[Federal Register: June 20, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 118)]
[Notices]               
[Page 33967-33968]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20jn07-43]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket AMS-FV-2006-0201; FV-06-314]

 
United States Standards for Grades of Parsley

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) is revising the voluntary United States Standards 
for Grades of Parsley. Specifically, AMS is revising the standards to 
allow percentages to be determined by count rather than weight. AMS is 
also eliminating the unclassified category. The revisions would bring 
the standards for parsley in line with current marketing practices, 
thereby improving the usefulness in serving the industry.

DATES: Effective Date: July 20, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vincent J. Fusaro, Standardization 
Section, Fresh Products Branch; (202) 720-2185. The United States 
Standards for Grades of Parsley are available either through the 
address cited above or by accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web 
site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/stanfrfv.htm.


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. AMS makes copies of official standards 
available upon request. The United States Standards for Grades of 
Fruits

[[Page 33968]]

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 revising the voluntary United States Standards for 
Grades of Parsley using procedures that appear in Part 36, Title 7 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36). These standards were 
last published on July 30, 1930.

Background

    Prior to undertaking research and other work associated with 
revision of the grade standards, AMS published a notice in the Federal 
Register (71 FR 41755) on July 24, 2006, soliciting comments on the 
possible revisions to the United States Standards for Grades of 
Parsley. A subsequent notice was published in the Federal Register (71 
FR 77366-77367) on December 26, 2006, soliciting comments on allowing 
percentages to be determined by count rather than weight and 
eliminating the unclassified category. In response to this notice, AMS 
received one comment from an industry group representing receivers. The 
comment is available by accessing: http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main
 or AMS's Fresh Products Branch Web site at: 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm.

    The commenter was in favor of the proposed revision to allow the 
percentages for tolerances and defects to be determined by count rather 
than weight.
    AMS is eliminating the unclassified category from all standards as 
they are revised. This category is not a grade and only serves to show 
that no grade has been applied to the lot. It is no longer considered 
necessary.
    Based on the comment received and the information gathered, AMS is 
revising the parsley standards to allow percentages for tolerances and 
defects to be determined by count rather than weight and will remove 
the unclassified category.
    The official grade of a lot of parsley covered by these standards 
is 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).
    The revisions to the United States Standards for Grades of Parsley 
will become effective 30 days after publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

    Dated: June 14, 2007.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-11930 Filed 6-19-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-02-P