                                                          announced the availability of the
                                                                                                    1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
                                           Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.                                                                           finalized new process filing forms in a
                                              • For written/paper objections                        FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                                                                          notice published in the Federal Register
                                           submitted to the Division of Dockets                     Susan Brecher, Center for Food Safety                 of October 8, 2015 (80 FR 60909).
                                           Management, FDA will post your                           and Applied Nutrition (HFS–302), Food
                                           objection, as well as any attachments,                   and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus                  II. Legal Authority
                                           except for information submitted,                        Dr., College Park, MD 20740–3835, 240–                   We are issuing this final rule under
                                           marked and identified, as confidential,                  402–1781.                                             the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
                                           if submitted as detailed in                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            Act (the FD&C Act). Section 404(a) of
                                           ‘‘Instructions.’’                                                                                              the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 344(a))
                                                                                                    I. Background
                                              Instructions: All submissions received                                                                      provides that whenever the Secretary of
                                           must include the Docket No. FDA–                            Among other things, our current                    Health and Human Services (the
                                           2015–N–2819 for ‘‘Emergency Permit                       regulations at part 108 (21 CFR part 108)             Secretary) finds after investigation that
                                           Control Regulations; Technical                           provide that a commercial processor,                  the distribution in interstate commerce
                                           Amendments.’’ Received objections will                   when first engaging in the manufacture,               of any class of food may, by reason of
                                           be placed in the docket and, except for                  processing, or packing of acidified foods             contamination with micro-organisms
                                           those submitted as ‘‘Confidential                        or low-acid canned foods, must, not                   during the manufacture, processing, or
                                           Submissions,’’ publicly viewable at                      later than 10 days after first so engaging,           packing thereof in any locality, be
                                           http://www.regulations.gov or at the                     register and file with FDA information                injurious to health, and that such
                                           Division of Dockets Management                           including the name of the                             injurious nature cannot be adequately
                                           between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday                        establishment, principal place of                     determined after such articles have
                                           through Friday.                                          business, the location of each                        entered interstate commerce, the
                                              • Confidential Submissions—To                         establishment in which that processing                Secretary then shall issue regulations
                                           submit an objection with confidential                    is carried on, the processing method,                 providing for the issuance, to
                                           information that you do not wish to be                   and a list of foods so processed in each              manufacturers, processors, or packers of
                                           made publicly available, submit your                     establishment (§§ 108.25(c)(1) and                    such class of food in such locality, of
                                           objections only as a written/paper                       108.35(c)(1) (21 CFR 108.25(c)(1) and                 permits to which shall be attached such
                                           submission. You should submit two                        108.35(c)(1))). In addition, our                      conditions governing the manufacture,
                                           copies total. One copy will include the                  regulations require the submission of                 processing, or packing of such class of
                                           information you claim to be confidential                 process filing forms. Specifically, our               food, for such temporary period of time,
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                                           with a heading or cover note that states                 regulations require that commercial                   as may be necessary to protect the
                                           ‘‘THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS                                 processors engaged in the processing of               public health. Under section 404 of the
                                           CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.’’ The                          acidified foods must, not later than 60               FD&C Act, our regulations in part 108
                                           Agency will review this copy, including                  days after registration, and before                   have long required registration of food
                                           the claimed confidential information, in                 packing any new product, provide FDA                  processing establishments, filing of
                                           its consideration of comments. The                       with information on the scheduled                     process information, and maintenance


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                                           46830               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 138 / Tuesday, July 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                           of processing and production records for                 and Inspection Service,’’ not the ‘‘Food              us to analyze the costs and benefits of
                                           acidified foods and low-acid canned                      Safety Inspection Service,’’ and we have              final rules that we publish under this
                                           foods. Under section 701(e) of the FD&C                  revised the rule accordingly.                         rulemaking process.
