[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 142 (Thursday, July 24, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43614-43618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18778]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Parts 993 and 999

[Docket No. FV03-993-3 IFR]


Dried Prunes Produced in California; Temporary Suspension of the 
Mandatory Outgoing Prune Inspection and Quality Requirements, and 
Modification of the Undersized Prune Disposition Requirements Under the 
Marketing Order; and Suspension of the Prune Import Regulation

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Interim final rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This rule suspends the outgoing prune inspection and quality 
requirements under the California Dried Prune Marketing Order (Order) 
and its administrative rules and regulations, and the prune import 
regulation, for a three-year period, and modifies the Order's 
undersized prune disposition requirements. The Order regulates the 
handling of dried prunes produced in California and is administered 
locally by the Prune Marketing Committee (Committee). Suspension of the 
outgoing inspection and quality requirements, and import regulation 
provisions will ensure relief from these regulations. During the three-
year suspension period the industry will consider developing and 
implementing outgoing inspection and finished product grade standards 
more consistent with current industry needs.

DATES: Effective August 1, 2003 through July 31, 2006, except for the 
amendments to Sec.  993.150 (g)(2) and (g)(3), which are effective 
August 1, 2003. Comments received by September 22, 2003 will be 
considered prior to issuance of a final rule.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this rule. Comments must be sent to the Docket Clerk, 
Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, 
AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0237, Washington, DC 
20250-0237; Fax: (202) 720-8938; or E-mail: [email protected]. 
All comments should reference the docket number and the date and page 
number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made available 
for public inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular 
business hours, or can be viewed at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/moab.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard P. Van Diest, Marketing 
Specialist, California Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order 
Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 2202 
Monterey Street, suite 102B, Fresno, California 93721; telephone: (559) 
487-5901, Fax: (559) 487-5906; or George Kelhart, Technical Advisor, 
Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, 
AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 
20250-0237; telephone: (202) 720-2491, or Fax: (202) 720-8938.
    Small businesses may request information on complying with this 
regulation by contacting Jay Guerber, Marketing Order Administration 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; telephone (202) 720-
2491, Fax: (202) 720-8938, or E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule is issued under Marketing 
Agreement and Order No. 993 (7 CFR part 993), both as amended, 
regulating the handling of dried prunes produced in

[[Page 43615]]

California, hereinafter referred to as the ``order.'' The order is 
effective under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), hereinafter referred to as the ``Act.''
    The Department of Agriculture (Department) is issuing this rule in 
conformance with Executive Order 12866.
    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. This rule is not intended to have retroactive effect. 
This rule will not preempt any State or local laws, regulations, or 
policies, unless they present an irreconcilable conflict with this 
rule. The Act provides that administrative proceedings must be 
exhausted before parties may file suit in court. Under section 
608c(15)(A) of the Act, any handler subject to an order may file with 
USDA a petition stating that the order, any provision of the order, or 
any obligation imposed in connection with the order is not in 
accordance with law and request a modification of the order or to be 
exempted therefrom. A handler is afforded the opportunity for a hearing 
on the petition. After the hearing, USDA would rule on the petition. 
The Act provides that the district court of the United States in any 
district in which the handler is an inhabitant, or has his or her 
principal place of business, has jurisdiction to review USDA's ruling 
on the petition, provided an action is filed not later than 20 days 
after the date of the entry of the ruling.
    This rule suspends the outgoing prune inspection and quality 
requirements in the order and its administrative rules and regulations, 
and the prune import regulation for a three-year period, and modifies 
the undersized prune disposition requirements. These changes will be 
effective with the start of the new crop year on August 1, 2003. The 
order regulates the handling of dried prunes produced in California and 
is administered locally by the Prune Marketing Committee (Committee). 
The Committee unanimously recommended suspension of the outgoing 
inspection, and outgoing prune quality requirements at meetings held on 
April 3, and May 1, 2003, because it is the quickest way to ensure 
relief from these regulations. During the three-year suspension period, 
the industry will consider developing and implementing outgoing 
inspection and finished product grade standards that are more in line 
with current industry needs. As discussed below, suspension of the 
prune import regulation is required under section 8e of the Act.

