[Federal Register: March 11, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 47)]
[Notices]
[Page 12173-12174]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11mr05-34]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket Number FV-04-304]
United States Standards for Grades of Mangos
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on the proposed voluntary
U.S. Standards for Grades of Mangos. Members of the Fruit and Vegetable
Industry Advisory Committee, the Fresh Produce Association of the
Americas and other members of the mango industry have requested this
action to be taken. The proposed standards would provide industry with
a common language and uniform basis for trading, thus promoting orderly
and efficient marketing of mangos.
DATES: Comments must be received by May 10, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
the Standardization Section, Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable
Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 1661, South Building,
Stop 0240, Washington, DC 20250-0240, fax (202) 720-8871, e-mail
FPB.DocketClerk@usda.gov. Comments should make reference to the dates
and page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made
available for public inspection in the above office during regular
business hours and on the Internet.
The draft of the United States Standards for Grades of Mangos is
available by accessing AMS's home page on the Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David L. Priester, at the above
address or call (202) 720-2185, e-mail David.Priester@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), as amended, directs and authorizes
the Secretary of Agriculture ``to develop and improve standards of
quality, condition, quantity, grade and packaging and recommend and
demonstrate such standards in order to encourage uniformity and
consistency in commercial practices * * *.'' AMS is committed to
carrying out this authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing
of agricultural commodities and makes copies of official standards
available upon request. The United States Standards for Grades of
Fruits and Vegetables not connected with Federal Marketing Orders or
U.S. Import Requirements, no longer appear in the Code of Federal
Regulations, but are maintained by the USDA/AMS/Fruit and Vegetable
Programs.
AMS is proposing to establish voluntary U.S. Standards for Grades
of Mangos using the procedures that appear in part 36 title 7 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).
Background
On December 16, 2003, AMS published a notice in the Federal
Register (68 FR 69984) soliciting comments for the possible development
of U.S. Standards for Grades of Mangos. AMS received seven comments,
one from a foreign government agency, two from trade organizations,
three from importers, and one from growers and exporters. All of these
comments supported the creation of U.S. standards.
Based on those comments, AMS has developed proposed grade standards
for mangos. These standards contain sections pertaining to grades,
sizes,
[[Page 12174]]
tolerances, application of tolerances, definitions, and a table of
defects. This proposal would establish the following grades as well as
a tolerance for each grade: U.S. Fancy, U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2. In
addition, a proposed ``Application of Tolerances'' section and ``Size
Requirements'' section with a table listing size designations would
also be established. AMS is proposing to define ``Injury,'' ``Damage,''
``Serious damage,'' along with specific basic requirements and other
defects. Also proposed is a ``Classification of Defects'' section, in a
table format, which would list some of the various defects affecting
mangos and proposed scoring guides for the particular grade involved.
AMS is soliciting comments on the proposed U.S. Standards for Grades of
Mangos and the probable impact on growers, processors, and
distributors.
According to AMS' Market News Branch Summaries referenced in the
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Shipments Report, from 1993 through 2003
mango importation continued to steadily increase in the U.S. Recently,
the mango industry stressed the need for U.S. standards which would
provide a uniform basis for trading mangos that are imported, exported,
or marketed domestically.
The adoption of these proposed standards would provide the rapidly
growing mango industry with U.S. grade standards similar to those
extensively in use by the fresh produce industry to assist in orderly
marketing of other commodities.
The official grade of a lot of mangos covered by these standards
will be determined by the procedures set forth in the Regulations
Governing Inspection, Certification, and Standards of Fresh Fruits,
Vegetables and Other Products (Sec. 51.1 to 51.61).
This notice provides for a 60 day comment period for interested
parties to comment on the proposed U.S. Standards for Grades of Mangos.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: March 7, 2005.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-4811 Filed 3-10-05; 8:45 am]
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