                                           Act (21 U.S.C. 371(e)), any action for the                                                                        The Regulatory Flexibility Act
                                                                                                    V. Description of the Final Rule                      requires Agencies to analyze regulatory
                                           issuance, amendment, or repeal of any
                                           regulation under section 404(a) of the                     The final rule makes those technical                options that would minimize any
                                           FD&C Act shall be begun by a proposal                    amendments to § 108.25, ‘‘Acidified                   significant impact of a rule on small
                                           made either by the Secretary on his own                  Foods,’’ and § 108.35, ‘‘Thermal                      entities. The final rule amends §§ 108.25
                                           initiative or by petition of any interested              Processing of Low-Acid Foods Packaged                 and 108.35 to delete obsolete references
                                           persons, showing reasonable grounds                      in Hermetically Sealed Containers’’ that              to long-expired effective dates, make
                                           therefor, filed with the Secretary. The                  we described in the proposed rule and                 changes to FDA addresses or locations,
                                           Secretary shall publish such proposal                    summarized in section I of this                       and reflect new process filing forms.
                                           and shall afford all interested persons                  document, with the correction noted in                With regard to the new process filing
                                           an opportunity to present their views                    section IV of this document. See the                  forms, we are replacing references to
                                           thereon, orally or in writing. As soon as                amended regulatory text of                            Forms FDA 2541a and FDA 2541c with
                                           practicable thereafter, the Secretary                    §§ 108.25(c)(1) and (2) and 108.35(c)(1)              references to four new process filing
                                           shall by order act upon the proposal and                 and (2) and (i). The final rule will cause            forms: Forms FDA 2541d, FDA 2541e,
                                           make such order public. Except as                        the new process filing forms to fully                 FDA 2541f, and FDA 2541g. Some of the
                                           provided in section 701(e)(2) of the                     replace the forms currently listed in part            data entry fields on the four new
                                           FD&C Act, the order shall become                         108 (i.e. Forms FDA 2541a and FDA                     process filing forms are not on current
                                           effective at such time as may be                         2541c).                                               Forms FDA 2541a and FDA 2541c. The
                                           specified therein, but not before the day                VI. Objections                                        new forms add certain data entry fields
                                           following the last day on which                                                                                to improve the efficiency of our review
                                           objections may be filed under section                       This rule is effective as shown in the             of the process filings. For example, the
                                           701(e)(2) of the FD&C Act.                               DATES section, except as to any                       new forms include data entry fields for
                                                                                                    provisions that may be stayed by the                  the ‘‘food product group’’ (such as
                                           III. The Proposed Rule                                   filing of proper objections. If you will be           liquid, ready-to-eat ‘‘breakfast foods’’).
                                              The new process filing forms                          adversely affected by one or more                     In addition, the new forms provide for
                                           described in section I will make it easier               provisions of this regulation, you may                ‘‘smart form’’ technology using an
                                           for firms to submit information to us                    file with the Division of Dockets                     electronic submission system. The
                                           and will improve the accuracy of the                     Management (see ADDRESSES) either                     updated process filing portion of the
                                           information submitted in the forms. In                   electronic or written objections. You                 electronic submission system queries
                                           conjunction with these changes in the                    must separately number each objection,                the processor about the processes used
                                           forms, in the Federal Register of                        and within each numbered objection                    to produce the food and presents only
                                           September 22, 2015 (80 FR 57137), we                     you must specify with particularity the               those data entry fields that are
                                           proposed to make technical                               provision(s) to which you object, and                 applicable. As a result, processors will
                                           amendments to § 108.25, ‘‘Acidified                      the grounds for your objection. Within                no longer need to evaluate whether
                                           Foods,’’ and § 108.35, ‘‘Thermal                         each numbered objection, you must                     particular data entry fields are
                                           Processing of Low-Acid Foods Packaged                    specifically state whether you are                    applicable to their products. For
                                           in Hermetically Sealed Containers.’’                     requesting a hearing on the particular                example, when a processor submits a
                                           Specifically, we proposed to incorporate                 provision that you specify in that                    process filing for a product that is
                                           the new FDA form numbers. By                             numbered objection. If you do not                     processed using a low-acid retorted
                                           incorporating the new FDA form                           request a hearing for any particular                  method with a process mode of
                                           numbers into part 108, the proposed                      objection, you waive the right to a                   ‘‘agitating,’’ smart form technology
                                           rule would cause the new forms to fully                  hearing on that objection. If you request             would bypass questions that are not
                                           replace the forms currently listed in part               a hearing, your objection must include                applicable to this process mode option.
