82 FR 16334 - Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 63 (April 4, 2017)
Agricultural Marketing Service
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 63 (April 4, 2017)
| Page Range | 16334-16335 | |
| FR Document | 2017-06641 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 4, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 16334-16335] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-06641] ======================================================================== Notices Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. ======================================================================== Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 63 / Tuesday, April 4, 2017 / Notices [[Page 16334]] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [Doc. No. AMS-ST-17-0021] Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection ``Laboratory Approval Programs.'' DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 5, 2017 to be assured of consideration. Additional Information or Comments: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on this proposal to Grace Vaillant, Laboratory Approval and Testing Division, Science and Technology, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0272, Washington, DC 20250-0272; Phone 202-690-0621, Fax 202-720-4631. Comments should be submitted in triplicate. Comments may also be submitted electronically through http://www.regulations.gov. All comments should reference the docket number and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All comments received will be made available for public inspection at the above address during regular business hours and may be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Laboratory Approval Programs. OMB Number: 0581-0251. Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2017. Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved information collection. Abstract: Under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), AMS' Laboratory Approval Service (LAS) approves, or accredits, laboratories to perform testing services in support of domestic and international trades. At the request of industry, other Federal agencies, or foreign governments, AMS develops and administers laboratory approval programs (LAPs) to verify that the analysis of food and agricultural products meet country or customer-specified requirements. LAS ensures the testing of products marketed is conducted by qualified and approved laboratories. LAPs requirements include good laboratory, quality assurance and control practices; applicable domestic and international standards (such as ISO/IEC 17025:2005); established methods and accepted equipment; and on-site audits. Laboratories voluntarily participate in the program and pay program fees. Currently, LAS administers four overarching LAPs with over 70 laboratories. The information collection includes submission of a letter of intent and analyses related documentation. These requirements are essential to examine laboratories for entrance into and continued participation in the following programs: (1) Aflatoxin Program--laboratories perform aflatoxin testing in support of domestic and/or export trade of almonds, peanuts, and pistachio nuts. (a) Almond. At the request of the Almond Board of California (ABC), AMS administers the program for aflatoxin testing of almonds destined for export to the European Union (EU) through the Pre- Export Certification program of ABC. (b) Peanuts. AMS administers Minimum Quality and Handling Standards for Domestic and Imported Peanuts Marketed in the United States (7 CFR 996 Parts 996.1--996.75). The regulation requires domestically marketed peanuts for human consumption to be analyzed for aflatoxin by a USDA or USDA-approved laboratory. AMS consults with the Peanut Standards Board on program requirements. (c) Pistachio Nuts. AMS administers mandatory domestic and import aflatoxin requirements for pistachio nuts under Pistachios Grown in California, Arizona, and New Mexico (7 CFR part 983) and Specialty Crops, Import Regulations (7 CFR part 999, Section 999.600), respectively. All domestic and import shipments of pistachio nuts intended for human consumption must be tested for aflatoxin contamination. At the request of the Administrative Committee for Pistachios, laboratories may also participate in the program for pistachio nuts destined for EU. (2) Export Program--this program ensures the testing of meat and poultry products offered for export certification by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is conducted by qualified and approved laboratories. LAS collaborates with FSIS, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and the meat and poultry industries to administer a flexible and comprehensive program to provide reliable analyses of pesticide residues, environmental contaminants, veterinary drug residues, antibiotic residues, microorganisms, and parasites. (3) Microbiological Testing for the Federal Purchase Program (FPP)--testing is limited to the analysis of aerobic plate counts, coliform counts, coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus, generic Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, and Listeria monocytogenes in frozen, cooked, and diced chicken procured for the FPP. This is a new program added to the LAPs since the last OMB information collection approval. (4) Any additional programs which may be requested in the future to facilitate the marketing of U.S. agricultural products. All LAPs will follow the similar general procedures. Applicants would submit a letter of intent, provide related documentation on analyses they intend to perform, participate in proficiency testing (PT) sample analyses, and be audited by AMS auditors. The time required for information collection will depend on the complexity of the methodology and the time necessary to perform the analysis. The burden hours incurred for these laboratories to submit the initial letter requesting entrance and completion of analyses documentation is a one- time occurrence. Once a laboratory is accepted into the program, the information collection burden will [[Page 16335]] decrease and will be based on the number of PT samples analyzed by the laboratory throughout the year in order to maintain its program status. Form ST-212 (Alternate Payment Form) is an option applicant/ approved laboratories may use to pay for participation in AMS LAPs. Interested parties can obtain a copy of the form (ST-212) by calling or writing to the point of contact listed above. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 10.94 hours per response. Respondents: Laboratories. Estimated Number of Respondents: 56. Estimated Total Annual Responses: 380. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 7. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,157.30. Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information including completion of analyses related documentation; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Grace Vaillant, Laboratory Approval and Testing Division, Science and Technology, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0272, Washington, DC 20250-0272; Phone 202-690-0621, Fax 202-720-4631. All comments received will be available for public inspection during regular business hours at the same address. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. Dated: March 30, 2017. Bruce Summers, Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. 2017-06641 Filed 4-3-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
![16334
Notices Federal Register
Vol. 82, No. 63
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER OMB Number: 0581–0251. administers mandatory domestic and
contains documents other than rules or Expiration Date of Approval: import aflatoxin requirements for
proposed rules that are applicable to the September 30, 2017. pistachio nuts under Pistachios Grown
public. Notices of hearings and investigations, Type of Request: Extension and in California, Arizona, and New Mexico
committee meetings, agency decisions and revision of a currently approved (7 CFR part 983) and Specialty Crops,
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
information collection. Import Regulations (7 CFR part 999,
statements of organization and functions are Abstract: Under the Agricultural Section 999.600), respectively. All
examples of documents appearing in this Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 domestic and import shipments of
section. U.S.C. 1621–1627), AMS’ Laboratory pistachio nuts intended for human
Approval Service (LAS) approves, or consumption must be tested for
accredits, laboratories to perform testing aflatoxin contamination. At the request
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE services in support of domestic and of the Administrative Committee for
international trades. At the request of Pistachios, laboratories may also
Agricultural Marketing Service industry, other Federal agencies, or participate in the program for pistachio
[Doc. No. AMS–ST–17–0021] foreign governments, AMS develops and nuts destined for EU.
