Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods; Extension of Comment Period, 19114-19116 [2020-07171]

Download as PDF 19114 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 66 / Monday, April 6, 2020 / Proposed Rules under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. inspection for harness damage is necessary to correct the unsafe condition. Costs of Compliance The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 210 helicopters of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates that operators may incur the following costs in order to comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per workhour. Removing a comfort clip would take about 0.5 work-hour, for an estimated cost of $43 per clip. Inspecting a harness would take about 0.25 work-hour, for an estimated cost of $21 per harness. If required, replacing a harness would take about 1 work-hour and parts would cost about $1,050 for an estimated cost of $1,135 per harness. Authority for This Rulemaking Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA’s authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the Agency’s authority. The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements. Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS Regulatory Findings The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed regulation: (1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under Executive Order 12866, (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and (3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:39 Apr 03, 2020 Jkt 250001 List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety. The Proposed Amendment Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows: PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. § 39.13 [Amended] 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD): ■ Bell Textron, Inc. (Type Certificate Previously Held by Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.): Docket No. FAA–2018– 0598; Product Identifier 2018–SW–030– AD. (a) Comments Due Date The FAA must receive comments by May 21, 2020. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to Bell Textron, Inc. (Type Certificate previously held by Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.) Model 204B, 205A, 205A–1, 205B, 212, 214B, 214B–1, 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters, certificated in any category, with a shoulder harness seat belt comfort clip (comfort clip) part numbers (P/ Ns) D7LZ–6560286–A, D7LZ–6560286–B, or 504636–401, installed. (d) Subject Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code: 2500, Cabin Equipment/Furnishings. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by a report of a comfort clip interfering with the seat belt inertia reel. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the seat belt from locking. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in injury to the occupant during an emergency landing. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Required Actions (1) Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS): (i) Remove from service each comfort clip P/Ns D7LZ–6560286–A, D7LZ–6560286–B, or 504636–401 from the shoulder harness seat belt (harness). (ii) Inspect each harness for a rip and an abrasion. If there is a rip or any abrasion, PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 before further flight, remove from service the harness. (2) After the effective date of this AD, do not install comfort clip P/Ns D7LZ–6560286– A, D7LZ–6560286–B, or 504636–401 on any helicopter. (h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (1) The Manager, DSCO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (i)(1) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-ASW-190COS@faa.gov. (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/ certificate holding district office. (i) Related Information (1) For more information about this AD, contact Kuethe Harmon, Safety Management Program Manager, DSCO Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 817–222–5198; email kuethe.harmon@faa.gov. (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Bell Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, TX 76101; telephone 817– 280–3391; fax 817–280–6466; or at https:// www.bellcustomer.com. You may review service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. Issued on March 31, 2020. Lance T. Gant, Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2020–07086 Filed 4–3–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration 21 CFR Parts 1, 11, 16, and 129 [Docket No. FDA–2019–N–3325] RIN 0910–AH31 Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods; Extension of Comment Period AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Proposed rule; extension of comment period for the proposed rule and for its information collection provisions. ACTION: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\06APP1.SGM 06APP1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 66 / Monday, April 6, 2020 / Proposed Rules extending for a second time the comment period for the proposed rule, and for the information collection related to the proposed rule, entitled ‘‘Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods’’ that appeared in the Federal Register of November 4, 2019. We are taking this action in response to a request from several food industry associations to extend open comment periods while their members focus on continuity of critical infrastructure operations due to the recent COVID–19 public health declaration. We also are taking this action to keep the comment period for the information collection provisions associated with the rule consistent with the comment period for the proposed rule. DATES: FDA is further extending the comment period on the proposed rule published November 4, 2019 (84 FR 59452), which was first extended February 28, 2020 (85 FR 11893). Submit either electronic or written comments on the proposed rule by July 6, 2020. Submit comments on information collection issues under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) by July 6, 2020 (see the ‘‘Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995’’ section of the proposed rule). ADDRESSES: You may submit comments as follows. Please note that late, untimely filed comments will not be considered. Electronic comments must be submitted on or before July 6, 2020. The https://www.regulations.gov electronic filing system will accept comments until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time at the end of July 6, 2020. Comments received by mail/hand delivery/courier (for written/paper submissions) will be considered timely if they are postmarked or the delivery service acceptance receipt is on or before that date. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS Electronic Submissions Submit electronic comments in the following way: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to https:// www.regulations.gov will be posted to the docket unchanged. Because your comment will be made public, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such as medical information, your or anyone else’s Social Security number, or confidential business information, such as a manufacturing process. Please note that if you include your name, contact VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:39 Apr 03, 2020 Jkt 250001 information, or other information that identifies you in the body of your comments, that information will be posted on https://www.regulations.gov. • If you want to submit a comment with confidential information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a written/paper submission and in the manner detailed (see ‘‘Written/Paper Submissions’’ and ‘‘Instructions’’). Written/Paper Submissions Submit written/paper submissions as follows: • Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier (for written/paper submissions): Dockets Management Staff (HFA–305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. • For written/paper comments submitted to the Dockets Management Staff, FDA will post your comment, as well as any attachments, except for information submitted, marked and identified, as confidential, if submitted as detailed in ‘‘Instructions.’’ Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket No. FDA– 2019–N–3325 for ‘‘Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods.’’ Received comments, those filed in a timely manner (see ADDRESSES), will be placed in the docket and, except for those submitted as ‘‘Confidential Submissions,’’ publicly viewable at https://www.regulations.gov or at the Dockets Management Staff between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. • Confidential Submissions—To submit a comment with confidential information that you do not wish to be made publicly available, submit your comments only as a written/paper submission. You should submit two copies total. One copy will include the information you claim to be confidential with a heading or cover note that states ‘‘THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.’’ The Agency will review this copy, including the claimed confidential information, in its consideration of comments. The second copy, which will have the claimed confidential information redacted/blacked out, will be available for public viewing and posted on https://www.regulations.gov. Submit both copies to the Dockets Management Staff. If you do not wish your name and contact information to be made publicly available, you can provide this information on the cover sheet and not in the body of your comments and you must identify this information as ‘‘confidential.’’ Any information marked as ‘‘confidential’’ will not be disclosed except in accordance with 21 CFR 10.20 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 19115 and other applicable disclosure law. For more information about FDA’s posting of comments to public dockets, see 80 FR 56469, September 18, 2015, or access the information at: https:// www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-201509-18/pdf/2015-23389.pdf. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or the electronic and written/paper comments received, go to https:// www.regulations.gov and insert the docket number, found in brackets in the heading of this document, into the ‘‘Search’’ box and follow the prompts and/or go to the Dockets Management Staff, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy McGrath, Food and Feed Laboratory Operations, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Food and Drug Administration, 12420 Parklawn Dr., Rm. 3142, Rockville, MD 20857, 301– 796–6591, email: timothy.mcgrath@ fda.hhs.gov. With regard to the information collection: Domini Bean, Office of Operations, Food and Drug Administration, Three White Flint North, 10A–12M, 11601 Landsdown St., North Bethesda, MD 20852, 301–796– 5733, email: PRAStaff@fda.hhs.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background In the Federal Register of November 4, 2019 (84 FR 59452), we published a proposed rule entitled ‘‘Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods’’ with a 120-day comment period on the provisions of the proposed rule and on the information collection provisions that are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501–3521). In the Federal Register of February 28, 2020 (85 FR 11893), we published an extension of the comment period for the proposed rule, and for the information collection related to the proposed rule, until April 6, 2020. The purpose of the first extension was to allow interested persons an additional opportunity to consider the proposal. After we extended the comment period by 30 days, the outbreak of COVID–19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, caused the World Health Organization to declare a global pandemic.1 The President subsequently proclaimed that the COVID–19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a 1 See https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/ who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-themedia-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020. E:\FR\FM\06APP1.SGM 06APP1 19116 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 66 / Monday, April 6, 2020 / Proposed Rules national emergency.2 Soon thereafter the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance identifying, for the COVID–19 pandemic, which infrastructure sectors are critical to maintain necessary services and functions; one is the food and agriculture sector.3 FDA has received a request for a 120day extension of all open comment periods for food-related proposed regulations, draft guidance documents, and Federal Register notices to allow the food industry to focus its efforts on COVID–19 response efforts and assuring that food production continues without pause (Ref. 1). FDA has considered the request in light of the role of the Food and Agriculture Sector in maintaining critical infrastructure and recognizing that the comment period currently is scheduled to close during the acute response to COVID–19. We have concluded that it is reasonable to extend for approximately 90 days the comment period for the Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods proposed rule. The Agency believes that this extension, together with the original 30-day extension, allows adequate time for any interested persons to consider the proposal fully and submit comments. We also are extending the comment period for the information collection provisions to make the comment period for the information collection provisions the same as the comment period for the provisions of the proposed rule. To clarify, FDA is requesting comment on all issues raised by the proposed rule. II. Reference The following reference is on display at the Dockets Management Staff (see ADDRESSES) and is available for viewing by interested persons between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday; it is also available electronically at https:// www.regulations.gov. 1. Letter from Food & Beverage Issue Alliance to Frank Yiannas, Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response, and Susan T. Mayne, Director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, March 23, 2020. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS Dated: April 1, 2020. Lowell J. Schiller, Principal Associate Commissioner for Policy. [FR Doc. 2020–07171 Filed 4–3–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4164–01–P 2 See https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidentialactions/proclamation-declaring-nationalemergency-concerning-novel-coronavirus-diseasecovid-19-outbreak/. 3 See https://www.cisa.gov/identifying-criticalinfrastructure-during-covid-19. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:39 Apr 03, 2020 Jkt 250001 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 52 [EPA–R01–OAR–2020–0150; FRL–10007– 41–Region 1] Air Plan Approval; New Hampshire; Negative Declaration for the Oil and Gas Industry Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed rule. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of New Hampshire. The revision provides the state’s determination, via a negative declaration, that there are no facilities within its borders subject to EPA’s 2016 Control Technique Guideline (CTG) for the oil and gas industry. The intended effect of this action is to propose approval of these items into the New Hampshire SIP. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before May 6, 2020. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R01– OAR–2020–0150 at https:// www.regulations.gov, or via email to mcconnell.robert@epa.gov. For comments submitted at Regulations.gov, follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. For either manner of submission, the EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, please contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. For the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/ commenting-epa-dockets. Publicly available docket materials are available SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 at https://www.regulations.gov or at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Region 1 Regional Office, Air and Radiation Division, 5 Post Office Square—Suite 100, Boston, MA. EPA requests that if at all possible, you contact the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to schedule your inspection. The Regional Office’s official hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding legal holidays. Bob McConnell, Environmental Engineer, Air and Radiation Division (Mail Code 05–2), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts 02109–3912; (617) 918–1046. mcconnell.robert@epa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State’s SIP submittal as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to this action rule, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time. Please note that if EPA receives adverse comment on an amendment, paragraph, or section of this rule and if that provision may be severed from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt as final those provisions of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse comment. For additional information, see the direct final rule which is located in the Rules Section of this Federal Register. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: March 27, 2020. Dennis Deziel, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 1. [FR Doc. 2020–06810 Filed 4–3–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P E:\FR\FM\06APP1.SGM 06APP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 66 (Monday, April 6, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19114-19116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07171]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

