WASHINGTON, May 23, 2007— The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) today announced that it is seeking public comments on whether to amend and revise regulations for the Market Access Program (MAP).

The Market Access Program, administered by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, helps U.S. trade organizations and small businesses create, expand and maintain foreign markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and products. The program forms partnerships between non-profit U.S. agricultural trade associations, cooperatives, state regional trade groups and the Commodity Credit Corporation to share the costs of international marketing and promotional activities.

The amended and revised regulations would aim to improve the program’s effectiveness. Comments are being solicited regarding application requirements, participant eligibility, the review, allocation and compliance processes, reimbursement rules, contracting and risk management procedures, and any other aspect of the program which a commenter believes should be addressed in any future amendment of the regulation. Written comments must be received on or before Monday, Aug. 13, 2007.

The request was published in the May, 23, 2007, Federal Register and may be accessed on the Web at http://www.fas.usda.gov/info/fr/notices.asp

FAS will also conduct a public hearing on Wednesday, July 25, 2007, to receive oral and written comments. The hearing is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Jefferson Auditorium at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250.

Comments may be hand delivered, including by FedEx, DHL, UPS, to: Program Policy Staff, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1250 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20024-2162.

Comments may also be mailed to: Program Policy Staff, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., STOP 1042, Washington, DC 20250-1042.

For further information, contact Mark Slupek, Director, Program Policy Staff, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) 720-4327; fax (202) 720-9361. Information on the MAP can be obtained on the FAS Web site at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/mos/programs/map.asp

If you require an alternative means of communication such as Braille, large print, audiotape, etc., contact USDA’s Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

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PR 0054-07