                                           108.                                                     a detailed description and analysis of                We estimate that the additional time it
                                              In addition, we proposed to make                      the specific factual information you                  would take processors to complete the
                                           changes to the addresses or locations                    intend to present in support of the                   new information requested on the new
                                           where forms can be found or must be                      objection in the event that a hearing is              forms would be offset by the time
                                           sent. Finally, we proposed to remove                     held. If you do not include such a                    processors will save by not having to
                                           obsolete references to dates that                        description and analysis for any                      evaluate whether certain data entry
                                           occurred years ago and update the name                   particular objection, you waive the right             fields on Form FDA 2541a or FDA
                                           of the Agency of the U.S. Department of                  to a hearing on the objection.                        2541c are applicable to their products.
                                           Agriculture that administers the meat                       Any objections received in response                Hence, we certify that the rule will not
                                           and poultry inspection programs under                    to the regulation may be seen in the                  have a significant economic impact on
                                           the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the                  Division of Dockets Management                        a substantial number of small entities.
                                           Poultry Products Inspection Act.                         between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday                        Section 202(a) of the Unfunded
                                                                                                    through Friday, and will be posted to                 Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires
                                           IV. Public Comments                                                                                            that Agencies prepare a written
                                                                                                    the docket at http://
                                             We received one comment on the                         www.regulations.gov. We will publish                  statement, which includes an
                                           proposed rule. This comment alerted us                   notice of the objections that we have                 assessment of anticipated costs and
                                           to the omission of the word ‘‘and’’ in the               received or lack thereof in the Federal               benefits, before issuing ‘‘any rule that
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                                           name of the Federal Agency that                          Register.                                             includes any Federal mandate that may
                                           administers the meat and poultry                                                                               result in the expenditure by State, local,
                                           inspection programs under the Federal                    VII. Economic Analysis of Impacts                     and tribal governments, in the aggregate,
                                           Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry                        We are publishing this final rule                   or by the private sector, of $100,000,000
                                           Products Inspection Act. The name of                     under the formal rulemaking process.                  or more (adjusted annually for inflation)
                                           that Federal Agency is the ‘‘Food Safety                 Executive Order 12866 does not require                in any one year.’’ The current threshold


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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 138 / Tuesday, July 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                            46831

                                           after adjustment for inflation is $146                       (c)(1) Registration. A commercial                  and Drug Administration, and
                                           million, using the most current (2015)                    processor, when first engaging in the                 information concerning processes and
                                           Implicit Price Deflator for the Gross                     manufacture, processing, or packing of                other data so filed shall be regarded as
                                           Domestic Product. FDA does not expect                     acidified foods in any State, as defined              trade secrets within the meaning of 21
                                           this final rule to result in any 1-year                   in section 201(a)(1) of the act, shall, not           U.S.C. 331(j) and 18 U.S.C. 1905. This
                                           expenditure that would meet or exceed                     later than 10 days after first so engaging,           information shall be submitted on Form
                                           this amount.                                              register and file with the Food and Drug              FDA 2541e (Food Process Filing for
                                                                                                     Administration on Form FDA 2541                       Acidified Method). Forms are available
                                           VIII. Analysis of Environmental Impact                                                                          from the LACF Registration Coordinator
                                                                                                     (food canning establishment
                                              FDA has determined, under 21 CFR                       registration) information including, but              (HFS–303), Center for Food Safety and
                                           25.30(i), that this final rule is of a type               not limited to, the name of the                       Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug
                                           that does not individually or                             establishment, principal place of                     Administration, 5001 Campus Dr.,
                                           cumulatively have a significant effect on                 business, the location of each                        College Park, MD 20740, or at any Food
                                           the human environment. Therefore,                         establishment in which that processing                and Drug Administration district office.