21 CFR Parts 1, 11, 16, and 129

[Docket No. FDA-2019-N-3325]
RIN 0910-AH31


Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods; Extension of 
Comment Period

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period for the proposed 
rule and for its information collection provisions.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is

[[Page 19115]]

extending for a second time the comment period for the proposed rule, 
and for the information collection related to the proposed rule, 
entitled ``Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods'' that 
appeared in the Federal Register of November 4, 2019. We are taking 
this action in response to a request from several food industry 
associations to extend open comment periods while their members focus 
on continuity of critical infrastructure operations due to the recent 
COVID-19 public health declaration. We also are taking this action to 
keep the comment period for the information collection provisions 
associated with the rule consistent with the comment period for the 
proposed rule.

DATES: FDA is further extending the comment period on the proposed rule 
published November 4, 2019 (84 FR 59452), which was first extended 
February 28, 2020 (85 FR 11893). Submit either electronic or written 
comments on the proposed rule by July 6, 2020. Submit comments on 
information collection issues under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA) by July 6, 2020 (see the ``Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995'' 
section of the proposed rule).

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments as follows. Please note that late, 
untimely filed comments will not be considered. Electronic comments 
must be submitted on or before July 6, 2020. The https://www.regulations.gov electronic filing system will accept comments until 
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time at the end of July 6, 2020. Comments received 
by mail/hand delivery/courier (for written/paper submissions) will be 
considered timely if they are postmarked or the delivery service 
acceptance receipt is on or before that date.

Electronic Submissions

    Submit electronic comments in the following way:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Comments submitted 
electronically, including attachments, to https://www.regulations.gov 
will be posted to the docket unchanged. Because your comment will be 
made public, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your comment 
does not include any confidential information that you or a third party 
may not wish to be posted, such as medical information, your or anyone 
else's Social Security number, or confidential business information, 
such as a manufacturing process. Please note that if you include your 
name, contact information, or other information that identifies you in 
the body of your comments, that information will be posted on https://www.regulations.gov.
     If you want to submit a comment with confidential 
information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, 
submit the comment as a written/paper submission and in the manner 
detailed (see ``Written/Paper Submissions'' and ``Instructions'').

