Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Improving Food Safety and Defense Capacity of the State and Local Level: Review of State and Local Capacities

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 in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on a survey entitled “Improving Food Safety and Defense Capacity of the State and Local Level: Review of State and Local Capacities”. The data collection will obtain knowledge of State and local capacities including food safety defense staffing and expertise, laboratory capacities, and information systems to support food and feed safety and defense.

DATES:

Submit either electronic or written comments on the collection of information by October 2, 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, FDA is publishing notice of the proposed collection of information set forth in this document.

With respect to the following collection of information, FDA invites comments on these topics: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of FDA'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 respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques, when appropriate, and other forms of information technology.

Improving Food Safety and Defense Capacity at the State and Local Level: Review of State and Local Capacities

(OMB Control Number 0910-0726)—Extension

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) (Pub. L. 111-353) states that a review must be conducted to assess the State and local capacities to show needs for enhancement in the areas or staffing levels, laboratory capacities, and information technology systems. This mandate referenced in FSMA section 110 stating that a review of current food safety and food defense capabilities must be presented to Congress no later than 2 years after the date of enactment (enactment date January 4, 2011). This review was completed in 2013 through this information collection request.

This collection provided a baseline measurement of the nation's current food safety and food defense capabilities; FDA wants to renew this information collection to gather more data. By renewing this collection, FDA will be able to analyze the gaps and trends at the State and local levels, allowing FDA and its partners to develop ways to create a national integrated food safety system.

FDA will conduct the survey electronically, allowing FDA to conduct streamlined analysis while creating a low-burden, user-friendly environment for respondents to complete the survey. Once the results have been tabulated, FDA and its partners can assess the current progress towards an integrated food safety system.

FDA estimates the burden of this collection of information as follows: