[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 135 (Friday, July 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17245]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 15, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
7 CFR Part 989

[Docket No. FV94-989-3PR]

 

Raisins Produced From Grapes Grown in California; Removal of an 
Exemption for Raisins Produced in Southern California and Exported to 
Mexico

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would revise the administrative rules and 
regulations established under the Federal marketing order for raisins 
produced from grapes grown in California. It would remove a provision 
that currently exempts raisins produced from grapes dried on the vine 
in southern California and exported to Mexico from all marketing order 
requirements. This rule is based on a unanimous recommendation of the 
Raisin Administrative Committee (Committee), which is responsible for 
local administration of the order. Elimination of the exemption is 
intended to facilitate administration and improve enforcement efforts.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 1, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this proposed rule. 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 (202) 
720-5698. Comments should reference this docket number and the date and 
page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be available 
for public inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular 
business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard P. Van Diest, Marketing 
Specialist, California Marketing Field Office, Fruit and Vegetable 
Division, AMS, USDA, 2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102B, Fresno, 
California 93721; telephone: (209) 487-5901, or FAX (209) 487-5906; or 
Mark A. Slupek, Marketing Specialist, Marketing Order Administration 
Branch, F&V, AMS, USDA, room 2523-S, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 
20090-6456; Telephone: (202) 205-2830, or FAX (202) 720-5698.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This proposed rule is issued under Marketing 
Agreement and Order No. 989 [7 CFR part 989], both as amended, 
regulating the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in 
California. The order is effective under the Agricultural Marketing 
Agreement Act of 1937, as amended, [7 USC 601-674], hereinafter 
referred to as the ``Act.''

    The Department of Agriculture (Department) is issuing this rule in 
conformance with Executive Order 12866.

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778, Civil 
Justice Reform. It is not intended to have retroactive effect. This 
action will not preempt any State or local laws, regulations, or 
policies, unless they present an irreconcilable conflict with this 
rule.

    The Act provides that administrative proceedings must be exhausted 
before parties may file suit in court. Under section 8c(15)(A) of the 
Act, any handler subject to an order may file with the Secretary a 
petition stating that the order, any provision of the order, or any 
obligation imposed in connection with the order is not in accordance 
with law and requesting a modification of the order or to be exempted 
therefrom. A handler is afforded the opportunity for a hearing on the 
petition. After a hearing the Secretary would rule on the petition. The 
Act provides that the district court of the United States in any 
district in which the handler is an inhabitant, or has his or her 
principal place of business, has jurisdiction in equity to review the 
Secretary's ruling on the petition, provided a bill in equity is filed 
not later than 20 days after the date of entry of the ruling.

    Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (RFA), the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service 
(AMS) has considered the economic impact of this action on small 
entities.

    The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory actions to the scale of 
business subject to such actions in order that small businesses will 
not be unduly or disproportionately burdened. Marketing orders issued 
pursuant to the Act, and rules issued thereunder, are unique in that 
they are brought about through group action of essentially small 
entities acting on their own behalf. Thus, both statutes have small 
entity orientation and compatibility.

    There are approximately 20 handlers of California raisins who are 
subject to regulation under the raisin marketing order, and 
approximately 5,000 producers in the regulated area. Small agricultural 
producers have been defined by the Small Business Administration [13 
CFR 121.601] as those having annual receipts of less than $500,000, and 
small agricultural service firms are defined as those whose annual 
receipts are less than $5,000,000. A majority of producers and a 
minority of handlers of California raisins may be classified as small 
entities.

    This proposed rule would remove a provision that exempts raisins 
produced from grapes dried on the vine in southern California and 
exported to Mexico in natural condition from all marketing order 
requirements. It is based on a unanimous recommendation of the 
Committee and other available information.

    Section 989.60 of the order provides that the Committee may 
establish, with the approval of the Secretary, rules and procedures to 
exempt from regulations raisins produced in southern California (i.e., 
the counties of Riverside, Imperial, San Bernardino, Ventura, Orange, 
Los Angeles, and San Diego) and disposed of for distillation, livestock 
feed, or by export in natural condition to Mexico.

    Paragraph (b) of section 989.160 of Subpart--Administrative Rules 
and Regulations (7 CFR 989.102-989.176) currently exempts raisins 
produced from grapes dried on the vine in those southern California 
counties, which are disposed of for use in distillation, livestock 
feed, or by export in natural condition to Mexico, from all marketing 
order requirements. This proposed rule would eliminate the exemption 
that applies to those raisins exported in natural condition to Mexico.
    When that exemption provision was established in the early 1970's, 
the quantities of raisins exported to Mexico were relatively small and 
were of off grade quality. It was determined at that time that the 
export exemption would not interfere with order regulations or with 
accomplishing program objectives.
    Diminished demand in recent years for off-grade raisins and raisin 
residual material for distillation in California has made export in 
natural condition to Mexico a relatively lucrative market. The 
Committee has confirmed reports that large volumes of poor quality 
raisins, including lots as large as forty to fifty thousand pounds, 
have been exported into Mexico from southern California and other areas 
of California. This is a significant departure from the situation which 
existed when the exemption was first implemented. Raisins from areas 
which are not exempt from the provisions of the order appear to be 
passing into Mexico in violation of the regulations.
    The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has effected the 
removal of import duties and license requirements, opening the Mexican 
market to raisins which meet the quality requirements of the order. 
Hence, there is now an opportunity to build an export market in Mexico 
for high quality raisins. The Committee believes that all raisins 
eligible for export to Mexico need to be subject to the quality 
requirements of the order. The Committee also believes that the 
regulation of such raisins is essential to meeting program objectives 
and improving compliance efforts.
    On the basis of this information, the Committee, on April 16, 1994, 
unanimously recommended the removal of the exemption that applies to 
raisins produced from grapes dried on the vine in southern California 
and exported in natural condition to Mexico.
    Based on the above, the Administrator of the AMS has determined 
that this proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities.
    Interested persons are invited to submit their views and comments 
on this proposal. A 15-day comment period is considered appropriate 
because the Committee would like to stop further abuse of the current 
provisions as soon as possible to accomplish marketing order 
objectives.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 989

    Grapes, Marketing agreements, Raisins, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 989 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 989--RAISINS PRODUCED FROM GRAPES GROWN IN CALIFORNIA

    1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 989 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    2. Section 989.160 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 989.160   Exemptions.

    (a) * * *
    (b) Disposition of raisins produced in Southern California. Raisins 
produced from grapes dried on the vine in the counties of Riverside, 
Imperial, San Bernardino, Ventura, Orange, Los Angeles, and San Diego, 
which are disposed of for use in distillation or livestock feed, shall 
be exempt from the provisions of this part.

    Dated: July 11, 1994.
Robert C. Keeney,
Deputy Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.
[FR Doc. 94-17245 Filed 7-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P