[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 215 (Monday, November 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60763-60764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29211]


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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 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 215 / Monday, November 8, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 60763]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[FV-00-327N]


United States Standards for Grades of Canned Whole Kernel (Whole 
Grain) Corn

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) is revising the United States Standards for Grades 
of Canned Whole Kernel (Whole Grain) Corn. Specifically, AMS is 
providing for the ``individual attributes'' procedure for product 
grading with sample sizes, acceptable quality levels (AQL's), 
tolerances and acceptance numbers (number of allowable defects); 
including varietal types of supersweet varieties in the grade 
standards; replacing dual grade nomenclature with single letter grade 
designations; removing the recommended minimum drained weight criteria 
from the grade standards and providing the criteria in the grading 
manual; removing the score sheet for canned whole kernel corn; and 
making minor editorial changes. These changes will improve the use of 
the standard.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 8, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen L. Kaufman, Processed Products 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 0247, P.O. Box 96456; Washington, 
D.C. 20090-6456; fax (202) 690-1087; or e-mail Karen.K[email protected]. 
The current United States Standards for Grades of Canned Whole Kernel 
(Whole Grain) Corn, along with the changes, are available either 
through the address cited above or by accessing AMS's Home Page on the 
Internet at: www.ams.usda.gov/standards/vegcan.htm.

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 * * * .'' The Agricultural Marketing Service (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 Whole Kernel Corn do not appear in the 
Code of Federal Regulations but are maintained by USDA.
    AMS received a petition from the National Food Processors 
Association (NFPA), requesting that the U.S. grade standards for canned 
whole kernel corn be revised. NFPA represents over 550 food industry 
companies 1.
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    \1\ Source--USDA, NASS, ASB.
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    NFPA specifically requested that the U.S. grade standards for 
canned whole kernel corn, which are currently based on cumulative score 
points, be modified by converting the U.S. grade standards to 
statistically-based individual attributes grade standards, similar to 
the U.S. grade standards for canned green and wax beans (58 FR 4295, 
January 14, 1993).
    In addition, NFPA requested the grade standards include other 
varietal types i.e., supersweet corn. These newer varieties possess 
flavor, tenderness, and maturity characteristics that vary somewhat 
from conventional corn. The proposed revision of the grade standards 
would include the quality characteristics for these varietal types, for 
example, appearance, cut, flavor and odor, tenderness and maturity, 
extraneous vegetable material, specified defects, seriously damaged 
kernels, damaged kernels and pulled kernels.
    NFPA also proposed removing the recommended minimum drained weight 
criteria from the grade standards and relocating it in the Grading 
Manual for Canned Whole Kernel Corn since drained weight, as such, is 
not a factor of quality for the purpose of these grades.
    AMS also proposed to change the standard by replacing dual grade 
nomenclature with single letter grade designations; removing the 
recommended minimum drained weight criteria from the grade standards 
and providing the criteria in the grading manual; removing the score 
sheet for canned whole kernel corn; and making minor editorial changes.
    A notice proposing changes to the United States Standards for 
Grades of Canned Whole Kernel (Whole Grain) Corn was published in the 
March 4, 1999, Federal Register (63 FR 2357). AMS received three 
comments on the Notice, two (NFPA and Midwest Food Processors 
Association) in favor of their recommended changes and one (a private 
industry canner) against the proposed changes to the standards. NFPA 
and the Midwest Food Processors Association submitted very similar 
proposals and are in agreement with the proposed changes. The commentor 
that opposed believed that the proposed change, from cumulative score 
points, to individual attributes, would create an unfair business 
environment and ``that the energy and time that it would take to change 
the Industry to the new standards is unnecessary and does not outweigh 
the benefits that would be gained''.
    AMS believes that revisions to the standard are needed to meet the 
needs of the industry and that these changes will allow for a more 
equitable marketing environment for all canned whole kernel corn 
processors.
    Accordingly, based on all the information we have reviewed, AMS is 
changing the U.S. Standards for Grades of Canned Whole Kernel Corn by 
providing for the ``individual attributes'' procedure for product 
grading with sample sizes, acceptable quality levels (AQL's), 
tolerances and acceptance numbers (number of allowable defects); 
including varietal types of supersweet varieties in the grade 
standards; replacing dual grade nomenclature with single letter grade 
designations; removing the recommended minimum drained weight criteria 
from the grade standards and provide the criteria in the grading 
manual; removing the score sheet for canned whole kernel corn; and 
making minor editorial changes.
    This revision becomes effective 30 days after date of publication 
of this notice in the Federal Register.


[[Page 60764]]


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

    Dated: November 2, 1999.
Robert C. Keeney,
Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-29211 Filed 11-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P