[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 48 (Friday, March 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5643]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 11, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Parts 944, 980 and 999

[Docket Nos. FV93-944-3IFR, FV93-980-1IFR and FV93-999-1IFR]

 

Exemptions From Import Regulations for Specified Commodities; 
Reopening of Comment Period on Interim Final Rules

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This rule reopens the periods for filing written comments on 
two interim final rules. The rules established exemptions from import 
requirements for various fruit, vegetable and specialty crop 
commodities. The rules added exemptions from grade, size, quality and 
maturity requirements for the commodities imported for use in certain 
specified outlets such as processing, livestock feed and donation to 
charity. The rules also implemented safeguard provisions to assure that 
such imports are utilized in a specified exempt outlet. The interim 
final rules were published in the Federal Register on December 30, 
1993. A correction to the interim final rule on fruit exemptions was 
published on January 31, 1994.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 11, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning the interim final rules. Comments must be sent in triplicate 
to the Docket Clerk, Marketing Order Administration Branch, F&V, AMS, 
USDA, room 2523-S, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456, FAX 
Number (202) 720-5698. Comments should reference the docket numbers, 
the date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will 
be made available for public inspection in the Office of the Docket 
Clerk during regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tom Tichenor, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and 
Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, room 2536-S, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, 
DC 20090-6456; telephone: (202) 720-1509, or FAX (202) 720-6862.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The interim final rules were implemented in 
accordance with Annex 703.2(23) of the North American Free Trade 
Agreement. The provision states that when a domestic agricultural 
commodity has to meet quality requirements, and processed forms of the 
commodity are exempt from those requirements, the same treatment is to 
be provided to imports of the commodity destined for processing as 
provided for the domestic commodity destined for processing.
    The interim final rules also were issued under section 8e of the 
Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-
674) (Act). Section 8e provides that whenever certain specified 
commodities are regulated under a Federal marketing order, imports of 
those commodities must meet the same or comparable grade, size, 
quality, and maturity requirements as those in effect for the 
domestically produced commodities. The domestic marketing agreements 
and orders are authorized by the Act.
    The interim final rules were issued on December 23, 1993, and 
published in the December 30, 1993, issue of the Federal Register (58 
FR 69182 for fruit crops and 58 FR 69186 for vegetable and specialty 
crops). One interim final rule amended the following fruit crop import 
requirements: Sec. 944.28 for avocados, Sec. 944.106 for grapefruit, 
Sec. 944.209 for limes, Sec. 944.312 for oranges, Sec. 944.401 for 
olives, Sec. 944.503 for table grapes, Sec. 944.550 for kiwifruit, and 
Sec. 944.605 for Tokay grapes, and added Sec. 944.350 safeguard 
procedures for exempt imports of these fruit commodities. The second 
interim final rule amended the following vegetable crop import 
requirements: Sec. 980.1 for Irish potatoes, Sec. 980.117 for onions, 
Sec. 980.212 for tomatoes, and added Sec. 980.501 safeguard procedures 
for exempt imports of those vegetable crops. The second rule also 
amended the following specialty crop import requirements: Sec. 999.1 
for dates, Sec. 999.100 for walnuts, and added Sec. 999.500 safeguard 
procedures for exempt imports of those specialty crops. A correction to 
the fruit crop exemption rule was published on January 31, 1994 (59 FR 
4245).
    The import requirements for these commodities were amended to 
provide exemptions from grade, size, quality, and maturity requirements 
that are the same as, or similar to, the exemptions provided to 
handlers of the domestic commodities under the respective marketing 
orders.
    Because of the impact the rules have on affected persons and 
entities, the Department has determined that it is in the public 
interest to reopen the comment periods for the two interim final rules. 
Accordingly, the comment periods are reopened to April 11, 1994.

List of Subjects

7 CFR Part 944

    Avocados, Food grades and standards, Grapefruit, Grapes, Imports, 
Kiwifruit, Limes, Olives, Oranges.

7 CFR Part 980

    Import regulations, Onions, Potatoes, Tomatoes.

7 CFR Part 999

    Import regulations, Dates, Filberts, Prunes, Raisins, Walnuts.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.

    Dated: March 7, 1994.
Martha B. Ransom,
Acting Deputy Director Fruit and Vegetable Division.
[FR Doc. 94-5643 Filed 3-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P