[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 1, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 4780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2112]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 21 / Tuesday, February 1, 2000 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 4780]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 54

[Docket Number LS-99-21]


Request for Public Comments on the Official Grading of Imported 
Beef, Lamb, Veal and Calf Carcasses Under the Authority of the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946

AGENCY:  Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION:  Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY:  The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) invites comments 
from producers, importers, packers, processors, commercial users, and 
other interested persons on the official grading of imported beef, 
lamb, veal and calf carcasses. Written requests by producer groups to 
discontinue the grading of imported carcasses are currently under 
consideration by AMS. AMS Regulations promulgated under the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 permits the official grading of 
imported beef, lamb, veal and calf carcasses provided the carcasses are 
in compliance with all requirements of the applicable standards and are 
marked with the country of origin. However, the regulations do not 
require the retention of country of origin designations on the 
component meat cuts to the point of final purchase. In light of the 
producer proposals, AMS is considering several options. Among the 
options under consideration are: first, discontinue the official 
grading of imported carcasses; second, revise the grading regulations 
to require that the country of origin mark is retained on the component 
cuts after fabrication of an imported carcass that is federally graded; 
or, third, revise the grading regulations to eliminate the requirement 
that a country of origin mark be applied to imported carcasses. AMS 
requests that interested parties comment on these options and/or 
provide other options and information for consideration.

DATES:  Comments must be received on or before April 3, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  Send written comments to Larry R. Meadows, Chief; USDA, 
AMS, LS, MGC; STOP 0248, Room 2628-S; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.; 
Washington, DC 20250-0248. Comments may be faxed to (202) 690-4119 or 
E-mailed to [email protected].
    State that your comments refer to Docket No. LS-99-21, and note the 
date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register.
    Comments received may be inspected at the above location between 
8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except 
Holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Larry R. Meadows, Chief, Meat Grading 
and Certification (MGC) Branch, 202-720-1246.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  In June 1999, the National Cattlemen's Beef 
Association (NCBA) requested that the Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
discontinue the official grading of imported beef carcasses. In October 
1999, the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) requested that USDA 
discontinue the official grading of imported lamb carcasses. By 
contrast, during the same timeframe, USDA received letters of support 
for the continued grading of imported carcasses from members of 
Congress, the American Meat Institute (AMI), the National Meat 
Association (NMA), and the Canadian Embassy.
    Grading activities for all species are conducted under the 
authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-
1627), as amended, and the regulations set forth in Title 7, Part 54--
Meats, Prepared Meats, and Meat Products. Under current regulations and 
procedures, imported beef, lamb, veal and calf carcasses are eligible 
for grading provided the carcasses are in compliance with all 
requirements of the applicable standards and are marked with the 
country of origin. Except for requiring that imported carcasses be 
branded with the country of origin prior to official grading, imported 
carcasses receive the same considerations and treatment as carcasses 
derived from livestock produced in the United States. However, the 
regulations do not specify that the country of origin must remain on 
the cuts after processing. Since the vast majority of beef and lamb is 
marketed as closely trimmed wholesale or retail cuts rather than 
carcasses, the country of origin marks are almost always removed during 
processing. The grading of imported carcasses has been permitted by the 
regulations since the early 1950's.
    For calendar year 1999, slightly more than 50,000 imported beef 
carcasses and 81,000 imported lamb carcasses were officially graded in 
the United States. No imported veal and calf carcasses were graded. By 
contrast, in the same calendar year USDA graded over 27 million 
domestically produced beef carcasses and 3 million lamb carcasses.
    AMS is considering the following options: (1) Discontinue the 
official grading of all imported beef, lamb, veal and calf carcasses, 
(2) Revise the grading regulations to require that the country of 
origin mark be retained on the component cuts after fabrication of an 
imported carcass that is Federally graded, or, (3) Revise the grading 
regulations to eliminate the requirement that a country of origin mark 
be applied to Federally graded imported carcasses.
    Accordingly, AMS is issuing this advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking to assist in the development of policy and regulations for 
the official grading of imported beef, lamb, veal and calf carcasses. 
AMS is seeking comments, information, and data from all interested 
parties.
Specifically, AMS is Seeking
    (1) Comments on the options currently under consideration by the 
Agency;
    (2) Other options the Agency should consider;
    (3) Suggestions of criteria to be used by AMS to develop a new or 
revised policy; and
    (4) Any other comments, information, or data which would aid AMS in 
evaluating its current policy and deciding whether to develop a new or 
revised policy on the official grading of imported carcasses.

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

    Dated: January 27, 2000.
Barry L. Carpenter,
Deputy Administrator, Livestock and Seed Program.
[FR Doc. 00-2112 Filed 1-27-00; 2:58 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P