                                           neither an environmental assessment                       is carried on, the processing method in               The completed form shall be submitted
                                           nor an environmental impact statement                     terms of acidity and pH control, and a                to the LACF Registration Coordinator
                                           is required.                                              list of foods so processed in each                    (HFS–618), Center for Food Safety and
                                                                                                     establishment. These forms are available              Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug
                                           IX. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
                                                                                                     from the LACF Registration Coordinator                Administration, 5001 Campus Dr.,
                                             This final rule contains information                    (HFS–303), Center for Food Safety and                 College Park, MD 20740. These forms
                                           collection provisions that are subject to                 Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug                      also are available on the Food and Drug
                                           review by the Office of Management and                    Administration, 5001 Campus Dr.,                      Administration’s Web site at http://
                                           Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork                          College Park, MD 20740, or at any Food                www.fda.gov/Food/Guidance
                                           Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–                    and Drug Administration district office.              Regulation/FoodFacilityRegistration/
                                           3520). These collections of information                   The completed form shall be submitted                 AcidifiedLACFRegistration/
                                           have been previously approved under                       to the Center for Food Safety and                     ucm2007436.htm. For electronic
                                           OMB control number 0910–0037, which                       Applied Nutrition (HFS–565), Food and                 submission go to FDA’s Industry
                                           expires September 30, 2017.                               Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Dr.,                 Systems Web site at
                                           X. Federalism                                             College Park, MD 20740. These forms                   www.access.fda.gov.
                                                                                                     also are available on the Food and Drug               *      *    *      *    *
                                             We have analyzed this final rule in                                                                           ■ 3. In § 108.35, revise paragraphs (c)(1),
                                           accordance with the principles set forth                  Administration’s Web site at http://
                                                                                                     www.fda.gov/Food/Guidance                             (c)(2) introductory text, (c)(2)(ii), and (i)
                                           in Executive Order 13132. FDA has                                                                               to read as follows:
                                           determined that the rule does not                         Regulation/FoodFacilityRegistration/
                                           contain policies that have substantial                    AcidifiedLACFRegistration/                            § 108.35 Thermal processing of low-acid
                                           direct effects on the States, on the                      ucm2007436.htm. For electronic                        foods packaged in hermetically sealed
                                           relationship between the National                         submission go to FDA’s Industry                       containers.
                                           Government and the States, or on the                      Systems Web site at                                   *      *    *     *      *
                                           distribution of power and                                 www.access.fda.gov. Foreign processors                   (c) * * *
                                           responsibilities among the various                        shall register before any offering of                    (1) Registration. A commercial
                                           levels of government. Accordingly, we                     foods for import into the United States.              processor when first engaging in the
                                           conclude that the rule does not contain                   Commercial processors duly registered                 manufacture, processing, or packing of
                                           policies that have federalism                             under this section shall notify the Food              thermally processed low-acid foods in
                                           implications as defined in the Executive                  and Drug Administration not later than                hermetically sealed containers in any
                                           order and, consequently, a federalism                     90 days after the commercial processor                State, as defined in section 201(a)(1) of
                                           summary impact statement is not                           ceases or discontinues the manufacture,               the act, shall, not later than 10 days after
                                           required.                                                 processing, or packing of the foods in                first so engaging, register with the Food
                                                                                                     any establishment, except that this                   and Drug Administration on Form FDA
                                           List of Subjects in 21 CFR Part 108                       notification shall not be required for                2541 (food canning establishment
                                             Administrative practice and                             temporary cessations due to the                       registration) information including (but
                                           procedure, Foods, Reporting and                           seasonal character of an establishment’s              not limited to) his name, principal place
                                           recordkeeping requirements.                               production or by temporary conditions                 of business, the location of each
                                             Therefore, under the Federal Food,                      including, but not limited to, labor                  establishment in which such processing
                                           Drug, and Cosmetic Act and under                          disputes, fire, or acts of God.                       is carried on, the processing method in
                                           authority delegated to the Commissioner                      (2) Process filing. A commercial                   terms of the type of processing
                                           of Food and Drugs, part 108 is amended                    processor engaged in the processing of                equipment employed, and a list of the
                                           as follows:                                               acidified foods shall, not later than 60              low-acid foods so processed in each
                                                                                                     days after registration, and before                   such establishment. These forms are
                                           PART 108—EMERGENCY PERMIT                                 packing any new product, provide the                  available from the LACF Registration
                                           CONTROL                                                   Food and Drug Administration                          Coordinator (HFS–303), Center for Food
                                                                                                     information on the scheduled processes                Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and
                                           ■ 1. The authority citation for part 108                  including, as necessary, conditions for               Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Dr.,
                                           continues to read as follows:                             heat processing and control of pH, salt,              College Park, MD 20740, or at any Food
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                                               Authority: 21 U.S.C. 342, 344, 371.                   sugar, and preservative levels and                    and Drug Administration district office.
