Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection, 31432-31433 [2020-11187]
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31432
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 101 / Tuesday, May 26, 2020 / Notices
obligate the funds as required by the
Farm Bill.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–11222 Filed 5–22–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS–ST–20–0050]
Notice of Request for Extension and
Revision of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
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
Programs.’’
SUMMARY:
Comments on this notice must be
received by July 27, 2020 to be assured
of consideration.
Additional Information or Comments:
Interested persons are invited to submit
comments concerning this notice by
using the electronic process available at
https://www.regulations.gov. Written
comments may also be submitted to
Laboratory Approval and Testing
Division, Science and Technology
Program, Agricultural Marketing
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop
0272, Washington, DC 20250–0272; or
by facsimile to (202) 720–4631. All
comments should reference the docket
number AMS–ST–20–0050, the date,
and page number of this issue of the
Federal Register. All comments will
become a matter of public record and
will be made available for public
inspection at the above address during
regular business hours and may be
viewed at https://www.regulations.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Laboratory Approval Programs.
OMB Number: 0581–0251.
Expiration Date of Approval:
September 30, 2020.
Type of Request: Extension and
revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: Under the Agricultural
Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7
DATES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:08 May 22, 2020
Jkt 250001
U.S.C. 1621–1627), 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 customerspecified requirements. LAS ensures the
testing of products marketed is
conducted by qualified and approved
laboratories. LAPs 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 the program and pay
program fees. Currently, LAS
administers four LAPs with 60
participants.
The information collection includes
customer/business information and
quality management system (QMS)
documentation essential to examine
laboratories for entrance and continual
participation in the following programs:
(1) Aflatoxin Program—this program
approves laboratories to perform
aflatoxin testing in support of domestic
and/or export trade of almonds,
peanuts, and pistachio nuts. (a)
Almond. At the request of the Almond
Board of California (ABC), AMS
administers the program for aflatoxin
testing of almonds destined for export to
the European Union (EU) through the
Pre-Export Certification program of
ABC. (b) Peanuts. AMS administers
Minimum Quality and Handling
Standards for Domestic and Imported
Peanuts Marketed in the United States
(7 CFR 996 Parts 996.1–996.75). The
regulation requires domestically
marketed peanuts for human
consumption to be analyzed for
aflatoxin by a USDA or USDA-approved
laboratory. AMS consults with the
Peanut Standards Board on program
requirements. (c) Pistachio Nuts. AMS
administers mandatory domestic and
import aflatoxin requirements for
pistachio nuts under Pistachios Grown
in California, Arizona, and New Mexico
(7 CFR part 983) and Specialty Crops,
Import Regulations (7 CFR part 999,
Section 999.600), respectively. All
domestic and import shipments of
pistachio nuts intended for human
consumption must be tested for
aflatoxin contamination. At the request
of the Administrative Committee for
Pistachios (ACP), laboratories may also
participate in the program for pistachio
nuts destined for EU through the
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Pistachio Export Aflatoxin Reporting
(PEAR) program of ACP.
(2) Export Program—this program
approves laboratories to perform testing
of meat and poultry products offered for
export certification by the Food Safety
and Inspection Service (FSIS). LAS
collaborates with FSIS, the Foreign
Agricultural Service, and the meat and
poultry industries to administer a
flexible and comprehensive program to
provide reliable analyses of pesticide
residues, environmental contaminants,
veterinary drug residues, antibiotic
residues, microorganisms, and parasites.
(3) Microbiological Testing of Poultry
Products for the Federal Purchase
Program (FPP)—this program approves
laboratories to perform microbiological
testing of frozen, cooked, diced chicken
procured for the Federal Purchase
Program and is limited to the analysis
of aerobic plate counts, coliform counts,
coagulase positive Staphylococcus
aureus, generic Escherichia coli,
Salmonella species, and Listeria
monocytogenes.
(4) Dairy Program—this program
supports the Dairy Grading Branch for
laboratories testing butter for quality
and grading standards. LAS collaborates
with the Dairy Grading Branch and the
dairy industry to administer an audit
program to provide reliable analysis for
the grading of butter.
All LAPs follow similar general
procedures for application process and
evaluations for continual participation.
Applicants (laboratories applying to be
approved or accredited by AMS) and
participants (laboratories approved or
accredited under a LAP) are responsible
for paying applicable program fees. An
applicant or participant may withdraw
or voluntarily request suspension at any
time and if deemed necessary LAS can
suspend or dismiss a participant.
The greatest information collection
burden is during the application
process. The application process can
occur when an applicant seeks approval
into a program and when a participant
seeks to expand their scope of approval.
Generally, the application process
includes, submission of an application
letter and application package,
including customer/business
information for billing and QMS
documentation; and receive an audit by
AMS. The customer/business
information collected includes business
legal name, Federal Tax ID Number,
mailing address, billing address,
management contacts and accounts
payable contact. The burden hours
incurred for an applicant to submit
application package materials for
application or expansion of scope is
typically a one-time occurrence and is
E:\FR\FM\26MYN1.SGM
26MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 101 / Tuesday, May 26, 2020 / Notices
essential for evaluating an applicant’s
ability to meet program requirements
and gain approval.
