83_FR_34243 83 FR 34104 - Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Food Defense Vulnerability Questionnaire

83 FR 34104 - Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Food Defense Vulnerability Questionnaire

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 139 (July 19, 2018)

Page Range34104-34105
FR Document2018-15461

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to collect information from food industry and academic experts on vulnerabilities and research activities related to food defense for FSIS-regulated food products. The purpose of this information collection is to inform FSIS food defense efforts to help protect against an intentional attack on the food supply.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 139 (Thursday, July 19, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 139 (Thursday, July 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34104-34105]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15461]



[[Page 34104]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2018-0020]


Notice of Request for a New Information Collection: Food Defense 
Vulnerability Questionnaire

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing its intention to collect 
information from food industry and academic experts on vulnerabilities 
and research activities related to food defense for FSIS-regulated food 
products. The purpose of this information collection is to inform FSIS 
food defense efforts to help protect against an intentional attack on 
the food supply.

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 17, 2018.

ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this 
Federal Register notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides the 
ability to type short comments directly into the comment field on this 
web page or attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.
     Mail, including CD-ROMs, etc.: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Room 6065, Washington, DC 20250-
3700.
     Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
    Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must 
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2018-0020. Comments 
received in response to this docket will be made available for public 
inspection and posted without change, including any personal 
information, to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to background documents or comments received, 
call (202) 720-5627 to schedule a time to visit the FSIS Docket Room at 
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, Washington, DC 20250-3700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and 
Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250-3700; (202) 720-5627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Food Defense Vulnerability Questionnaire
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the 
functions of the Secretary (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53) as specified in the 
Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.), the 
Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.) and the 
Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq.). These 
statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat, 
poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and 
properly labeled and packaged.
    FSIS's Office of Data Integration and Food Protection (ODIFP) 
develops, maintains, and coordinates all FSIS activities to prevent, 
prepare for, respond to, and recover from significant incidents 
resulting from intentional contamination or deliberate acts of 
terrorism and other significant incidents affecting meat, poultry, and 
processed egg products. Food defense is the protection of food products 
from intentional contamination intended to harm public health or cause 
economic disruption. As part of ODIFP, the Food Defense Assessment 
Staff works with government agencies, industry, and other organizations 
to develop and implement strategies to prevent, protect against, 
mitigate, respond to, and recover from intentional contamination of the 
food supply. FSIS food defense activities are guided by national 
policies and directives, including Homeland Security Presidential 
Directive Nine, which requires USDA to perform vulnerability 
assessments of the food system and update these vulnerability 
assessments every two years.
    FSIS strives to continually assess current food defense 
vulnerabilities, identify new food defense vulnerabilities, and remain 
aware of current and planned food defense research efforts. In order to 
help inform FSIS food defense activities and help protect against an 
intentional attack on the food supply, FSIS will administer a series of 
questionnaires to food industry and academic experts on vulnerabilities 
and research activities in the area of food defense for FSIS-regulated 
food products.
    The first questionnaire will be conducted in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, 
and the second and third questionnaires will be conducted in FY 2020 
and FY 2021 respectively. The questionnaire will be administered to 
approximately 170 food industry and academic experts each fiscal year 
(FY 2019, FY 2020, and FY 2021).
    The results from the FY 2019 questionnaire will inform FSIS's food 
defense activities, including vulnerability assessment efforts.
    Estimate of Burden:

                         Estimated Annual Reporting Burden for the FY 2019 Questionnaire
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Number of                                              Burden
                Respondents                   respondents            Participation time               (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Food industry and academic experts........             170  40 minutes..........................           113.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                         Estimated Annual Reporting Burden for the FY 2020 Questionnaire
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Number of                                              Burden
                Respondents                   respondents            Participation time               (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Food industry and academic experts........             170  40 minutes..........................           113.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 34105]]



                         Estimated Annual Reporting Burden for the FY 2021 Questionnaire
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Number of                                              Burden
                Respondents                   respondents            Participation time               (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Food industry and academic experts........             170  40 minutes..........................           113.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Respondents: Food Industry and Academic Experts.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 510.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Burden on Respondents: 340 hours.
    Copies of this information collection assessment can be obtained 
from Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety 
and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, 
South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 720-5627.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS's 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
method and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information, including through 
the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques, or other forms of information 
technology. Comments may be sent to both FSIS, at the addresses 
provided above, and the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, DC 20253.
    Responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

Additional Public Notification

    Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy 
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal 
Register publication on-line through the FSIS web page located at: 
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register.
    FSIS also will make copies of this publication available through 
the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide information 
regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register 
notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of information that 
could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and 
stakeholders. The Update is available on the FSIS web page. Through the 
web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more 
diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an email subscription 
service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food 
safety news and information. This service is available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. Options range from recalls to export 
information, regulations, directives, and notices. Customers can add or 
delete subscriptions themselves, and have the option to password 
protect their accounts.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

    No agency, officer, or employee of the USDA shall, on the grounds 
of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual 
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, 
income derived from a public assistance program, or political beliefs, 
exclude from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to 
discrimination any person in the United States under any program or 
activity conducted by the USDA.

