Notice2026-05509
Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Procedures for the Notification of New Technology and Requests for Waivers
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Published
March 20, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentFood Safety and Inspection Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, FSIS is announcing its intention to request renewal of the approved information collection regarding the procedures for notifying the Agency about new technology and requests for waivers. There are no changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on July 31, 2026.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 54 (Friday, March 20, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13567-13568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05509]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 54 / Friday, March 20, 2026 /
Notices
[[Page 13567]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2025-0343]
Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection:
Procedures for the Notification of New Technology and Requests for
Waivers
AGENCY: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, FSIS is announcing
its intention to request renewal of the approved information collection
regarding the procedures for notifying the Agency about new technology
and requests for waivers. There are no changes to the existing
information collection. The approval for this information collection
will expire on July 31, 2026.
DATES: Submit comments on or before May 19, 2026.
ADDRESSES: FSIS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
Federal Register notice. Comments may be submitted by one of the
following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: This website provides
commenters the ability to type short comments directly into the comment
field on the web page or to attach a file for lengthier comments. Go to
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the on-line instructions at that
site for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
<bullet> Hand- or courier-delivered submittals: Deliver to 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 350-E,
Washington, DC 20250-3700.
Instructions: All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must
include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2025-0343. Comments
received in response to this docket will be made available for public
inspection and posted without change, including any personal
information, to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Docket: For access to background documents or comments received,
call (202) 286-2255 to schedule a time to visit the FSIS Docket Room at
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3700.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and
Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, South Building, Washington, DC
20250-3700; 202-720-5046.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Procedures for the Notification of New Technology and
Requests for Waivers.
OMB Number: 0583-0127.
Type of Request: Renewal of an approved information collection.
Abstract: FSIS has been delegated the authority to exercise the
functions of the Secretary (7 CFR 2.18 and 2.53), as specified in the
Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601, et seq.), the
Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (21 U.S.C. 451, et seq.), and
the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq.). These
statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat,
poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled.
FSIS is announcing its intention to request renewal of the approved
information collection regarding the procedures for notifying the
Agency about new technology and requests for waivers. There are no
changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this
information collection will expire on July 31, 2026.
FSIS has procedures for official meat, poultry, and egg products
establishments to request temporary waivers from regulatory
requirements in the event of a public health emergency or to permit
experimentation (see 9 CFR 303.1 (h), 381.3 (b), and 590.10). FSIS also
has procedures for official establishments and companies that
manufacture and sell technology to official establishments, to notify
the Agency of any new technology intended for use in official
establishments, so that the Agency has an opportunity to decide whether
the new technology requires a pre-use review. (68 FR 6873). To follow
the procedures, official establishments and firms that manufacture and
sell technology to official establishments must notify the Agency by
submitting documents describing the operation and purpose of the new
technology or, in the case of a waiver, the specific regulatory
requirement for which the waiver is requested.
The submission must explain why the new technology or waiver
request will not (1) adversely affect the safety of the product, (2)
jeopardize the safety of Federal inspection personnel, or (3) interfere
with inspection procedures. These requirements apply to both new
technology notifications and waiver requests. For waivers, the
submission must identify the regulation and provide justification for
why a waiver and alternative procedures are appropriate (9 CFR
303.1(h), 381.3(b), and 590.10). If the Agency needs data to perform a
more informed review of the new technology, an in-plant trial may be
necessary. If an in-plant trial is necessary, FSIS will request that
the firm submit a protocol that is designed to collect relevant data to
support the use of the new technology.
FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information
collection assessment:
Estimate of Burden: FSIS estimates that it will take respondents an
average of 8 hours to complete a notification of intent to use new
technology if no in-plant trial is necessary. If an in-plant trial is
necessary, FSIS estimates that it will take an average of 80 hours to
develop a protocol and an average of 80 additional hours to collect
data and keep records during the in-plant trial. FSIS estimates it will
take respondents an average of 120 hours to collect data and conduct
recordkeeping under a waiver.
Respondents: Official meat and poultry establishments and egg
product plants; firms that manufacture or sell technology to official
establishments and plants.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 75 respondents will submit
notifications of
[[Page 13568]]
intent to use new technology. 50 respondents will develop a protocol
for and conduct an in-plant trial. 50 respondents will collect data and
conduct recordkeeping for the duration of the in-plant trial. 35
respondents will collect data and conduct recordkeeping under the
waiver.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 12,800 hours. All
responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public
record. Copies of this information collection assessment can be
obtained from Gina Kouba, Office of Policy and Program Development,
Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Mailstop 3758, South Building, Washington, DC 20250-3700; 202-720-5046.
Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS' functions,
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the
accuracy of FSIS' estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of the method and assumptions used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information, including through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques, or other forms of information technology. Comments may be
sent to both FSIS, at the addresses provided above, and the Desk
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20253.
Additional Public Notification
Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy
development is important. Consequently, FSIS will announce this Federal
Register publication on-line through the FSIS web page located at:
<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register</a>.
FSIS will also announce and provide a link to this Federal Register
publication through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to
provide information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations,
Federal Register notices, FSIS public meetings, and other types of
information that could affect or would be of interest to our
constituents and stakeholders. The Constituent Update is available on
the FSIS web page. Through the web page, FSIS can provide information
to a much broader, more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an
email subscription service that provides automatic and customized
access to selected food safety news and information. This service is
available at: <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe</a>. The available
information ranges from recalls to export information, regulations,
directives, and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions
themselves and have the option to password protect their accounts.
USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights
regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and
employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA
programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status,
family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing
deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or
local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the
Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally,
program information may be made available in languages other than
English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to
File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write
a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the
information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint
form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA
by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop
9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a6d6d4c9c1d4c7cb88cfc8d2c7cdc3e6d3d5c2c788c1c9d0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fe8e8c91998c9f93d097908a9f959bbe8b8d9a9fd0999188">[email protected]</span></a>.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Justin Ransom,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2026-05509 Filed 3-19-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
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