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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 54 (Thursday, March 20, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15559-15560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06085]

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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.

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 54 / Thursday, March 20, 2014 / 
Notices

[[Page 15559]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-ST-14-0021]

Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently 
Approved Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces that the Agricultural 
Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the 
Office of Management and Budget, for an extension of and revision to 
the currently approved information collection ``Laboratory Approval 
Programs''.

DATES: Comments received by May 19, 2014 will be considered.
    Additional Information or Comments: Interested persons are invited 
to submit comments on this proposal to Jane Ho, 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, 2014.
    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 provides analytical testing services that 
facilitate marketing and allow products to obtain grade designations or 
meet marketing or quality standards. Pursuant to this authority, AMS 
develops and maintains laboratory approval programs as needed by the 
agricultural industry, to support domestic and international marketing 
of U.S. products. The laboratory approval programs will remain 
voluntary and fee for service.
    To ensure that a laboratory is capable of accurately performing the 
specified analyses, it must adhere to certain good laboratory practices 
and show technical proficiency in the required areas. Checklists and 
forms have been developed that ask the laboratory for information 
concerning procedures, the physical facility, employees, and their 
training. The laboratory must also provide Standard Operating 
Procedures (SOPs) for the analyses and quality assurance. Most of the 
laboratory programs will include an on-site laboratory review. AMS will 
not approve a laboratory unless there is assurance that the laboratory 
is capable of performing accurate analyses.
    The information collection requirements in this request are 
essential to examine laboratories for entrance into the following 
programs:
    (1) Analyst and Laboratory Certification Program for the Detection 
of Trichinae in Pork (An export program requested by Food Safety and 
Inspection Service).
    (2) Laboratory approval program for Poultry and Pork Exported from 
the United States to Russia (An export program requested by Food Safety 
and Inspection Service).
    This program contains the possibility of performing 12 different 
analyses in support of the exportation of poultry and pork to Russia. 
Laboratories choose how many and which analyses for which they wish to 
be approved. Each of microbiological/chemical analyses has its own 
methodology and time necessary to perform the analyses.
    (3) Beta Agonists Program (An export program requested by Food 
Safety and Inspection Service). This is a new program, which has been 
added to the laboratory approval programs, since the last submission.
    This program permits qualified laboratories to analyze meat and 
meat products to confirm that Beta Agonists drug residues are not 
present in product samples.
    (4) Aflatoxin in Pistachios Program (A High Performance Liquid 
Chromatography (HPLC) method for exporting pistachios to European Union 
(developed for the California Pistachio Committee) and the domestic 
program using HPLC or a test kit analysis method (7 CFR part 983); 
Aflatoxin in Peanuts Program (7 CFR part 996); and Aflatoxin in Almonds 
Program (developed for the Almond Board of California).
    These programs are single analyte, single substrate programs, but 
the domestic pistachio, peanut, and almond programs have the option of 
using two different methods. The export pistachio program and export 
almond program must use the specified method.
    (5) Any additional programs which may be requested in the future to 
facilitate the marketing of U.S. agricultural products.
    All laboratory approval programs will follow the same general 
pattern. There would be a letter of intent, a form for identification 
of the analyses they intend to perform, an on-site laboratory review, 
analysis of known samples, and analysis of proficiency samples. The 
length of time required would depend on the complexity of the analysis, 
and the time necessary to perform the analysis.
    The burden hours incurred for these laboratories to submit the 
initial letter requesting entrance, completion of a general laboratory 
checklist, and correctly analyzing the test samples is a one-time 
occurrence. Once a laboratory is accepted, the burden will decrease and 
is then based on the various laboratories analyzing test samples 
throughout the year to maintain its program status.
    Form ST-212 (Alternate Payment Form) is an option for applicant/
approved laboratories to pay for the services. Interested parties can 
obtain a copy of the form (ST-212) by calling or writing to the point 
of contact listed above. The information collection requirements in 
this request are essential to examine laboratories for entrance into 
the programs.

[[Page 15560]]

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 9.25 hours per response.
    Respondents: Laboratories.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 85.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 680.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 8.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6289.68.
    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 the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (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 Jane Ho, 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 7, 2014.
Anne Alonzo,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-06085 Filed 3-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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