[Federal Register: August 25, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 165)]
[Notices]
[Page 50383]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25au06-29]
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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.
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[[Page 50383]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket Number FV-06-316]
United States Standards for Grades of Oranges (California and
Arizona) and/or United States Standards for Grades of Grapefruit
(California and Arizona)
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), prior to undertaking
research and other work associated with revising official grade
standards, is soliciting comments on the need for possible revisions to
the United States Standards for Grades of Oranges (California and
Arizona) and/or United States Standards for Grades of Grapefruit
(California and Arizona). AMS is seeking comments regarding any
revisions to the United States Standards for Grades of Oranges
(California and Arizona) and/or United States Standards for Grades of
Grapefruit (California and Arizona) that may be necessary to better
serve the industry.
DATES: Comments must be received by October 24, 2006.
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. The United States Standards for Grades of Oranges
(California and Arizona) and/or United States Standards for Grades of
Grapefruit (California and Arizona) are available either at the above
address or by accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web site at:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/ standards/stanfrfv.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheri Emery, at the above address or
call (202) 720-2185; E-mail Cheri.Emery@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 USDA AMS Fruit and Vegetable
Programs.
AMS is considering whether to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades
of Oranges (California and Arizona) and United States Standards for
Grades of Grapefruit (California and Arizona) using the procedures that
appear in Part 36, Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR
part 36). These standards were last revised in 1999.
Background
AMS has identified the United States Standards for Grades of
Oranges (California and Arizona) and/or United States Standards for
Grades of Grapefruit (California and Arizona) for possible revisions.
AMS has identified the standards may need to be revised to reflect
current marketing trends. However, prior to undertaking detailed work
to develop proposed revisions to the standards, AMS is seeking
suggestions from the industry on possible revisions, such as: changing
the basic requirements to the grades, or changing the tolerances in
order to make them more suitable for the markets, adding additional
definitions, or revising the existing definitions particularly those
that contain scoring guides for defects. These areas for possible
revisions are only illustrative. AMS invites suggestions on all aspects
of these standards that may need to be revised.
This notice provides for a 60-day comment period for interested
parties to comment on whether any changes are necessary to the
standards. Should AMS conclude that there is a need for any revisions
of the standards, the proposed revisions will be published in the
Federal Register with a request for comments in accordance with 7 CFR
part 36.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: August 21, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-14113 Filed 8-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P