[Federal Register: January 5, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 3)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 661]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05ja05-1]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 983
[Docket No. FV02-983-1 FR]
Pistachios Grown in California; Delay of the Effective Date for
Aflatoxin, Size and Quality Requirements
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.
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SUMMARY: This document delays the effective date from February 1, 2005,
to August 1, 2005, for aflatoxin, size and quality requirements
established under Marketing Order No. 983 (order). The order regulates
the handling of pistachios produced in California. Sections 983.38
through 983.45 of the order establish maximum aflatoxin along with
minimum size and quality requirements for California pistachios. The
Administrative Committee for Pistachios, which is responsible for
locally administering the order, recommended the delay in the effective
date. Postponing the effective date of the regulations will provide the
industry and the newly established administrative committee with
additional preparation time needed to meet the aflatoxin, size and
quality requirements of the order. Also, the postponed effective date
would correspond with the beginning of the 2005 crop year.
DATES: The effective date of Sec. Sec. 983.38 through 983.45 of 7 CFR
part 983 published at 69 FR 17844 is delayed until August 12, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Schmaedick, Marketing
Specialist, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable
Programs, AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 1035, Moab, Utah 84532; telephone: (435)
259-7988, Fax: (435) 259-4945; or Rose Aguayo, Marketing Specialist,
California Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order Administration
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 2202 Monterey Street,
suite 102B, Fresno, California 93721; telephone: (559) 487-5901, Fax:
(559) 487-5906.
Small businesses may request information on complying with this
regulation by contacting Jay Guerber, Marketing Order Administration
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; telephone: (202)
720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-8938, or e-mail: Jay.Guerber@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document delays the effective date from
February 1, 2005, to August 1, 2005, for aflatoxin, size and quality
provisions established under Marketing Order No. 983 (order). The
order, which became effective in April 2004, regulates the handling of
pistachios produced in California. Sections 983.38 through 983.45 of
the order establish maximum aflatoxin along with minimum size and
quality requirements for California pistachios, and were scheduled to
become effective on August 1, 2004.
The Administrative Committee for Pistachios (Committee) recommended
the delay in the effective date at a December 8, 2004, meeting. The
Committee voted unanimously that postponing the effective date will
provide the industry and the Committee with additional time to
establish rules, regulations, and program procedures needed to
implement the aflatoxin, size and quality requirements of the order.
Rules, regulations and program procedures are recommended by the
Committee, which is responsible for locally administering the order,
for approval by the Secretary. Postponing the effective date of the
order's regulatory provisions will allow the new Committee time to
become more established and actively participate in implementing the
order.
Also, the postponed effective date would correspond with the
beginning of the 2005 crop year. Given that the California pistachio
marketing order is a newly established regulatory program, the
Agricultural Marketing Service deems that the coordination of program
reporting and recordkeeping requirements with the beginning of the
program's fiscal and crop year as important to successful
implementation of the order.
Thus, the effective date of Sec. Sec. 983.38 through 983.45 should
be delayed until August 1, 2005. This delay will provide sufficient
time for the Committee to recommend any rules and regulations deemed
necessary.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 983
Marketing agreements, Pistachios, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.
Dated: December 29, 2004.
A. J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-182 Filed 1-4-05; 8:45 am]
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