Marketing Order Authority To Modify and Suspend

    Section 993.50(g) states in part: ``rules and regulations to insure 
proper disposition of the [undersized] prunes shall be established by 
the Committee with the approval of the Secretary.''
    Section 993.90(a) states in part: ``The Secretary shall terminate 
or suspend the operation of any or all of the provisions of this 
subpart, whenever he finds that such provisions do not tend to 
effectuate the declared policy of the act.''

Outgoing Grade and Size Regulations

    The order currently mandates outgoing inspections and outgoing 
prune quality, size, and labeling requirements of California produced 
prunes by California prune handlers to verify such prunes meet quality 
requirements. These requirements are based on the U.S. Standards for 
Grades of Dried Prunes and marketing order grade standards. The 
objective of the inspection, grade, size, and labeling requirements is 
to ensure that only prunes of acceptable quality and size enter the 
domestic and foreign markets for human consumption, thereby ensuring 
consumer satisfaction, increasing sales, and improving returns to 
producers. While the industry continues to believe that quality is an 
important factor in maintaining sales, the Committee believes that the 
costs associated with existing minimum grade, size, and labeling 
standards may exceed the benefits accrued from such requirements at 
this time.

Prune Import Regulations

    Section 8e of the Agriculture Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 (Act) 
provides that when certain domestically produced commodities, including 
prunes, are regulated under a Federal marketing order, imports of that 
commodity must meet the same or comparable grade, size, quality, and 
maturity requirements. Section 999.200 contains the prune import 
regulations that are comparable to the domestically produced prune 
outgoing quality and size requirements. Since this rule suspends the 
outgoing quality and size requirements for domestically produced prunes 
for three years, these requirements must be suspended in the import 
regulations during this period as well.
    U.S. imports of dried prunes are insignificant compared to U.S. 
production. In 2002, while the U.S. produced 158,000 tons of dried 
prunes, only 616 tons were imported. In that year, the domestically 
produced tonnage was over 250 times as large as the imported tonnage. 
In 2001, 204 tons were imported, but the U.S. produced 150,000 tons. 
Production was 735 times as large as imports.
    In recent years, about 90 percent of U.S. imports of dried prunes 
have come from Argentina. Other countries that export to the U.S. 
include Chile, France, Mexico, Iran, and Turkey.

Undersized Prune Disposition Regulations

    The prune administrative rules and regulations currently require 
handlers to have a third party inspection of each lot of undersized 
prunes prior to shipment into nonhuman outlets or other disposition. 
Under Sec.  993.51 of the Order, inspections are performed by the Dried 
Fruit Association of California. These requirements also require 
handlers to submit to the Committee comprehensive documentation 
verifying that they have satisfied their undersized prune obligation.
    The prune administrative rules and regulations also currently limit 
the quantities of larger size that can be used to meet a handler's 
undersized disposition obligation. While the Committee plans to 
continue to restrict the shipment of undersized prunes into human 
consumption outlets, the Committee believes that the costs associated 
with the inspection and documentation of the disposal of undersized 
prunes may exceed the benefits. To reduce the cost and time for 
handlers to file reports and verify the disposition of undersized 
prunes through inspection, the Committee unanimously recommended 
removing the inspection requirements, and simplifying the documentation 
required from handlers to satisfy their undersized obligation as well 
as removing the limits on the weights of larger prunes that can be used 
to meet undersized obligations.

Background and Action Taken

    California prune handlers are currently selling prunes in many 
forms to customers throughout the world. The majority of these sales 
involve sizing or processing the prunes to more stringent 
specifications than required under the order. Retail and wholesale 
buyers often visit handlers' plants in California to verify 
specification and quality procedures, which tend to be more stringent 
than the minimum outgoing quality requirements mandated in the 
marketing order. Handlers continue to improve the quality and outgoing 
inspection procedures to target the specific customer and market 
demands. Almost all prunes sold for consumption in the United States as 
prunes are pitted