Once an applicant is approved into
the program, the information collection
burden decreases for the continual
participation process. A participant
verifies intent to continue participation
and its customer/business information
annually, and on a periodic basis
submits proficiency testing reports to
evaluate analytical proficiency, and
QMS documentation in response to
audits by AMS. The information listed
is essential to examine a participant’s
ability to continually meet program
requirements and maintain program
status.
Occasionally, a participant
withdraws, is suspended, or is
dismissed from a program. When a
participant withdraws it submits a letter
of request. When a participant requests
voluntary suspension or is suspended
by LAS it may request reinstatement of
approval and must demonstrate its
ability to meet program requirements
through the continual participation
process. On the rare occasion a
participant fails to continually meet
program requirements the participant
may be notified of its danger of being
dismissed. The dismissal process
includes an evaluation using the
continual participation process to
substantiate reason for dismissal.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 2.24 hours per
response.
Respondents: Laboratories.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
60.
Estimated Total Annual Responses:
538.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 8.97.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 1204.00.
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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:08 May 22, 2020
Jkt 250001
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.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–11187 Filed 5–22–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants, and
Children (WIC): 2020/2021 Income
Eligibility Guidelines
Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture (‘‘Department’’) announces
adjusted income eligibility guidelines to
be used by State agencies in
determining the income eligibility of
persons applying to participate in the
Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants, and
Children (WIC). These income eligibility
guidelines are to be used in conjunction
with the WIC Regulations.
DATES: Implementation date July 1,
2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara
Olson, Chief, Policy Branch,
Supplemental Food Programs Division,
FNS, USDA, 1320 Braddock Place,
Alexandria, Virginia 22314, (703) 605–
4013.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Executive Order 12866
This notice is exempt from review by
the Office of Management and Budget
under Executive Order 12866.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
This action is not a rule as defined by
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.
601–612) and thus is exempt from the
provisions of this Act.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
This notice does not contain reporting
or recordkeeping requirements subject
to approval by the Office of
Management and Budget in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507).
Executive Order 12372
This program is listed in the Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance
Programs under No. 10.557, and is
subject to the provisions of Executive
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
31433
Order 12372, which requires
intergovernmental consultation with
State and local officials (7 CFR part
3015, subpart V, 48 FR 29100, June 24,
1983, and 49 FR 22675, May 31, 1984).
Description
Section 17(d)(2)(A) of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42
U.S.C. 1786(d)(2)(A)), requires the
Secretary of Agriculture to establish
income criteria to be used with
nutritional risk criteria in determining a
person’s eligibility for participation in
the WIC Program. The law provides that
persons will be income-eligible for the
WIC Program if they are members of
families that satisfy the income standard
prescribed for reduced-price school
meals under section 9(b) of the Richard
B. Russell National School Lunch Act
(42 U.S.C. 1758(b)). Under section 9(b),
the income limit for reduced-price
school meals is 185 percent of the
Federal poverty guidelines, as adjusted.
Section 9(b) also requires that these
guidelines be revised annually to reflect
changes in the Consumer Price Index.
The annual revision for 2020 was
published by the Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) at 85 FR
3060, January 17, 2020. The guidelines
published by HHS are referred to as the
‘‘poverty guidelines.’’
Program Regulations at 7 CFR
246.7(d)(1) specify that State agencies
may prescribe income guidelines either
equaling the income guidelines
established under Section 9 of the
Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act for reduced-price school
meals, or identical to State or local
guidelines for free or reduced-price
health care. However, in conforming
WIC income guidelines to State or local
health care guidelines, the State cannot
establish WIC guidelines which exceed
the guidelines for reduced-price school
meals, or which are less than 100
percent of the Federal poverty
guidelines. Consistent with the method
used to compute income eligibility
guidelines for reduced-price meals
under the National School Lunch
Program, the poverty guidelines were
multiplied by 1.85 and the results
rounded upward to the next whole
dollar.
At this time, the Department is
publishing the maximum and minimum
WIC income eligibility guidelines by
household size for the period of July 1,
2020 through June 30, 2021. Consistent
with section 17(f)(17) of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42
U.S.C. 1786(f)(17)), a State agency may
implement the revised WIC income
eligibility guidelines concurrently with
the implementation of income eligibility
E:\FR\FM\26MYN1.SGM
26MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 101 (Tuesday, May 26, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31432-31433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11187]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-ST-20-0050]
Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently
Approved Information Collection
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Programs.''
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 27, 2020 to be
assured of consideration.
