Notice2024-08887
Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 25, 2024
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAgricultural Marketing Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection "Laboratory Approval and Testing Division."
Full Text
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 81 (Thursday, April 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31714-31715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08887]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 81 / Thursday, April 25, 2024 /
Notices
[[Page 31714]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-ST-24-0017]
Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently
Approved Information 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, this
notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention
to request approval, from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB),
for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information
collection ``Laboratory Approval and Testing Division.''
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 24, 2024 to be
assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments concerning
this notice by using the electronic process available at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/">https://www.regulations.gov/</a>. All comments should reference the document number
and the date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All
comments submitted in response to this notice will be posted without
change, including any personal information provided, at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/">https://www.regulations.gov/</a> and will be included in the record and made
available to the public.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director (Kerry Smith), Laboratory
Approval and Testing Division, Science & Technology Program,
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Room 2912-S, Washington, DC 20250-0272; Phone:
(202) 690-4089; or Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4408051704313720256a232b32"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="175b5644576264737639707861">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Agency: USDA, AMS.
Title: Laboratory Approval and Testing Division.
OMB Number: 0581-0251.
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' Laboratory Approval and Testing Division
(LATD) provides laboratory testing and approval services to facilitate
domestic and international marketing of food and agricultural
commodities. The authority for implementing LATD programs appear in
regulation 7 CFR part 91.
AMS' Laboratory Approval Service (LAS) approves, or accredits,
laboratories to perform testing services in support of domestic and
international trade. At the request of industry, other Federal
agencies, or foreign governments, AMS develops and administers
laboratory approval programs (LAPs) to verify that the analysis of food
and agricultural products meet country or customer-specified
requirements. LAS ensures the testing of products marketed is conducted
by qualified and approved laboratories. Laboratory approval program
requirements include good laboratory, quality assurance and control
practices; applicable domestic and international standards (such as
ISO/IEC 17025); established methods and accepted equipment; and on-site
audits. Laboratories voluntarily participate in LAPs and pay program
fees.
AMS' National Science Laboratories (NSL) provides chemical,
microbiological, and bio-molecular lab analytical testing services to
facilitate domestic and international marketing of food and
agricultural commodities. NSL provides testing services for AMS
commodity programs, other USDA agencies, Federal and State agencies, US
Military, research institutions, and private sector food and
agricultural industries. Applicants voluntarily submit samples for
analytical testing and pay testing fees.
The information collection outlines essential information needed
about a customer/business for collecting payment for AMS services;
evaluating laboratories for compliance to LAP requirements; and
submitting samples for laboratory testing. Only authorized
representatives of AMS have access to information provided on the
forms.
AMS needs to collect customer business information on form ST-1,
Application for Service. The information includes business legal name,
Federal Tax ID Number, mailing address, billing address, primary and
accounts payable contact, and is used to establish an account and
deliver communications for collection of service fees.
AMS needs to collect information from customers for the application
process and subsequent evaluations for continued participation for
voluntary participation in a LAP. The greatest information collection
burden is during the application process, a one-time event, which
includes request for service and documented policies, procedures, and
records as evidence of compliance to the LAP requirements. Once an
applicant is approved into the program, the information collection
burden decreases for a participant's continued participation which
includes intent to continue participation, records as evidence of
ongoing compliance in-between audits (e.g., surveillance), and
documented policies, procedures, and records for audits. Occasionally,
a participant's scope of approval is reduced, or the participant exits
the program. When this happens information about the participant's
request is collected. This information is essential to determine fees
for service and evaluate the participant's ability to meet the LAP
requirements.
AMS needs to collect information about the sample and type of
testing requested to conduct voluntary analytical laboratory testing.
This information can be submitted by the applicant using their internal
format or on form ST-2, National Science Laboratories Sample Submission
Form or ST-3, National Science Laboratories Sample Submission Form--
Hemp. Such information includes applicant contact information; sample
description; sample identifier/lot number, number of items; analyses
requested; and inclusions needed on the analytical certificate/report
of results.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 0.50 hours per response.
[[Page 31715]]
Respondents: Food and Agricultural Businesses.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 3620.00.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 4059.00.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.12.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2023.70 hours.
Comments: 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
completion of analyses related documentation; (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.
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.
Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-08887 Filed 4-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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