Written/Paper Submissions

    Submit written/paper submissions as follows:
     Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier (for written/paper 
submissions): Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug 
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
     For written/paper comments submitted to the Dockets 
Management Staff, FDA will post your comment, as well as any 
attachments, except for information submitted, marked and identified, 
as confidential, if submitted as detailed in ``Instructions.''
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket No. 
FDA-2019-N-3325 for ``Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods.'' 
Received comments, those filed in a timely manner (see ADDRESSES), will 
be placed in the docket and, except for those submitted as 
``Confidential Submissions,'' publicly viewable at https://www.regulations.gov or at the Dockets Management Staff between 9 a.m. 
and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
     Confidential Submissions--To submit a comment with 
confidential information that you do not wish to be made publicly 
available, submit your comments only as a written/paper submission. You 
should submit two copies total. One copy will include the information 
you claim to be confidential with a heading or cover note that states 
``THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.'' The Agency will 
review this copy, including the claimed confidential information, in 
its consideration of comments. The second copy, which will have the 
claimed confidential information redacted/blacked out, will be 
available for public viewing and posted on https://www.regulations.gov. 
Submit both copies to the Dockets Management Staff. If you do not wish 
your name and contact information to be made publicly available, you 
can provide this information on the cover sheet and not in the body of 
your comments and you must identify this information as 
``confidential.'' Any information marked as ``confidential'' will not 
be disclosed except in accordance with 21 CFR 10.20 and other 
applicable disclosure law. For more information about FDA's posting of 
comments to public dockets, see 80 FR 56469, September 18, 2015, or 
access the information at: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-09-18/pdf/2015-23389.pdf.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
the electronic and written/paper comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov and insert the docket number, found in brackets in 
the heading of this document, into the ``Search'' box and follow the 
prompts and/or go to the Dockets Management Staff, 5630 Fishers Lane, 
Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy McGrath, Food and Feed 
Laboratory Operations, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Food and Drug 
Administration, 12420 Parklawn Dr., Rm. 3142, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-
796-6591, email: [email protected].
    With regard to the information collection: Domini Bean, Office of 
Operations, Food and Drug Administration, Three White Flint North, 10A-
12M, 11601 Landsdown St., North Bethesda, MD 20852, 301-796-5733, 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    In the Federal Register of November 4, 2019 (84 FR 59452), we 
published a proposed rule entitled ``Laboratory Accreditation for 
Analyses of Foods'' with a 120-day comment period on the provisions of 
the proposed rule and on the information collection provisions that are 
subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget under the PRA 
(44 U.S.C. 3501-3521). In the Federal Register of February 28, 2020 (85 
FR 11893), we published an extension of the comment period for the 
proposed rule, and for the information collection related to the 
proposed rule, until April 6, 2020. The purpose of the first extension 
was to allow interested persons an additional opportunity to consider 
the proposal.
    After we extended the comment period by 30 days, the outbreak of 
COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, caused the World 
Health Organization to declare a global pandemic.\1\ The President 
subsequently proclaimed that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States 
constitutes a

[[Page 19116]]

national emergency.\2\ Soon thereafter the U.S. Department of Homeland 
Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued 
guidance identifying, for the COVID-19 pandemic, which infrastructure 
sectors are critical to maintain necessary services and functions; one 
is the food and agriculture sector.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020.
    \2\ See https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-declaring-national-emergency-concerning-novel-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-outbreak/.
    \3\ See https://www.cisa.gov/identifying-critical-infrastructure-during-covid-19.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FDA has received a request for a 120-day extension of all open 
comment periods for food-related proposed regulations, draft guidance 
documents, and Federal Register notices to allow the food industry to 
focus its efforts on COVID-19 response efforts and assuring that food 
production continues without pause (Ref. 1). FDA has considered the 
request in light of the role of the Food and Agriculture Sector in 
maintaining critical infrastructure and recognizing that the comment 
period currently is scheduled to close during the acute response to 
COVID-19. We have concluded that it is reasonable to extend for 
approximately 90 days the comment period for the Laboratory 
Accreditation for Analyses of Foods proposed rule. The Agency believes 
that this extension, together with the original 30-day extension, 
allows adequate time for any interested persons to consider the 
proposal fully and submit comments. We also are extending the comment 
period for the information collection provisions to make the comment 
period for the information collection provisions the same as the 
comment period for the provisions of the proposed rule. To clarify, FDA 
is requesting comment on all issues raised by the proposed rule.

II. Reference

    The following reference is on display at the Dockets Management 
Staff (see ADDRESSES) and is available for viewing by interested 
persons between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday; it is also 
available electronically at https://www.regulations.gov.

    1. Letter from Food & Beverage Issue Alliance to Frank Yiannas, 
Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response, and Susan T. 
Mayne, Director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 
March 23, 2020.

    Dated: April 1, 2020.
Lowell J. Schiller,
Principal Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020-07171 Filed 4-3-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4164-01-P

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