[[Page 43616]]

and packaged in consumer bags and canisters targeting much higher 
standards than those mandated by the marketing order.
    Current procedures require detailed administrative notating and 
reporting of defect information, large numbers of line inspectors at 
handler plants, and tracking and segregating lots and bins of fruit to 
comply with the order. As a result, handlers incur significant amounts 
of time and money on the inspection process. Also, almost all fruit is 
inspected by international buyers upon receipt, and is accepted or 
rejected based on the fruits' condition at the time of that review, 
regardless of any prior inspection process or certification. Further, 
prunes produced in other countries must meet customer specifications 
and inspection criteria.
    Because of increased foreign competition that sells quality 
processed fruit, shifting consumer demand from natural condition to 
processed prunes, and increasingly competitive specifications that have 
left the minimum marketing order standards no longer reflect current 
industry needs. The Committee believes that California prune handlers 
must reduce all unnecessary costs in order to remain competitive with 
imported fruit and to profitably sell fruit in international markets.
    The mandatory outgoing inspections focus on cosmetic defects or 
defects that tend to be removed through steaming, pitting, or juicing 
the fruit. While the industry once sold primarily unprocessed prunes, 
consumer demand has changed and some processing is invariably required, 
leaving the outgoing inspection criteria inapplicable and out-dated.
    With regard to import requirements, section 8e of the Act requires 
import regulations to be comparable to the domestic regulations, not 
more restrictive. Since this rule suspends outgoing grade and size 
regulations for domestically produced prunes, and substantially relaxes 
the disposition and verification requirements on undersized prunes 
under the order, the import regulation must be suspended as well.
    During the three-year suspension period, the industry will have the 
opportunity to consider developing and implementing more appropriate 
finished product grade standards through amendments to the order and 
administrative rules and regulations.
    At its May 1, 2003, meeting, the Committee unanimously recommended 
suspension of all outgoing inspection, outgoing quality, size, and 
labeling requirements in the marketing order and the administrative 
rules and regulations for three years, beginning with the start of the 
new crop year on August 1, 2003. The suspension of these provisions 
will reduce some administrative costs.
    This interim final rule suspends in their entirety Sec. Sec.  
993.50(a) through (f) and 993.97 Exhibit A--Part II of the order, and 
Sec. Sec.  993.150(a) and (b), 993.150(d) through (g)(1), 993.515, 
993.516, 993.517, 993.518 of the administrative rules and regulations, 
as well as Sec.  999.200 of the import regulation. Portions of 
Sec. Sec.  993.50(g) and 993.51 of the order, and portions of 
Sec. Sec.  993.601 of the administrative rules and regulations are also 
suspended. These sections of the order and administrative rules and 
regulations pertain to the various requirements of the outgoing 
inspection, outgoing quality, size, and labeling requirements, and 
import regulation provisions.
    Prune handlers oppose the current undersized prune regulations 
because they are costly to meet. Undersized prunes have marginal value 
as cattle feed or use in tobacco products (about $40-$45 per ton), and 
the costs of completing the required Committee paperwork and having 
them inspected by the DFA of California may exceed the revenue 
received. The industry is now also less concerned about the minimal 
amount of poor quality undersized prunes. Supplies of undersized prunes 
are now lower because of the recent tree pull programs and growers 
field sizing programs to drop small prune plums in the orchard, rather 
than deliver them to handlers.
    The Committee chose to recommend removal of the limits on the 
quantities of larger-sized prunes that can be used to meet a handler's 
undersized weight disposition obligation, and the requirement for 
inspection of the undersized prunes and certification of handlers' 
receipt of usage, because these changes will eliminate certain 
inspection costs and reduce Committee and handler administration costs.
    At the April 3, 2003, meeting, the Committee unanimously 
recommended modification of the undersized prune disposition provisions 
in the marketing order and the administrative rules and regulations, 
beginning with the start of the new crop year on August 1, 2003. The 
modification of these provisions will reduce some committee and handler 
administrative costs.
    This interim final rule removes Sec.  993.150(g)(2)(i), Sec.  
993.150(g)(2)(iii), and Sec.  993.150(g)(2)(iv) in the administrative 
rules and regulations. Portions of Sec.  993.150(g)(3) are amended.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (RFA), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has considered the 
economic impact of this action on small entities. Accordingly, AMS has 
prepared this initial regulatory flexibility analysis.
    The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory actions to the scale of 
business subject to such actions in order that small businesses will 
not be unduly or disproportionately burdened. Marketing orders issued 
pursuant to the Act, and rules issued thereunder, are unique in that 
they are brought about through group action of essentially small 
entities acting on their own behalf. Thus, both statutes have small 
entity orientation and compatibility.

