U.S. Department of Agriculture

Washington, D.C. 20250

 

 DEPARTMENTAL REGULATION

 Number:

1042-078

 SUBJECT: Committee on Processed Foods

 DATE:

October 30, 1984

 OPI:

Commodity Operations Division, ASCS

 

 

1. PURPOSE

 To assign to existing Departmental agencies the functions previously assigned to the Committee on Processed Foods as reorganized by Secretary's Memorandum No. 1945.

 

2. CANCELLATION

 his regulation replaces Secretary's Memorandum No. 1945 dated April 21, 1978.

 

3. RESPONSIBILITIES

 This regulation:

 a. Assigns to the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) the responsibility to:

(1) Receive, screen, and coordinate the review of proposals for any new food product for use in either domestic or foreign commodity donation programs.

(2) Advise the appropriate Departmental agencies of the availability of acceptable products for donation.

b. Assigns to the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) the responsibility to:

(1) Evaluate the technical, economic, and program suitability of proposed new food products forwarded by ASCS for consideration. ARS may call on Departmental personnel having appropriate expertise during the investigation of such products.

(2) Inform both ASCS and the appropriate Departmental agencies of products acceptable for foreign donation and for domestic donation. Key agency officials are the General Sales Manager, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), in the case of foreign donations, and the Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), in the case of domestic donations.

(3) Designate a person to provide technical and economic assistance on matters which may arise concerning commodity specifications but which do not require formal consideration by ARS.

c. Requires that a person be designated from each of the following agencies as resource persons to be contacted when necessary during the evaluation and approval process: ASCS, FAS, FNS, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and requires FAS to request that the Office of Food for Peace, Agency for International Development designate an appropriate person to be contacted.