[Federal Register: December 5, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 233)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 68542]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05de07-23]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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[[Page 68542]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 51
[Docket AMS-FV-07-0010; FV-06-302]
United States Standards for Grades of Sweet Cherries
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking; withdrawal.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is withdrawing the
notice soliciting comments on its proposal to amend the voluntary
United States Standards for Grades of Sweet Cherries. After reviewing
and considering the comments received, the agency has decided not to
proceed with this action.
EFFECTIVE DATE: December 5, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vincent J. Fusaro, Standardization
Section, Fresh Products Branch, (202) 720-2185. The United States
Standards for Grades of Sweet Cherries are available by accessing the
Fresh Products Branch Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/stanfrfv.htm
.
Background
AMS identified the United States Standards for Grades of Sweet
Cherries for possible revisions. The revision would have included
adding standardized row sizes into the standard. These standardized row
sizes would establish a uniform basis for defining size in the
industry. The standards were last revised on May 7, 1971.
On March 30, 2007, AMS published a proposed rule in the Federal
Register (72 FR 15055) soliciting comments on a possible revision to
the United States Standards for Grades of Sweet Cherries. The sixty-day
comment period ended May 29, 2007.
Three comments were received. All three comments received, one from
a grower, packer, shipper, another from a separate grower, packer,
shipper, and one from an association representing independent wholesale
receivers, were in opposition to revising the United States Standards
for Grades of Sweet Cherries. The first commentor stated that the
current standard has not been a problem as it is currently written. The
second commenter stated that adding standardized row sizes would limit
the ability of farmers to market their sweet cherry crop. This
commenter also stated that the market already enforced sizing standards
that are firm but flexible, which is necessary because sweet cherries
are highly perishable and subject to fluctuations in crop size and
market conditions. The third commenter stated that there was concern
about the viability of the proposal. This commentor suggested several
different solutions, however, those solutions are not within the scope
of this proposal and therefore will not be addressed in this action.
These comments are available by accessing the http://www.regulations.gov
Web site.
After reviewing and considering the comments received, AMS has
decided not to proceed with the action. Therefore, the proposed rule
published March 30, 2007 (72 FR 15055) is withdrawn.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: November 29, 2007.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E7-23531 Filed 12-4-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P