SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In compliance with 44 U.S.C. 3507, FDA has submitted the following proposed ( printed page 65222) collection of information to OMB for review and clearance.

Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards

OMB Control Number 0910-0621—Extension

This information collection helps support implementation of FDA's Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (the Retail Program Standards). Regulatory Program Standards play a critical role in an integrated food safety system and serve as the foundation for mutual reliance between FDA and other regulatory agencies that work to ensure food safety. The Retail Program Standards define what constitutes a highly effective and responsive program for the regulation of foodservice and retail food establishments. The Retail Program Standards are intended to provide a foundation upon which continuous improvements can be made with the ultimate goal to reduce the occurrence of factors that cause and contribute to foodborne illness. In support of this goal, FDA works cooperatively with our State, local, territorial, and tribal partners using a risk-based approach to leverage limited resources. We engage in education and outreach efforts to facilitate collaboration with our partners in food safety. The Retail Program Standards represent an important component of a comprehensive strategic approach to help ensure the safety and security of the food supply at the retail level.

The Retail Program Standards were revised most recently in November 2024 and include the following elements: (1) regulatory foundation; (2) trained regulatory staff; (3) inspection program based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles; (4) uniform inspection program; (5) foodborne illness and food defense preparedness and response; (6) compliance and enforcement; (7) industry and community relations; (8) program support and resources; and (9) program assessment. These elements are enumerated and discussed on our website at www.fda.gov/​food/​voluntary-national-retail-food-regulatory-program-standards/​voluntary-national-retail-food-regulatory-program-standards-november-2024 along with worksheets and assessments that allow FDA to determine conformance with the Retail Program Standards. State, local, territorial, tribal, and Federal regulatory agencies that participate in the voluntary program are required to report information demonstrating that a program self-assessment, a risk factor study of the regulated industry, and an independent outside audit (verification audit) have been completed. The information also includes Form FDA 3958, “Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards FDA National Registry Report,” which may be completed electronically at www.fda.gov/​food/​voluntary-national-retail-food-regulatory-program-standards/​voluntary-national-retail-food-regulatory-program-standards-november-2024.

We have created a dedicated email at retailfoodprotectionstaff@fda.hhs.gov to receive requests for program documentation and the following instruments to support the standardization of food safety inspection officer candidates:

• Form FDA 5017, “Standardized Retail Food Safety Inspection Officer Waiver of Annual Maintenance Requirement,” pertains to requests for waivers from maintenance requirements, referenced in section 3-403 of the “FDA Procedures for Standardization of Retail Food Safety Inspection Officers.” FDA uses the information submitted on Form FDA 5017 to determine a retail food safety inspection officer's eligibility for restandardization.
• Form FDA 5018, “Standardized Retail Food Safety Inspection Officer Annual Maintenance Form,” provides verification that a retail food safety inspection officer has met program standardization requirements in accordance with section 3-403 of the “FDA Procedures for Standardization of Retail Food Safety Inspection Officers.”
• Form FDA 5019, “Standardized Retail Food Safety Inspection Officer Nomination Form,” allows FDA to collect qualification information from retail food safety inspection officer candidates.

Description of Respondents: Respondents to the information collection are State, local, territorial, and tribal regulatory agencies.

In the Federal Register of July 17, 2026 (91 FR 44857), FDA published a 60-day notice requesting public comment on the proposed collection of information. One comment was received that was generally favorable of the collection of information.

We estimate the burden of this collection of information as follows:

Our estimate of burden for the associated program activities as identified in table 1 is based on our experience with the information collection, along with other regulatory standards programs we administer. Based on a review of the information collection since our last request for OMB approval, we have made no adjustments to our burden estimate.

91 FR 65221