administers laboratory approval (2) Export Program—this program
Notice of Request for Extension and programs (LAPs) to verify that the ensures the testing of meat and poultry
Revision of a Currently Approved analysis of food and agricultural products offered for export certification
Information Collection products meet country or customer- by the Food Safety and Inspection
specified requirements. LAS ensures the Service (FSIS) is conducted by qualified
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, testing of products marketed is and approved laboratories. LAS
USDA. conducted by qualified and approved collaborates with FSIS, the Foreign
ACTION: Notice and request for laboratories. LAPs requirements include Agricultural Service, and the meat and
comments. good laboratory, quality assurance and poultry industries to administer a
control practices; applicable domestic flexible and comprehensive program to
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
and international standards (such as provide reliable analyses of pesticide
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
ISO/IEC 17025:2005); established residues, environmental contaminants,
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice
methods and accepted equipment; and veterinary drug residues, antibiotic
announces the Agricultural Marketing
on-site audits. Laboratories voluntarily residues, microorganisms, and parasites.
Service’s (AMS) intention to request
participate in the program and pay (3) Microbiological Testing for the
approval, from the Office of
program fees. Currently, LAS Federal Purchase Program (FPP)—
Management and Budget (OMB), for an
administers four overarching LAPs with testing is limited to the analysis of
extension of and revision to the
over 70 laboratories. aerobic plate counts, coliform counts,
currently approved information
The information collection includes coagulase positive Staphylococcus
collection ‘‘Laboratory Approval
submission of a letter of intent and aureus, generic Escherichia coli,
Programs.’’
analyses related documentation. These Salmonella species, and Listeria
DATES: Comments on this notice must be requirements are essential to examine monocytogenes in frozen, cooked, and
received by June 5, 2017 to be assured laboratories for entrance into and diced chicken procured for the FPP.
of consideration. continued participation in the following This is a new program added to the
Additional Information or Comments: programs: LAPs since the last OMB information
Interested persons are invited to submit (1) Aflatoxin Program—laboratories collection approval.
comments on this proposal to Grace perform aflatoxin testing in support of (4) Any additional programs which
Vaillant, Laboratory Approval and domestic and/or export trade of may be requested in the future to
Testing Division, Science and almonds, peanuts, and pistachio nuts. facilitate the marketing of U.S.
Technology, Agricultural Marketing (a) Almond. At the request of the agricultural products.
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Almond Board of California (ABC), All LAPs will follow the similar
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop AMS administers the program for general procedures. Applicants would
0272, Washington, DC 20250–0272; aflatoxin testing of almonds destined for submit a letter of intent, provide related
Phone 202–690–0621, Fax 202–720– export to the European Union (EU) documentation on analyses they intend
4631. Comments should be submitted in through the Pre-Export Certification to perform, participate in proficiency
triplicate. Comments may also be program of ABC. (b) Peanuts. AMS testing (PT) sample analyses, and be
submitted electronically through http:// administers Minimum Quality and audited by AMS auditors. The time
www.regulations.gov. All comments Handling Standards for Domestic and required for information collection will
should reference the docket number and Imported Peanuts Marketed in the depend on the complexity of the
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
page number of this issue of the Federal United States (7 CFR 996 Parts 996.1— methodology and the time necessary to
Register. All comments received will be 996.75). The regulation requires perform the analysis. The burden hours
made available for public inspection at domestically marketed peanuts for incurred for these laboratories to submit
the above address during regular human consumption to be analyzed for the initial letter requesting entrance and
business hours and may be viewed at aflatoxin by a USDA or USDA-approved completion of analyses documentation
http://www.regulations.gov. laboratory. AMS consults with the is a one-time occurrence. Once a
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Peanut Standards Board on program laboratory is accepted into the program,
Title: Laboratory Approval Programs. requirements. (c) Pistachio Nuts. AMS the information collection burden will
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 63 / Tuesday, April 4, 2017 / Notices 16335
decrease and will be based on the DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601) and the
number of PT samples analyzed by the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA)
laboratory throughout the year in order Submission for OMB Review; (21 U.S.C. 451). These statutes mandate
to maintain its program status. Comment Request that FSIS protect the public by verifying
Form ST–212 (Alternate Payment that meat and poultry products are safe,
March 30, 2017.
