[Federal Register: January 31, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 21)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 4967]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31ja03-34]
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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 4967]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 51
[Doc. No. FV-00-303]
Peaches, Plums, and Nectarines; Grade Standards
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Reopening and extension of the comment period.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the comment period on proposed
changes to the United States Standards for Grades of Peaches, the
United States Standards for Grades of Fresh Plums and Prunes, and the
United States Standards for Grades of Nectarines is reopened and
extended.
DATES: Comments must be received by March 7, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
the Standardization Section, Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable
Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2065 South Building, STOP
0240, Washington, DC 20250; Fax (202) 720-8871, E-mail
FPB.DocketClerk@usda.gov. Comments should make reference to the date
and page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made
available for public inspection in the above office during regular
business hours.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David L. Priester, at the above
address or call (202) 720-2185; E-mail David.Priester@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule was published in the Federal
Register, September 25, 2002, (Vol 67, No. 186, Pages 60171--60184)
requesting comments on the proposed revisions of the United States
Standards for Grades of Peaches, the United States Standards for Grades
of Fresh Plums and Prunes, and the United States Standards for Grades
of Nectarines. The proposal would delete the ``Unclassified'' section,
establish a 25-count minimum sample, revise standard pack and size
requirements to reflect current marketing and packaging practices for
all three standards, and develop en route or at destination tolerances
for grades of peaches to make the standards more uniform and consistent
with other tree fruit standards. The proposal would also make changes
to the color requirements for grades of nectarines to reflect newer
varieties being marketed, as well as current cultural and marketing
practices. Also, a definition would be provided for damage and serious
damage by discoloration, and additional definitions for damage and
serious damage by growth cracks would be provided for grades of fresh
plums and prunes. In addition, the proposed rule contains conforming
and editorial changes. The comment period ended November 25, 2002.
A comment was received from two industry associations representing
peach growers requesting additional time to review the proposed
revisions. The associations stated they were not aware changes were
being made to the standards. Therefore, they requested the comment
period be extended to allow the associations an opportunity to meet
with their members to discuss the proposal.
After reviewing the request, AMS is reopening and extending the
comment period in order to allow sufficient time for interested
persons, including the associations, to file comments.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: January 27, 2003.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-2250 Filed 1-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P