How To File a Complaint of Discrimination

    To file a complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program 
Discrimination Complaint Form, which may be accessed online at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you or your 
authorized representative.
    Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, 
or email:
    Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of 
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410.
    Fax: (202) 690-7442.
    Email: [email protected].
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact 
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

Paul Kiecker,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018-15461 Filed 7-18-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P

34104 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 139 / Thursday, July 19, 2018 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, terrorism and other significant incidents Washington, DC 20250–3700. affecting meat, poultry, and processed Food Safety and Inspection Service Instructions: All items submitted by egg products. Food defense is the [Docket No. FSIS–2018–0020] mail or electronic mail must include the protection of food products from Agency name and docket number FSIS– intentional contamination intended to Notice of Request for a New 2018–0020. Comments received in harm public health or cause economic Information Collection: Food Defense response to this docket will be made disruption. As part of ODIFP, the Food Vulnerability Questionnaire available for public inspection and Defense Assessment Staff works with posted without change, including any government agencies, industry, and AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection personal information, to http:// other organizations to develop and Service, USDA. www.regulations.gov. implement strategies to prevent, protect ACTION: Notice and request for Docket: For access to background against, mitigate, respond to, and comments. documents or comments received, call recover from intentional contamination SUMMARY: In accordance with the (202) 720–5627 to schedule a time to of the food supply. FSIS food defense Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and visit the FSIS Docket Room at 1400 activities are guided by national policies Office of Management and Budget Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, and directives, including Homeland (OMB) regulations, the Food Safety and Washington, DC 20250–3700. Security Presidential Directive Nine, Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina which requires USDA to perform its intention to collect information from Kouba, Office of Policy and Program vulnerability assessments of the food food industry and academic experts on Development, Food Safety and system and update these vulnerability vulnerabilities and research activities Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 assessments every two years. related to food defense for FSIS- Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, FSIS strives to continually assess regulated food products. The purpose of South Building, Washington, DC 20250– current food defense vulnerabilities, this information collection is to inform 3700; (202) 720–5627. identify new food defense FSIS food defense efforts to help protect SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: vulnerabilities, and remain aware of against an intentional attack on the food Title: Food Defense Vulnerability current and planned food defense supply. Questionnaire research efforts. In order to help inform DATES: Submit comments on or before Type of Request: New information FSIS food defense activities and help September 17, 2018. collection. protect against an intentional attack on ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the the food supply, FSIS will administer a persons to submit comments on this authority to exercise the functions of the series of questionnaires to food industry Federal Register notice. Comments may Secretary (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53) as specified and academic experts on vulnerabilities be submitted by one of the following in the Federal Meat Inspection Act and research activities in the area of methods: (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.), the food defense for FSIS-regulated food • Federal eRulemaking Portal: This Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) products. website provides the ability to type (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.) and the Egg The first questionnaire will be short comments directly into the Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 conducted in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, and comment field on this web page or U.S.C. 1031, et seq.). These statutes the second and third questionnaires will attach a file for lengthier comments. Go mandate that FSIS protect the public by be conducted in FY 2020 and FY 2021 to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow verifying that meat, poultry, and egg respectively. The questionnaire will be the on-line instructions at that site for products are safe, wholesome, administered to approximately 170 food submitting comments. unadulterated, and properly labeled and industry and academic experts each • Mail, including CD–ROMs, etc.: packaged. fiscal year (FY 2019, FY 2020, and FY Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department FSIS’s Office of Data Integration and 2021). of Agriculture, Food Safety and Food Protection (ODIFP) develops, Inspection Service, 1400 Independence maintains, and coordinates all FSIS The results from the FY 2019 Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Room 6065, activities to prevent, prepare for, questionnaire will inform FSIS’s food Washington, DC 20250–3700. respond to, and recover from significant defense activities, including • Hand- or courier-delivered incidents resulting from intentional vulnerability assessment efforts. submittals: Deliver to 1400 contamination or deliberate acts of Estimate of Burden: ESTIMATED ANNUAL REPORTING BURDEN FOR THE FY 2019 QUESTIONNAIRE Number of Burden Respondents Participation time respondents (hours) Food industry and academic experts .................................................................................... 170 40 minutes ........... 113.3 sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES ESTIMATED ANNUAL REPORTING BURDEN FOR THE FY 2020 QUESTIONNAIRE Number of Burden Respondents Participation time respondents (hours) Food industry and academic experts .................................................................................... 170 40 minutes ........... 113.3 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:34 Jul 18, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\19JYN1.SGM 19JYN1

