[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 127 (Thursday, July 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36201-36202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17563]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 127 / Thursday, July 2, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 36201]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[FV-97-329N]


United States Standards for Grades of Canned Beets, United States 
Standards for Grades of Canned Carrots and the United States Standards 
for Grades of Canned White Potatoes

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is revising standards 
for grades of canned beets, carrots, and white potatoes (canned root 
crop vegetables). Specifically, USDA is modifying the Recommended 
Minimum Drained Weight Averages (RMDWA's) for all styles packed in No. 
300 size cans to be equivalent to the percent water capacity 
corresponding to the closest sized container, the No. 303 can, i.e., 
reduced by 9.02 percent. These changes were requested by industry in 
order to improve the usability of the U.S. standards for these canned 
root crop vegetables. In addition, USDA will further improve the 
standards and promote consistency by changing the format of the tables 
to incorporate a column for the water capacity of each container size 
and add metric system tables to the canned beets and canned carrots 
standards.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 3, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chere L. Shorter, Processed Products 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 0709, South Building; STOP 0247, 
P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456; Telephone (202) 720-4693, 
fax (202) 690-1087; or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 * * *'' AMS 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 United States Standards for Grades of Canned Beets, the 
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Carrots, and the United 
States Standards for Grades of Canned White Potatoes (canned root crop 
vegetables) do not appear in the Code of Federal Regulations but are 
maintained by USDA.
    The current U.S. grade standards for these canned root crop 
vegetables, along with the changes, are available either through the 
above addresses or by accessing the Internet at the following site: 
www.ams.usda.gov/standards/vegcan.htm.
    Procedures for revising, suspending, or terminating voluntary 
official grades standards were published in August 13, 1997, (62 FR 
43439).
    In November 1993, USDA received a request to review the RMDWA's for 
these canned root crops in No. 300 size containers from the National 
Food Processors Association's (NFPA)'s Grade Standards Review 
Subcommittee. NFPA requested the changes in the United States Standards 
for Grades of Canned Beets; Canned Carrots; and Canned White Potatoes.
    NFPA requested that the recommended drained weight of the No. 300 
size container be reviewed for all styles of canned root crop 
vegetables. Within the last few years the canning industry has been 
replacing production of the No. 303 container size with the No. 300 
container. The total water capacity for the No. 300 container is less 
than the total water capacity for a No. 303 container. The percentage 
water capacity, on which the recommended minimum drained weight average 
is based, is calculated by dividing the RMDWA for a particular style of 
canned root crop vegetable by the total water capacity of the 
container. Studies done by the USDA have found that for every style of 
canned root crop vegetable under consideration, in the current U.S. 
standards, the drained weight as a percentage of the water capacity is 
significantly more for the No. 300 container than for No. 303 
containers, even though the available capacity of the No. 300 container 
is 9.02 percent less than that of the No. 303 container.
    NFPA stated that several companies were noting difficulty in 
meeting the RMDWA requirements for these products in the No. 300 cans. 
The remedies recommended by NFPA proposed that the RMDWA's in the U.S. 
grade standards for canned beets; canned carrots; and canned white 
potatoes be reduced to the same percentage water capacity offered in 
the No. 303 container size, i.e., lowered by 9.02 percent. The No. 303 
can size was chosen because the size relationship is closest to the No. 
300 can.
    USDA published a notice in the Federal Register January 15, 1998, 
(63 FR 2356). Five comments were received from industry members. All 
comments received indicated that the affected industry members were in 
favor of the revision to base the RMDWA on the percent water capacity 
of the No. 303 container.
    Accordingly, AMS agrees with the recommendations to improve the 
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Beets; Canned Carrots; and 
Canned White Potatoes and is making changes to and adding the following 
tables: Canned Beets, Table I, adding Table IA, Canned Carrots, Table 
I, adding Table IA, and Canned White Potatoes, Table I and Table IA. 
Specifically, the changes will: (1) Adjust the RMDWA's for No. 300 
containers which were calculated using the percentage water capacity 
corresponding to No. 303 containers and lowered accordingly by 9.02 
percent of the RMDWA of the 303 size container; and further improve the 
standards and promote consistency by (2) changing the format to include 
tables that will incorporate the water capacity of each container size; 
and (3) adding metric system tables to the canned beet and canned 
carrot standards.
    The changes will become effective 30 days after the publication of 
this notice in the Federal Register. These changes will improve the 
grade standards by making RMDWA's proportional for the No. 300 can 
size, enhance safety of the product, and help to facilitate the

[[Page 36202]]

marketing of canned beets, carrots and white potatoes. This will allow 
for a more equitable marketing environment for the canning industry.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

    Dated: June 24, 1998.
Robert C. Keeney,
Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs.
[FR Doc. 98-17563 Filed 7-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P