9-27-2010 is the DEADLINE for your INPUT

FDA SOLICITS PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSAL TO TRACK PET FOOD RELATED ILLNESSES

[Federal Register: July 27, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 143)]
[Notices]         
[Page 43990-43992]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27jy10-100]                   

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. 2010-N-0368]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Pet Event Tracking Network--State, Federal Cooperation
to Prevent Spread of Pet Food Related Diseases

AGENCY:  Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY:  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an 
opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain 
information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the 
Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information and 
to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This 
notice solicits comments on the paperwork requirements for the proposed 
Pet Event Tracking Network (PETNet) cooperative Federal and State 
initiative.

DATES:  Submit either electronic or written comments on the collection 
of information by September 27, 2010.

ADDRESSES:  Submit electronic comments on the collection of information 
to http://www.regulations.gov. click on red link......
http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#submitComment?R=0900006480b21d8c
Submit written comments on the collection of information to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-
305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, 
Rockville, MD 20852. All comments should be identified with the docket 
number found in brackets in the heading of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denver Presley, Office of Information
Management, Food and Drug Administration, 1350 Piccard Dr., PI50-400B,
Rockville, MD 20850, 301-796-3793, Denver.presley@fda.hhs.gov.


Pet Event Tracking Network--State, Federal Cooperation to Prevent
Spread of Pet Food Related Diseases--21 U.S.C. 342 and 343, Section
1002(b) of the FDA Amendments Act of 2007. Stat. 823 (2007) (OMB
Control No. 0910-NEW)

In August, 2008, FDA sponsored the ``Gateway to Food Protection''
meeting, also known as the ``50-State'' meeting. The meeting included
representatives from other Federal agencies, the States, localities,
territories, and tribal partners, and was held to address the
challenges necessary to ensure the safety of the U.S. food supply. Work
groups were formed during the meeting which met and produced
recommendations in specific topic areas. One of the workgroups, the
Outbreaks/Food-Borne and Feed-Borne Investigations Workgroup, created a
subgroup consisting of veterinarians, animal feed regulators, and
others involved with animal health issues. This subgroup developed an
ambitious proposal for an early warning system to identify, track and
report disease outbreaks in companion animals or contamination
incidents concerning pet food or animals feed, which they named PETNet.
The PETNet proposal was developed in response to the 2007 outbreak that
occurred in companion animals that was associated with the deliberate
adulteration of pet food components, such as wheat gluten, with
melamine. As envisioned by the subgroup at that time, PETNet would
include a system for reporting outbreaks and would be supported by
adequate diagnostic laboratory facilities and an established mechanism
for conducting national epidemiological investigations.
The PETNet subgroup subsequently met twice in face-to-face
meetings, in May and November, 2009, during which time the proposed
scope of PETNet was streamlined to focus the program on information
sharing, rather than epidemiology or other aspects. One of the main
concerns of FDA's State regulatory partners regarding FDA's handling of
the melamine incident was that many States provided information to FDA,
but the information reported by the States to FDA and other information
in the possession of FDA was not shared by FDA with the States. States
believed that if they had received more information about what was
going on in a timely manner, they could perhaps have taken appropriate
action to safeguard animal and the public health by using their own
regulatory authorities and resources. The agency agreed with the
States, and thus decided to focus PETNet on being a system for sharing
information between FDA, other Federal agencies, and the States about
food-borne illness outbreaks in companion animals. By the end of the
November, 2009, meeting, this revised vision of PETNet was firmly
established with many of the details about the system in place.
FDA is planning to implement an initiative called ``The Pet Event 
Tracking Network'' (PETNet) that will allow FDA and its State partners 
to quickly and effectively exchange information about outbreaks of 
illness in companion animals associated with pet food. FDA has worked 
closely with its Federal and State partners to develop the PETNet, and 
believes that it will serve an important function in protecting the 
public and animal health.
    PETNet will be a secure, internet-based network comprised of the 
FDA, other Federal agencies, and State regulatory agencies/officials 
that have authority over pet food. The Network will provide timely and 
relevant information about pet food-related incidents to FDA, the 
States, and other Federal Government agencies charged with protecting 
animal and public health. FDA intends to identify and invite State 
participants from all 50 States to participate in PETNet. Members of 
the network will be able to both receive alerts about pet food 
incidents, as well as create alerts when they are aware of a pet food 
incident within their jurisdiction. The information will be used to 
help State and Federal regulators determine how best to use 
inspectional and other resources to either prevent or quickly limit the 
adverse events caused by adulterated pet food. Many states have 
regulatory authority beyond that of the FDA and often can be in a 
position to act independently of FDA with the information they will 
receive from the Pet Event Tracking Network.
    Use of the system, including the reporting of incidents by States 
to the FDA, will be entirely voluntary. The PETNet system will be 
housed in Food Shield, a proprietary software system, and will be 
accessible only to members via password. The system will make use of a 
standardized electronic form housed on FoodShield to collect and 
distribute basic information about pet food-related incidents. The form 
contains the following data elements, almost all of which are drop down 
menu choices: The species involved, clinical signs, number of animals 
exposed, number of animals affected, animal ages, date of onset, name 
and type of pet food involved, the manufacturer and distributor of the 
pet food (if known), the State where the incident occurred, the origin 
of the information, whether there are supporting laboratory results, 
and contact information for the reporting PETNet member (i.e. name, 
telephone number). The form would be filled out and submitted by a 
PETNet member on FoodShield, at which time it will be available to 
other PETNet members. Thus, the information will be entered and 
received by PETNet members in as close to real time as possible. FDA 
has designed the form itself to contain only the essential information 
necessary to alert PETNet members about pet food-related incidents. For 
further information, such as laboratory results, PETNet members can 
contact the reporting PETNet member.

Dated: July 21, 2010.
Leslie Kux,
Acting Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2010-18303 Filed 7-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S