Form) is an option applicant/approved wholesome, unadulterated, and
The Department of Agriculture has properly labeled and packaged. FSIS has
laboratories may use to pay for submitted the following information
participation in AMS LAPs. Interested established requirements applicable to
collection requirement(s) to OMB for meat and poultry establishments
parties can obtain a copy of the form review and clearance under the
(ST–212) by calling or writing to the designed to reduce the occurrence and
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, numbers of pathogenic microorganisms
point of contact listed above. Public Law 104–13. Comments are on meat and poultry products, reduce
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting requested regarding (1) whether the the incidence of foodborne illness
burden for this collection of information collection of information is necessary associated with the consumption of
is estimated to average 10.94 hours per for the proper performance of the those products, and provide a new
response. functions of the agency, including framework for modernization of the
whether the information will have current system of meat and poultry
Respondents: Laboratories.
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the inspection.
Estimated Number of Respondents: agency’s estimate of burden including Need and Use of the Information:
56. the validity of the methodology and FSIS will collect information to ensure
Estimated Total Annual Responses: assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance that (1) establishments have developed
380. the quality, utility and clarity of the and maintained an standard operating
information to be collected; and (4) plan for sanitation that is used by
Estimated Number of Responses per
ways to minimize the burden of the inspection personnel in performing
Respondent: 7.
collection of information on those who monitoring regulations; (2)
Estimated Total Annual Burden on are to respond, including through the establishments have developed written
Respondents: 4,157.30. use of appropriate automated, procedures outlining specimen
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether electronic, mechanical, or other collection and handling for E.coli
the proposed collection of information technological collection techniques or process control verification testing; (3)
is necessary for the proper performance other forms of information technology. establishments developed written
of the functions of the agency, including Comments regarding this information HAACP plans; (4) establishments will
whether the information will have collection received by May 4, 2017 will keep records for measurements during
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the be considered. Written comments slaughter and processing, corrective
agency’s estimate of the burden of the should be addressed to: Desk Officer for action, verification check results, and
proposed collection of information Agriculture, Office of Information and related activities that contain the
including completion of analyses Regulatory Affairs, Office of identify of the product, the product
related documentation; (3) ways to Management and Budget (OMB), New code or slaughter production lot, and
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity Executive Office Building, 725—17th the date the record was made; (5)
of the information to be collected; and Street NW., Washington, DC 20502. establishments may have prerequisite
(4) ways to minimize the burden of the Commenters are encouraged to submit programs that are designed to provide
collection of information on those who their comments to OMB via email to: the basic environmental and operating
are to respond, including the use of OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or conditions necessary for the production
appropriate automated, electronic, fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental of safe, wholesome food; and (6)
mechanical, or other technological Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail establishment maintain and are able to
collection techniques or other forms of Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250– supply upon request the following
information technology. Comments may 7602. Copies of the submission(s) may information concerning the suppliers of
be sent to Grace Vaillant, Laboratory be obtained by calling (202) 720–8958. source materials; the name, point of
An agency may not conduct or contact, and phone number for the
Approval and Testing Division, Science
sponsor a collection of information establishment supplying the source
and Technology, Agricultural Marketing
unless the collection of information materials for the lot of ground beef
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
displays a currently valid OMB control sampled; and the supplier lot numbers,
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop
number and the agency informs production dates, and other information
0272, Washington, DC 20250–0272;
potential persons who are to respond to that would be useful to know about
Phone 202–690–0621, Fax 202–720–
the collection of information that such suppliers.
4631. All comments received will be
persons are not required to respond to Description of Respondents: Business
available for public inspection during
the collection of information unless it or other for-profit.
regular business hours at the same
displays a currently valid OMB control Number of Respondents: 6,087.
address.
number. Frequency of Responses:
All responses to this notice will be Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion;
summarized and included in the request Food Safety and Inspection Service
Other (daily).
for OMB approval. All comments will
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Title: Sanitation SOP’s Pathogen Total Burden Hours: 7,045,283.
become a matter of public record. Reduction/Hazard Analysis and Critical
Control Point (HACCP). Food Safety and Inspection Service
Dated: March 30, 2017.
OMB Control Number: 0583–0103. Title: Procedures for the Notification
Bruce Summers, Summary of Collection: The Food of New Technology.
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has OMB Control Number: 0583–0127.
Service. been delegated the authority to exercise Summary of Collection: The Food
[FR Doc. 2017–06641 Filed 4–3–17; 8:45 am] the functions of the Secretary as Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P provided in the Federal Meat Inspection been delegated the authority to exercise
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Document Created: 2017-04-03 23:53:30
Document Modified: 2017-04-03 23:53:30
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice and request for comments. | |
| Dates | Comments on this notice must be received by June 5, 2017 to be assured of consideration. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 16334 |
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