[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 50, Volume 7]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 50CFR270.15]

[Page 693-694]
 
                    TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
 
  CHAPTER II--NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 
           ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 
PART 270_SPECIES-SPECIFIC SEAFOOD MARKETING COUNCILS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 270.15  Quality standards.

    (a) Each Council may develop and submit to NMFS for approval or, 
upon the request of a Council, NMFS will develop quality standards for 
the species of fish or fish products described in the approved charter. 
Any quality standard developed under this paragraph must be consistent 
with the purposes of the Act.
    (b) A quality standard developed under paragraph (a) of this section 
may be adopted by a Council by a majority of its members following a 
referendum conducted by the Council among sector participants of the 
concerned sector(s). In order for a quality standard to be brought 
before Council members for adoption, the majority of the sector 
participants of the concerned sector(s) must vote in favor of the 
standard. Further, according to the best available data, the majority 
must collectively account for, in the 12-month period immediately 
preceding the month in which the referendum is held, not less than 66 
percent of the value of the fish or fish products described in the 
charter that were handled during such period in that sector by those who 
meet the eligibility requirements to vote in the referendum as defined 
by the petitioners.
    (c) The Council must submit a plan to conduct the referendum on the 
quality standards to NMFS for approval at least 60 days in advance of 
such referendum date. The plan must consist of the following:
    (1) Date(s) for conducting the referendum;
    (2) Method (by mail or in person);
    (3) Copy of the proposed notification to sector participants 
informing them of the referendum;
    (4) List of sector participants eligible to vote;
    (5) Name of individuals responsible for conducting the referendum;
    (6) Copy of proposed ballot package to be used in the referendum; 
and
    (7) Date(s) and location of ballot counting.
    (d) An official observer appointed by NMFS will be allowed to be 
present at the ballot counting and any other phase of the referendum 
process, and may take whatever steps NMFS deems appropriate to verify 
the validity of the process and results of the referendum.
    (e) Quality standards developed under this section of the 
regulations must, at a minimum, meet Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
minimum requirements for fish and fish products for human consumption.
    (f) Quality standards must be consistent with applicable standards 
of the U.S. Department of Commerce (National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration) or other recognized Federal standards and/or 
specifications for fish and fish products.
    (g) No quality standard adopted by a Council may be used in the 
advertising or promotion of fish or fish products as being inspected by 
the United States Government unless the standard requires sector 
participants to be in the U.S. Department of Commerce voluntary seafood 
inspection program.
    (h) The intent of quality standards must not be to discriminate 
against importers who are not members of the Council.
    (i) Quality standards must not be developed for the purpose of 
creating non-tariff barriers. Such standards must be compatible with 
U.S. obligations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, or 
under other international standards deemed acceptable by NMFS.
    (j) The procedures applicable to the adoption and the operation of 
quality standards developed under this subchapter also apply to 
subsequent amendments or the termination of such standards.
    (k) With respect to a quality standard adopted under this section, 
the Council must develop and file with NMFS an official identifier in 
the form of a symbol, stamp, label or seal that will be used to indicate 
that a fish or fish product meets the quality standard at the time the 
official identifier is

[[Page 694]]

affixed to the fish or fish product, or is affixed to or printed on the 
packaging material of the fish or fish product. The use of such 
identifier is governed by Sec. 270.15.