Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Egg Products Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point and Sanitation Standard Operating[...]

Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Egg Products Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures

DATES:

Submit comments on or before October 13, 2026.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Egg Products HACCP and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures.

OMB Number: 0583-0172.

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, 2.53), as specified in the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA; 21 U.S.C. 1031, et seq. ). This statute mandates that FSIS protect the public by verifying that egg products are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled.

FSIS is requesting renewal of the approved information collection related to egg products HACCP and Sanitation SOPs requirements. There are no changes to the information collection. The approval for this information collection will expire on January 31, 2027.

FSIS requires official egg products plants to develop and maintain HACCP plans and Sanitation SOPs, as well as various associated records (9 CFR 590.149, 591.1, and 591.2; 9 CFR parts 416 and 417). Plants must ensure individuals performing HACCP plan development and reassessment functions have successfully completed HACCP training (9 CFR 417.7 and 591.1). Plants must develop written HACCP plans that include: identification of hazards reasonably likely to occur in the production process; identification and description of the critical control point (CCP) for each identified hazard; specification of the critical limit that may not be exceeded at the CCP, and if appropriate, a target limit; description of the monitoring procedure or device to be used; description of the corrective action to be taken if the limit is exceeded; description of the records that would be generated and maintained regarding this CCP; and description of the facility verification activities and the frequency at which they are to be conducted (9 CFR 417.2(c) and 591.1). The adequacy of a plant's HACCP plan must be reassessed at least annually and whenever changes occur that could affect the hazard analysis or alter the HACCP plan (9 CFR 417.4(a)(3)(i) and 591.1).

Each official egg products plant must also develop, implement, and maintain a Sanitation SOP in accordance with the requirements of 9 CFR part 416 (9 CFR 416.11, 590.149, 591.1, and 591.2). The Sanitation SOP must describe the procedures that the plant will conduct daily, before and during operations, to prevent direct contamination or adulteration of product, including, at a minimum, the cleaning of food contact surfaces of facilities, equipment, and utensils (9 CFR 416.12(a) and (c); 9 CFR 591.1). The Sanitation SOP must also specify the frequency with which each procedure in the plant's Sanitation SOP is to be conducted and identify the establishment employee responsible for the implementation and maintenance of such procedures (9 CFR 416.12(d) and 591.1). The burden of documenting adherence to the Sanitation SOP includes recording, reviewing, and maintaining records (see 9 CFR 416.16 and 591.1).

FSIS has made the following estimates based upon an information collection assessment:

Respondents: Official egg products plants.

Estimated No. of Respondents: 132.

Estimated No. of Responses: 138,596.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 76,280 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, 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: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-register .

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: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe. 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.

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