[Federal Register: July 12, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 132)] [Notices] [Page 37494-37495] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr12jy99-25] ======================================================================== Notices Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. ======================================================================== [[Page 37494]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Economic Research Service Notice of Intent To Seek Approval to Collect Information AGENCY: Economic Research Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations 5 CFR Part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the Economic Research Service's (ERS) intention to request approval for a survey of cattle, hog, chicken, and turkey slaughter and processing plants. The survey would contain questions on the costs of implementing and maintaining a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system and the usage of pathogen-reducing technologies and methods. These data will be used to examine the costs of HACCP regulation, to link the use of pathogen-reducing technologies and methods to plant pathogen data provided by the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), to assess the extent of the adoption of pathogen-reducing technologies and methods, to develop indexes of pathogen-reducing technologies and methods that could be used to learn how technology and methods adoption progresses over time and how changes in technology levels affects plant-level pathogens, and to examine characteristics of plants that adopt particular classes of pathogen-reducing technologies and methods. DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 10, 1999 to be assured of consideration. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Michael Ollinger, Economist, Diet, Safety, Health Economics Branch, Food and Rural Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1800 M Street NW Room N-3064, Washington, DC 20036-5831, 202-694-5454. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Pathogen Reduction and Innovation Under HACCP Regulation in Cattle, Hog, Chicken, and Turkey Slaughter and Processing Plants. Type of Request: Approval to collect data on the cost to industry of HACCP regulation and the use of pathogen-reducing technologies and methods. Abstract: ERS is responsible for economic research on the economics of pathogen control regulation and HACCP regulation in the meat and poultry industries. Recent estimates suggest that microbial pathogens cause 6.5-33 million cases of human illness and up to 9,000 deaths each year. These findings have made food safety a major White House policy priority and have led FSIS to implement HACCP regulation. FSIS estimates that this regulation will reduce foodborne illness by 90% and cost industry $1 billion over 20 years. However, some economists, policy-makers, and firms assert that producer costs will be much higher and disproportionately affect small firms. Moreover, they argue that the lost revenues and profits due to product recalls, reputation losses, and reduced product shelf-life give industry strong incentives to reduce pathogens and that industry's approach to pathogen-reduction is less costly than government regulation. Answers to questions of regulatory costs and incentives to use pathogen-reducing technologies and methods requires data. However, these data do not exist and there is no plan to obtain them. The objective of this proposal is to generate survey data that will illustrate both the costs of HACCP regulation and industry usage of pathogen-reducing technologies and methods. The data and subsequent analyses will be useful for policy-makers in making regulatory decisions and provide general information to the public about industry efforts to reduce pathogens. The data would be used by economists to assess the costs of HACCP regulation, to link the use of pathogen-reducing technologies and methods to plant pathogen data provided by the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), to assess the extent of the adoption of pathogen- reducing technologies and methods, to develop indexes of pathogen- reducing technologies and methods that could be used to learn how technology and methods adoption progresses over time and how changes in technology levels affects plant-level pathogens, and to examine characteristics of plants that adopt particular classes of pathogen- reducing technologies and methods. Estimates of Burden: Public reporting burden for this data collection is estimated to average 30 minutes. Respondents: Federally registered cattle, hog, chicken, and turkey slaughter and processing manufacturing plants. Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,000. Estimated Total Burden on Respondents: 1,000 hours. Copies of Information: Copies of the information to be collected can be obtained from Michael Ollinger, Economist, Food and Rural Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1800 M Street NW, Room N-3064, Washington, DC 20036-5831, (202) 694-5454. Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 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 collection of information on those who are to respond, 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 Michael Ollinger, Economist, Food and Rural Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1800 M Street NW, Room N-3064, Washington, DC 20036-5831, (202) 694-5454. 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. [[Page 37495]] Dated: June 14, 1999. Betsy Kuhn, Director, Food and Rural Economics Division. [FR Doc. 99-17532 Filed 7-9-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-18-P