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 Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration [Docket No. FDA-2010-D-0073]
 AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
 ACTION: Notice.
 SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the Agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish notice in the 
                        **Federal Register**
                         concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment. This notice solicits comments on the information collection provisions of FDA's consultation procedures for foods derived from new plant varieties, including the information collection provisions in the guidance entitled, “Guidance on Consultation Procedures: Foods Derived From New Plant Varieties,” and in Form FDA 3665 entitled, “Final Consultation For Food Derived From a New Plant Variety (Biotechnology Final Consultation),” which developers may use to prepare the final consultation in a standard format.
 DATES: Submit either electronic or written comments on the collection of information by February 9, 2015.
 ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information to 
                        *http://www.regulations.gov.*
                         Submit written comments on the collection of information to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. All comments should be identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FDA PRA Staff, Office of Operations, Food and Drug Administration, 8455 Colesville Rd., COLE-14526, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 
                        *PRAStaff@fda.hhs.gov.*


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal Agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. “Collection of information” is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and includes Agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires Federal Agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, we are publishing notice of the proposed collection of information set forth in this document. With respect to the following collection of information, we invite comments on these topics: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of our functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of our 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 respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques, when appropriate, and other forms of information technology. Guidance on Consultation Procedures: Foods Derived From New Plant Varieties Since 1992, when FDA issued its “Statement of Policy: Foods Derived From New Plant Varieties” (the 1992 policy) (57 FR 22984, May 29, 1992), FDA has encouraged developers of new plant varieties, including those varieties that are developed through biotechnology, to consult with FDA during the plant development process to discuss possible scientific and regulatory issues that might arise. In the 1992 policy, FDA explained that, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act), developers of new foods (in this document food refers to both human food and animal feed) have a responsibility to ensure that the foods they offer to consumers are safe and are in compliance with all requirements of the FD&C Act (57 FR 22984 at 22985). FDA recommends that producers who use biotechnology in the manufacture or development of foods and food ingredients work cooperatively with FDA to ensure that products derived through biotechnology are safe and comply with all applicable legal requirements and has instituted a voluntary consultation process with industry. To facilitate this process the Agency has issued a guidance entitled, “Guidance on Consultation Procedures: Foods Derived From New Plant Varieties,” which is available on FDA's Web site at 
                    *http://www.fda.gov/​FoodGuidances.*
                     The guidance describes FDA's consultation process for the evaluation of information on new plant varieties provided by developers. The Agency believes this consultation process will help ensure that human food and animal feed safety issues or other regulatory issues (
                    *e.g.*
                     labeling) are resolved prior to commercial distribution. Additionally, such communication will help to ensure that any potential food safety issues regarding a new plant variety are resolved during development, and will help to ensure that all market entry decisions by the industry are made consistently and in full compliance with the standards of the FD&C Act. *Description of Respondents:*
                     Respondents to this collection of information include developers of new plant varieties intended for food use. FDA estimates the burden of this collection as follows: Table 1—Estimated Annual Reporting Burden 1
Activity
FDA form No.
Number of 
                             respondents
Number of 
                             responses per respondent
Total annual responses
Average 
                             burden per  
                             response
Total hoursInitial consultation
None
20
2
40
4
160Final consultation
FDA 3665
12
1
12
150
1,800Total





1,9601
                         There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of information.
 
 
 Initial Consultations Initial consultations are generally a one-time burden, although a developer might return more than once to discuss additional issues before submitting a final consultation. As noted in the guidance, FDA encourages developers to consult early in the development phase of their products, and as often as necessary. Historically, firms developing a new bioengineered plant variety intended for food use have generally initiated consultation with FDA early in the process of developing such a variety, even though there is no legal obligation for such consultation. These consultations have served to make FDA aware of foods and food ingredients before these products are distributed commercially, and have provided FDA with the information necessary to address any potential questions regarding the safety, labeling, or regulatory status of the food or food ingredient. As such, these consultations have provided assistance to both industry and the Agency in exercising their mutual responsibilities under the FD&C Act. FDA estimates that its Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and its Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) jointly received an average of 40 initial consultations per year in the last 3 years via telephone, email or written letter. Based on this information, we expect to receive no more than 40 annually in the next 3 years. Final Consultations Final consultations are a one-time burden. At some stage in the process of research and development, a developer will have accumulated the information that the developer believes is adequate to ensure that food derived from the new plant variety is safe and that it demonstrates compliance with the relevant provisions of the FD&C Act. The developer will then be in a position to conclude any ongoing consultation with FDA. The developer submits to FDA a summary of the safety and nutritional assessment that has been conducted about the bioengineered food that is intended to be introduced into commercial distribution. FDA evaluates the submission to ensure that all potential safety and regulatory questions have been addressed. FDA has developed a form that prompts a developer to include certain elements in the final consultation in a standard format: Form FDA 3665 entitled, “Final Consultation for Food Derived From a New Plant Variety (Biotechnology Final Consultation).” The form, and elements that would be prepared as attachments to the form, can be submitted in electronic format. Upon implementation of the collection, FDA contacted five firms that had made one or more biotechnology consultation submissions. We asked each of these firms for an estimate of the hourly burden to prepare a submission under the voluntary biotechnology consultation process. Based on information provided by the three firms who responded, we estimate the average time to prepare a submission for final consultation to be 150 hours. Dated: December 8, 2014. Leslie Kux, Associate Commissioner for Policy.


[FR Doc. 2014-29046 Filed 12-10-14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4164-01-P