Additional Information or Comments: Interested persons are invited
to submit comments concerning this notice by using the electronic
process available at https://www.regulations.gov. Written comments may
also be submitted to Laboratory Approval and Testing Division, Science
and Technology Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0272, Washington, DC
20250-0272; or by facsimile to (202) 720-4631. All comments should
reference the docket number AMS-ST-20-0050, the date, and page number
of this issue of the Federal Register. All comments will become a
matter of public record and will be made available for public
inspection at the above address during regular business hours and may
be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Laboratory Approval Programs.
OMB Number: 0581-0251.
Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2020.
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 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. LAPs 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 the program and pay program
fees. Currently, LAS administers four LAPs with 60 participants.
The information collection includes customer/business information
and quality management system (QMS) documentation essential to examine
laboratories for entrance and continual participation in the following
programs:
(1) Aflatoxin Program--this program approves laboratories to
perform aflatoxin testing in support of domestic and/or export trade of
almonds, peanuts, and pistachio nuts. (a) Almond. At the request of the
Almond Board of California (ABC), AMS administers the program for
aflatoxin testing of almonds destined for export to the European Union
(EU) through the Pre-Export Certification program of ABC. (b) Peanuts.
AMS administers Minimum Quality and Handling Standards for Domestic and
Imported Peanuts Marketed in the United States (7 CFR 996 Parts 996.1-
996.75). The regulation requires domestically marketed peanuts for
human consumption to be analyzed for aflatoxin by a USDA or USDA-
approved laboratory. AMS consults with the Peanut Standards Board on
program requirements. (c) Pistachio Nuts. AMS administers mandatory
domestic and import aflatoxin requirements for pistachio nuts under
Pistachios Grown in California, Arizona, and New Mexico (7 CFR part
983) and Specialty Crops, Import Regulations (7 CFR part 999, Section
999.600), respectively. All domestic and import shipments of pistachio
nuts intended for human consumption must be tested for aflatoxin
contamination. At the request of the Administrative Committee for
Pistachios (ACP), laboratories may also participate in the program for
pistachio nuts destined for EU through the Pistachio Export Aflatoxin
Reporting (PEAR) program of ACP.
(2) Export Program--this program approves laboratories to perform
testing of meat and poultry products offered for export certification
by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). LAS collaborates with
FSIS, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and the meat and poultry
industries to administer a flexible and comprehensive program to
provide reliable analyses of pesticide residues, environmental
contaminants, veterinary drug residues, antibiotic residues,
microorganisms, and parasites.
(3) Microbiological Testing of Poultry Products for the Federal
Purchase Program (FPP)--this program approves laboratories to perform
microbiological testing of frozen, cooked, diced chicken procured for
the Federal Purchase Program and is limited to the analysis of aerobic
plate counts, coliform counts, coagulase positive Staphylococcus
aureus, generic Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, and Listeria
monocytogenes.
(4) Dairy Program--this program supports the Dairy Grading Branch
for laboratories testing butter for quality and grading standards. LAS
collaborates with the Dairy Grading Branch and the dairy industry to
administer an audit program to provide reliable analysis for the
grading of butter.
All LAPs follow similar general procedures for application process
and evaluations for continual participation. Applicants (laboratories
applying to be approved or accredited by AMS) and participants
(laboratories approved or accredited under a LAP) are responsible for
paying applicable program fees. An applicant or participant may
withdraw or voluntarily request suspension at any time and if deemed
necessary LAS can suspend or dismiss a participant.
The greatest information collection burden is during the
application process. The application process can occur when an
applicant seeks approval into a program and when a participant seeks to
expand their scope of approval. Generally, the application process
includes, submission of an application letter and application package,
including customer/business information for billing and QMS
documentation; and receive an audit by AMS. The customer/business
information collected includes business legal name, Federal Tax ID
Number, mailing address, billing address, management contacts and
accounts payable contact. The burden hours incurred for an applicant to
submit application package materials for application or expansion of
scope is typically a one-time occurrence and is
[[Page 31433]]
essential for evaluating an applicant's ability to meet program
requirements and gain approval.
Once an applicant is approved into the program, the information
collection burden decreases for the continual participation process. A
participant verifies intent to continue participation and its customer/
business information annually, and on a periodic basis submits
proficiency testing reports to evaluate analytical proficiency, and QMS
documentation in response to audits by AMS. The information listed is
essential to examine a participant's ability to continually meet
program requirements and maintain program status.
Occasionally, a participant withdraws, is suspended, or is
dismissed from a program. When a participant withdraws it submits a
letter of request. When a participant requests voluntary suspension or
is suspended by LAS it may request reinstatement of approval and must
demonstrate its ability to meet program requirements through the
continual participation process. On the rare occasion a participant
fails to continually meet program requirements the participant may be
notified of its danger of being dismissed. The dismissal process
includes an evaluation using the continual participation process to
substantiate reason for dismissal.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 2.24 hours per response.
Respondents: Laboratories.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 60.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 538.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 8.97.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1204.00.
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.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-11187 Filed 5-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
