[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 197 (Friday, October 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 52967]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26897]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


United States Standards for Beans

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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    The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) 
is revising the voluntary United States Standards for Beans by changing 
the name of the class Black Turtle Soup beans to Black beans and 
establishing a separate grade chart for Cranberry beans. These changes 
were requested by the industry in order to improve the usability of the 
United States Standards for Beans.
    Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as 
amended, directs and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture ``to 
develop and improve standards of quality, condition, quantity, grade, 
and packaging and recommend and demonstrate such standards in order to 
encourage uniformity and consistency in commercial practices * * *.'' 
The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is 
committed to carrying out this authority in a manner that facilitates 
the marketing of agricultural commodities and makes copies of official 
standards available upon request.
    The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) 
published a notice in the Federal Register on August 1, 1997 (62 FR 
41335), that it was proposing to change the name of the class Black 
Turtle Soup beans to Black beans and to establish a separate grade 
chart for Cranberry beans.
    GIPSA received only one comment in response to that notice. The 
Michigan Bean Shippers Association asked that GIPSA proceed with 
implementing the changes and stated ``The changes * * * will definitely 
be beneficial to U.S. world bean commerce.'' GIPSA has determined that 
establishing a separate grade chart for Cranberry beans and renaming 
the class Black Turtle Soup beans as Black beans will improve the 
usability of U.S. Standards for Beans.
    Since these changes to the standards were recommended and reviewed 
by the affected trade and are consistent with current practices in the 
trade, they will become effective on November 10, 1997.
    The United States Standards for Beans do not appear in the Code of 
Federal Regulations but are maintained by the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture. The revised United States Standards for Beans are 
available either by accessing GIPSA's Home Page on the Internet at: 
www.usda.gov/gipsa/strulreg/standard/beans or by contacting the 
Audiovisual, Regulatory and Training Staff, GIPSA, USDA, STOP 3649, 
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-3649; telephone 
(202) 720-1734; FAX (202) 720-4628.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.

    Dated: October 3, 1997.
James R. Baker,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-26897 Filed 10-9-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-P