83 FR 50634 - Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection (Laboratories)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 195 (October 9, 2018)

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 renew the approved information collection regarding laboratories. The approval for this information collection will expire on February 28, 2019. FSIS is making no changes to the approved collection.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50634-50635]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21858]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food Safety and Inspection Service

[Docket No. FSIS-2018-0037]


Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection 
(Laboratories)

AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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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 renew the 
approved information collection regarding laboratories. The approval 
for this information collection will expire on February 28, 2019. FSIS 
is making no changes to the approved collection.

DATES: Submit comments on or before December 10, 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 to 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

[[Page 50635]]

Agency name and docket number FSIS-2018-0037. 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: Laboratories.
    OMB Control Number: 0583-0158.
    Expiration Date: 02/28/2019.
    Type of Request: Renewal of an approved information collection.
    Abstract: FSIS, by delegation (7 CFR 2.18, 2.53), exercises the 
functions of the Secretary 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 is requesting a renewal of the information collection 
regarding laboratories. The approval for this information collection 
will expire on February 28, 2019. FSIS is making no changes to the 
approved collection.
    FSIS uses the PEPRL-F-0008.04 form as a self-assessment audit 
checklist to collect information related to the quality assurance and 
quality control procedures in place at in-plant and private 
laboratories participating in the Pasteurized Egg Product Recognized 
Laboratory (PEPRLab) program (9 CFR 590.580). FSIS uses the data 
collected in the desk audit of existing labs or in the appraisal of new 
applicants.
    Any non-Federal laboratory that is applying for the FSIS Accredited 
Laboratory program regarding the testing of meat and poultry products 
needs to complete FSIS Form 10,110-2, Application for FSIS Accredited 
Laboratory Program. (9 CFR 439). State or private laboratories only 
submit the application once for entry into the program. FSIS uses the 
information collected by the form to help assess the laboratory 
applying for admission to the FSIS Accredited Laboratory program. FSIS 
has made the following estimates based upon an information collection 
assessment.
    Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an 
average of 0.96 hours per year to complete a laboratory form.
    Respondents: Laboratories.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 13.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 13 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 Constituent 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. 2018-21858 Filed 10-5-18; 8:45 am]
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