Notice2026-10315
Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Accreditation of Laboratories, Transactions, and Exemptions
Primary source
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Published
May 22, 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 a renewal of the information collection for the accreditation of laboratories; transactions with official meat and poultry establishments, egg products processing plants, and other firms; and exemptions from requirements of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act. There are no changes to the existing information collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on October 31, 2026.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 99 (Friday, May 22, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 99 (Friday, May 22, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30273-30274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10315]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food Safety and Inspection Service
[Docket No. FSIS-2026-0100]
Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection:
Accreditation of Laboratories, Transactions, and Exemptions
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 a renewal of the information collection for
the accreditation of laboratories; transactions with official meat and
poultry establishments, egg products processing plants, and other
firms; and exemptions from requirements of the Federal Meat Inspection
Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act. There are no changes to
the existing information collection. The approval for this information
collection will expire on October 31, 2026.
DATES: Submit comments on or before July 21, 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 online 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-2026-0100. 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: Accreditation of Laboratories, Transactions, and Exemptions.
OMB Number: 0583-0082.
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 renew the approved information
collection for the accreditation of laboratories; transactions with
official meat and poultry establishments, egg products processing
plants, and other firms; and exemptions from requirements of the FMIA
and the PPIA. There are no changes to the existing
[[Page 30274]]
information collection. The approval for this information collection
will expire on October 31, 2026.
FSIS requires accredited non-Federal analytical laboratories to
maintain certain records (9 CFR 439.20 & 590.580). The Agency uses this
collected information to ensure that non-Federal laboratories act in
accordance with FSIS regulations.
The FMIA (21 U.S.C. 642), the PPIA (21 U.S.C. 460(b)), and the EPIA
(21 U.S.C. 1040) require establishments, brokers, wholesalers, or
otherwise, to keep records that fully and correctly disclose all
transactions involved in their businesses related to relevant animal
carcasses and parts and egg products.
In addition, FSIS requires establishments to keep records to ensure
that meat and poultry products exempted from Agency inspection are not
commingled with inspected meat and poultry products (9 CFR 303.1(b)(3)
and 381.175).
Finally, FSIS requires retail operations determined to have
violated the requirements associated with the retail exemptions in the
FMIA and PPIA to keep purchase and sales records to ensure future
compliance (9 CFR 303.1(d)(3) and 381.10(d)(3)).
FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information
collection assessment:
Respondents: Accredited laboratories, official meat and poultry
establishments, egg products processing plants and other firms.
Estimated No. of Respondents: 26,120.
Estimated No. of Annual Responses per Respondent: 122.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 113,458 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 online 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#0c7c7e636b7e6d61226562786d67694c797f686d226b637a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7000021f1702111d5e191e04111b1530050314115e171f06">[email protected]</span></a>.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Justin Ransom,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2026-10315 Filed 5-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-DM-P
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