[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7748-7749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4111]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. PY-96-002]


Tentative Voluntary Poultry Grade Standards

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; extension of test-market period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On February 15, 1996, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 
published a notice in the Federal Register (61 FR 5975) announcing a 
one-year test-market period for USDA grade identified cooked, boneless-
skinless poultry products without added ingredients, based on tentative 
grade standards. AMS is extending the test-market period beyond its 
scheduled end, February 15, 1997, until it makes a final determination 
about the tentative standards.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rex A. Barnes, Chief, Grading Branch, Poultry Division, 202-720-3271.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 15, 1996, the Agricultural 
Marketing Service (AMS) published a notice in the Federal Register 
(61 FR 5975) announcing a one-year test-market period for USDA 
grade identified cooked, boneless-skinless poultry products without 
added ingredients, based on tentative grade standards. The test-
market period is scheduled to end February 15, 1997, after which 
AMS will evaluate the test results. If AMS decides to amend the 
current poultry grade standards, a proposal with a comment period 
will be published in the Federal Register.

    AMS is currently evaluating the test-market results of two other 
sets of tentative grade standards for ready-to-cook products to 
determine if changes should be made to the standards. Those test-
markets were for boneless-skinless poultry legs and drumsticks (60 FR 
16428) and boneless-skinless poultry products without added ingredients 
(60 FR 30830), for which tentative standards were published in the 
Federal Register

[[Page 7749]]

on March 30, 1995, and June 12, 1995, respectively. AMS has determined 
that it is appropriate to extend the test-market period for cooked 
products until a final determination is made regarding changes to the 
standards for both ready-to-cook and cooked products. This will also 
allow additional time for the industry to utilize the tentative 
standards for cooked, boneless-skinless products.

    Dated: February 13, 1997.
Lon Hatamiya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-4111 Filed 2-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P