                                           ■ 2. In § 108.25, revise paragraphs (c)(1)                source and date of the establishment of               The completed form shall be submitted
                                           and (2) to read as follows:                               the process, for each acidified food in               to the LACF Registration Coordinator
                                                                                                     each container size. Filing of this                   (HFS–618), Center for Food Safety and
                                           § 108.25    Acidified foods.                              information does not constitute                       Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug
                                           *       *     *       *       *                           approval of the information by the Food               Administration, 5001 Campus Dr.,


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                                           46832               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 138 / Tuesday, July 19, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                           College Park, MD 20740. These forms                      submitted to the LACF Registration                    Products Inspection Act (71 Stat. 441, as
                                           also are available on the Food and Drug                  Coordinator (HFS–303), Center for Food                amended by 82 Stat. 791 (21 U.S.C. 451
                                           Administration’s Web site at http://                     Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and                et seq.)).
                                           www.fda.gov/Food/Guidance                                Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Dr.,                 *     *    *    *    *
                                           Regulation/FoodFacilityRegistration/                     College Park, MD 20740. These forms
                                                                                                                                                            Dated: July 12, 2016.
                                           AcidifiedLACFRegistration/default.htm.                   also are available on the Food and Drug
                                           For electronic submission go to FDA’s                    Administration’s Web site at http://                  Leslie Kux,
                                           Industry Systems Web site at                             www.fda.gov/Food/                                     Associate Commissioner for Policy.
                                           www.access.fda.gov. Commercial                           GuidanceRegulation/                                   [FR Doc. 2016–16968 Filed 7–18–16; 8:45 am]
                                           processors duly registered in accordance                 FoodFacilityRegistration/                             BILLING CODE 4164–01–P
                                           with this section shall notify the Food                  AcidifiedLACFRegistration/default.htm.
                                           and Drug Administration not later than                   For electronic submission, go to FDA’s
                                           90 days after such commercial processor                  Industry Systems Web site at                          DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
                                           ceases or discontinues the manufacture,                  www.access.fda.gov.
                                           processing, or packing of thermally                      *       *     *     *    *                            Internal Revenue Service
                                           processed foods in any establishment:                       (ii) If a packer intentionally makes a
                                           Provided, that such notification shall                   change in a previously filed scheduled                26 CFR Part 1
                                           not be required as to the temporary                      process by reducing the initial                       [TD 9761]
                                           cessation necessitated by the seasonal                   temperature or retort temperature,
                                           character of the particular                              reducing the time of processing, or                   RIN 1545–BM88
                                           establishment’s production or caused by                  changing the product formulation, the
                                           temporary conditions including but not                                                                         Inversions and Related Transactions;
                                                                                                    container, or any other condition basic
                                           limited to strikes, lockouts, fire, or acts                                                                    Correction
                                                                                                    to the adequacy of scheduled process,
                                           of God.                                                  he shall prior to using such changed                  AGENCY:  Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
                                             (2) Process filing. A commercial                       process obtain substantiation by                      Treasury.
                                           processor engaged in the thermal                         qualified scientific authority as to its              ACTION: Final and temporary
                                           processing of low-acid foods packaged                    adequacy. Such substantiation may be                  regulations; correcting amendment.
                                           in hermetically sealed containers shall,                 obtained by telephone, telegram, or
                                           not later than 60 days after registration                other media, but must be promptly                     SUMMARY:   This document contains
                                           and prior to the packing of a new                        recorded, verified in writing by the                  corrections to a correction document for
                                           product, provide the Food and Drug                       authority, and contained in the packer’s              final and temporary regulations (TD
                                           Administration information as to the                     files for review by the Food and Drug                 9761) that was published in the Federal
                                           scheduled processes including but not                    Administration. Within 30 days after                  Register on June 23, 2016 (81 FR 40810).