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 139 / Thursday, July 19, 2018 / Notices 34105 ESTIMATED ANNUAL REPORTING BURDEN FOR THE FY 2021 QUESTIONNAIRE Number of Burden Respondents Participation time respondents (hours) Food industry and academic experts .................................................................................... 170 40 minutes ........... 113.3 Respondents: Food Industry and meetings, and other types of information should contact USDA’s TARGET Center Academic Experts. that could affect or would be of interest at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). Estimated Number of Respondents: to our constituents and stakeholders. Paul Kiecker, 510. The Update is available on the FSIS web Estimated Number of Annual Acting Administrator. page. Through the web page, FSIS is Responses per Respondent: 1. [FR Doc. 2018–15461 Filed 7–18–18; 8:45 am] able to provide information to a much Estimated Total Burden on broader, more diverse audience. In BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P Respondents: 340 hours. addition, FSIS offers an email Copies of this information collection subscription service which provides assessment can be obtained from Gina DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE automatic and customized access to Kouba, Office of Policy and Program selected food safety news and Food and Nutrition Service Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 information. This service is available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. National School Lunch, Special Milk, Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, and School Breakfast Programs, South Building, Washington, DC 20250– Options range from recalls to export information, regulations, directives, and National Average Payments/Maximum 3700; (202) 720–5627. Reimbursement Rates Comments are invited on: (a) Whether notices. Customers can add or delete the proposed collection of information subscriptions themselves, and have the AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, is necessary for the proper performance option to password protect their USDA. of FSIS’s functions, including whether accounts. ACTION: Notice. the information will have practical USDA Non-Discrimination Statement SUMMARY: This Notice announces the utility; (b) the accuracy of FSIS’s estimate of the burden of the proposed annual adjustments to the national No agency, officer, or employee of the average payments, the amount of money collection of information, including the USDA shall, on the grounds of race, validity of the method and assumptions the Federal Government provides States color, national origin, religion, sex, for lunches, afterschool snacks, and used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, gender identity, sexual orientation, utility, and clarity of the information to breakfasts served to children disability, age, marital status, family/ participating in the National School be collected; and (d) ways to minimize parental status, income derived from a the burden of the collection of Lunch and School Breakfast Programs; public assistance program, or political to the maximum reimbursement rates, information, including through the use beliefs, exclude from participation in, of appropriate automated, electronic, the maximum per lunch rate from deny the benefits of, or subject to Federal funds that a State can provide mechanical, or other technological discrimination any person in the United a school food authority for lunches collection techniques, or other forms of States under any program or activity served to children participating in the information technology. Comments may conducted by the USDA. National School Lunch Program; and to be sent to both FSIS, at the addresses provided above, and the Desk Officer for the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint How To File a Complaint of Agriculture, Office of Information and of milk served to non-needy children in Discrimination Regulatory Affairs, Office of a school or institution that participates Management and Budget, Washington, To file a complaint of discrimination, in the Special Milk Program for DC 20253. complete the USDA Program Children. The annual payments and Responses to this notice will be Discrimination Complaint Form, which rates adjustments for the National summarized and included in the request may be accessed online at http:// School Lunch and School Breakfast for OMB approval. All comments will www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ Programs reflect changes in the Food also become a matter of public record. docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_ Away From Home series of the 12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you Consumer Price Index for All Urban Additional Public Notification Consumers. The annual rate adjustment or your authorized representative. Public awareness of all segments of for the Special Milk Program reflects Send your completed complaint form changes in the Producer Price Index for rulemaking and policy development is or letter to USDA by mail, fax, or email: Fluid Milk Products. Further important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal Register Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, adjustments are made to these rates to publication on-line through the FSIS Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 reflect higher costs of providing meals web page located at: http:// Independence Avenue SW, Washington, in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register. DC 20250–9410. payments and rates are prescribed on an FSIS also will make copies of this annual basis each July. Fax: (202) 690–7442. publication available through the FSIS DATES: These rates are effective from Constituent Update, which is used to Email: program.intake@usda.gov. July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019. provide information regarding FSIS Persons with disabilities who require FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: policies, procedures, regulations, alternative means for communication Jessica Saracino, Branch Chief, Program Federal Register notices, FSIS public (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), Monitoring and Operational Support VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:34 Jul 18, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\19JYN1.SGM 19JYN1


Document Created: 2018-07-19 01:34:57
Document Modified: 2018-07-19 01:34:57
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice and request for comments.
DatesSubmit comments on or before September 17, 2018.
ContactGina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 6065, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; (202) 720-5627.
FR Citation83 FR 34104 
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