Industry Profile

    There are approximately 1,205 producers of dried prunes in the 
production area and approximately 21 handlers subject to regulation 
under the marketing order. Small agricultural producers are defined by 
the Small Business Administration (13 CFR 121.201) as those having 
annual receipts of less than $750,000 and small agricultural service 
firms are defined as those having annual receipts of less than 
$5,000,000.
    Eight of the 21 handlers (38 percent) shipped over $5,000,000 worth 
of dried prunes and could be considered large handlers by the Small 
Business Administration. Thirteen of the 21 handlers (62 percent) 
shipped less than $5,000,000 worth of dried prunes and could be 
considered small handlers. An estimated 32 producers, or less than 3 
percent of the 1,205 total producers, would be considered large growers 
with annual incomes over $750,000. The majority of handlers and 
producers of California dried prunes may be classified as small 
entities.
    In addition, there are an estimated 30 importers and one third-
party entity that performs inspections under the order. USDA does not 
have precise information on these entities, but believes that the 
majority of the importers and the inspection agency are small entities.

Summary of Rule Change

    This rule suspends the outgoing prune inspection and outgoing prune 
quality requirements under the order and the administrative rules and 
regulations, and the prune import provisions for a three-year period, 
and modifies the undersized prune disposition requirements. These 
changes will be effective with the start

[[Page 43617]]

of the new crop year on August 1, 2003, for three years. In the absence 
of additional rulemaking, the suspended requirements will come back 
into effect at the end of the three-year period.
    The industry chose suspension of the outgoing inspection, outgoing 
prune quality and size and labeling requirements, because suspension is 
the quickest way to ensure relief from these regulations. During the 
three-year suspension period, the industry will have the opportunity to 
consider developing and implementing more effective finished product 
grade standards through amendments to the order and administrative 
rules and regulations. It also will have an opportunity to decide 
whether these requirements should be terminated.
    Authority to suspend these provisions of the marketing order and 
administrative rules and regulations is provided in Sec.  993.90(a) of 
the order. Authority to modify the disposition requirements and 
procedures of undersized prunes in the administrative rules and 
regulations is provided in Sec. Sec.  993.50(g) and 993.52 of the 
order. Authority for the import regulation is in section 8e of the Act.

Impact of Regulation

    Regarding the impact of this rule on affected entities, this action 
could reduce the reporting and recordkeeping burden on California prune 
handlers and reduce the Committee's and handlers' administrative costs. 
Also, this action would reduce the number of inspections performed by 
the inspection agency under the order. The Committee estimates that 21 
California prune handlers would be subject to these provisions and to 
filing the handler reports. Also under the prune import regulations, it 
is estimated that as many as 10 importers would file forms applicable 
to the import regulations. The handler annual burden to file these 
reports is 70.04 hours, and the respondent annual burden to file 
reports under the import regulations is 6.05 hours. Thus, there is a 
potential to reducing the annual handler and importer reporting burden 
by 76.09 hours during the suspension period. The benefits of this 
interim final rule are expected to be available to all prune handlers 
and importers, regardless of their size of operation.
    The forms affected by this rule are as follows: (1) Form PMC 2.2, 
Application for Permission to Dispose of Substandard Prunes; (2) Form 
PMC 2.6, Statement of Proposed Disposition of Substandard Prunes; (3) 
Form PMC 4.72A, Foreign Export--Notice of Substandard Prunes for 
Manufacturing Purposes; (4) Form PMC 4.72B, Foreign Export--Notice of 
Usage of Substandard Prunes for Manufacturing Purposes; (5) Form PMC 
2.21, Application for Permission to Dispose of Undersized Prunes for 
Non-Human Usage; (6) Form PMC 4.71A, User's Receipt of Dried Undersized 
Prunes for Non-Human Usage; (7) Form PMC 4.71B, User's Certificate of 
Non-Human Usage of Dried Undersized Prunes; (8) Form PMC 2.63, 
Statement of Proposed Disposition of Undersized Prunes; (9) Form FV-
170, Prune Form No. 1; and (10) Form FV-171, Prune Form No. 2.
    It should be noted that if the Committee determines that these 
suspensions are having an unfavorable impact on the industry, it could 
meet and recommend rescinding the suspensions.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35), the information collection requirements being suspended by 
this rule were previously approved by the Office of Management and 
Budget, under OMB No. 0581-0178. As with all Federal marketing order 
programs, reports and forms are periodically reviewed to reduce 
information requirements and duplication by industry and public sector 
agencies. Finally, the Department has not identified any relevant 
Federal rules that duplicate, overlap or conflict with this rule.