                                           limited to the processing method, type                   first use, the packer shall submit to the             DATES: This correction is effective on
                                           of retort or other thermal processing                    LACF Registration Coordinator (HFS–                   July 19, 2016 and applicable on June 23,
                                           equipment employed, minimum initial                      303), Center for Food Safety and                      2016.
                                           temperatures, times and temperatures of                  Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rose
                                           processing, sterilizing value (Fo), or                   Administration, 5001 Campus Dr.,                      E. Jenkins at (202) 317–6934 (not a toll
                                           other equivalent scientific evidence of                  College Park, MD 20740 a complete                     free number).
                                           process adequacy, critical control                       description of the modifications made
                                                                                                                                                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                           factors affecting heat penetration, and                  and utilized, together with a copy of his
                                           source and date of the establishment of                  file record showing prior substantiation              Background
                                           the process, for each such low-acid food                 by a qualified scientific authority as to
                                                                                                                                                            The final and temporary regulations
                                           in each container size: Provided, that                   the safety of the changed process. Any
                                                                                                                                                          (TD 9761) that are the subject of this
                                           the filing of such information does not                  intentional change of a previously filed
                                                                                                                                                          correction are under sections 304, 367,
                                           constitute approval of the information                   scheduled process or modification
                                                                                                                                                          956, 7701(l), and 7874 of the Internal
                                           by the Food and Drug Administration,                     thereof in which the change consists
                                                                                                                                                          Revenue Code.
                                           and that information concerning                          solely of a higher initial temperature, a
                                           processes and other data so filed shall                  higher retort temperature, or a longer                Correction of Publication
                                           be regarded as trade secrets within the                  processing time, shall not be considered                In correcting amendment FR Doc.
                                           meaning of 21 U.S.C. 331(j) and 18                       a change subject to this paragraph, but               2016–14649, published in the issue of
                                           U.S.C. 1905. This information shall be                   if that modification is thereafter to be              Thursday, June 23, 2016 (81 FR 40810),
                                           submitted on the following forms as                      regularly scheduled, the modified                     make the following correction:
                                           appropriate: Form FDA 2541d (Food                        process shall be promptly filed as a                    On page 40811, in the first column,
                                           Process Filing for Low-Acid Retorted                     scheduled process, accompanied by full                remove amendatory instruction 6.
                                           Method), Form FDA 2541f (Food                            information on the specified forms as
                                           Process Filing for Water Activity/                       provided in this paragraph.                           List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1
                                           Formulation Control Method), or Form                     *       *     *     *    *                              Income taxes, Reporting and
                                           FDA 2541g (Food Process Filing for                          (i) This section shall not apply to the            recordkeeping requirements.
                                           Low-Acid Aseptic Systems). These                         commercial processing of any food                       Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is
                                           forms are available from the LACF                        processed under the continuous                        corrected by making the following
                                           Registration Coordinator (HFS–303),                      inspection of the meat and poultry                    correcting amendments:
ehiers on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                           Center for Food Safety and Applied                       inspection program of the Food Safety
                                           Nutrition, Food and Drug                                 and Inspection Service of the                         PART 1—INCOME TAXES
                                           Administration, 5001 Campus Dr.,                         Department of Agriculture under the
                                           College Park, MD 20740, or at any Food                   Federal Meat Inspection Act (34 Stat.                 ■ Paragraph 1. The authority citation
                                           and Drug Administration district office.                 1256, as amended by 81 Stat. 584 (21                  for part 1 continues to read in part as
                                           The completed form(s) shall be                           U.S.C. 601 et seq.)) and the Poultry                  follows:


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Document Created: 2016-07-19 01:10:41
Document Modified: 2016-07-19 01:10:41
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule; technical amendments.
DatesThis rule is effective August 18, 2016. See section VI for further information on the filing of objections. Submit either electronic or written objections and requests for a hearing by August 18, 2016.
ContactSusan Brecher, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-302), Food and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20740-3835, 240-402-1781.
FR Citation81 FR 46828 
CFR AssociatedAdministrative Practice and Procedure; Foods and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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