Alternatives Considered

    The Committee and industry members discussed at the Committee's 
April 3, 2003, and May 1, 2003, meetings different alternatives to 
these actions. The Committee discussed the possibility of suspending 
the total Federal prune marketing order, but its benefit in other areas 
is recognized by the industry. Another alternative discussed was to 
suspend all mandatory inspections (both incoming and outgoing 
inspections), but many on the Committee and in the industry deemed this 
action too extreme. Another alternative discussed was to exempt 
handlers from the inspection requirements if they could demonstrate 
that the automation of their plant assured consistent delivery of 
higher quality prunes, but this would not be practicable. Another 
alternative considered was a two-year suspension of the undersized 
prune regulation. This was opposed because it would increase the 
domestic salable tonnage and would add to the industry's oversupply.
    The Committee's April 3, 2003, and May 1, 2003, meetings where the 
outgoing inspection, outgoing prune quality, size, and labeling 
requirement issues were deliberated were public meetings and widely 
publicized throughout the prune industry. At the April 3, 2003, 
meeting, the Committee recommended removing the limits on quantity of 
larger-sized that could be used to meet handler undersized obligations 
and eliminating of the DFA of California undersized prune inspection 
and certification of receipt of usage. This was because it will reduce 
costs, including inspection fees and other Committee costs associated 
with mandatory inspection, and the reporting burden resulting from the 
inspection requirements.
    All interested persons were invited to attend the meetings and 
participate in the industry's deliberations. Finally, interested 
persons are invited to submit information on the regulatory and 
informational impacts of these changes on small businesses.
    A small business guide on complying with fruit, vegetable, and 
specialty crop marketing agreements and orders may be viewed at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/moab.html. Any questions about the compliance 
guide should be sent to Jay Guerber at the previously mentioned address 
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
    The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has reviewed this 
interim final rule and concurs with its issuance.
    A 60-day comment period is provided to allow interested persons to 
respond to this rule. All written comments timely received will be 
considered before a final determination is made on this matter. After 
consideration of all relevant material presented, including the 
Committee's recommendation, and other information, it is found that the 
provisions being suspended would not tend to effectuate the declared 
policy of the Act during the three-year period, and that the provisions 
being amended would tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act 
effective August 1, 2003.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, it is also found and determined upon good 
cause that it is impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public 
interest to give preliminary notice prior to putting this rule into 
effect and that good cause exists for not postponing the effective date 
of this rule until 30 days after publication in the Federal Register 
because: (1) The Committee recommended that the rule be implemented at 
the beginning of the new crop year, August 1, 2003; (2) this rule 
relaxes certain requirements in the order and the administrative rules 
and regulations; (3) the Committee unanimously recommended these

[[Page 43618]]

changes at a public meeting and interested parties had an opportunity 
to provide input; and (4) a 60-day comment period is provided and all 
comments received will be considered prior to finalization of this 
rule.

List of Subjects

7 CFR Part 993

    Marketing agreements, Plums, Prunes, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

7 CFR Part 999

    Dates, Filberts, Food grades and standards, Imports, Nuts, Prunes, 
Raisins, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Walnuts.


0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR parts 993 and 999 are 
amended as follows:
0
1. The authority citation for 7 CFR parts 993 and 999 continues to read 
as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.

PART 993--DRIED PRUNES PRODUCED IN CALIFORNIA

0
2. In Sec.  993.50:
0
a. Paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) are suspended in their 
entirety effective August 1, 2003, through July 31, 2006.
0
b. Paragraph (g) is amended by suspending the words ``, and reasonably 
comparable in size, to'' in the third sentence; suspending the fourth 
and fifth sentences in their entirety; and suspending the words ``Any 
such tolerance, together with any'' and ``and that such prunes are 
reasonably comparable to the undersized prunes so received,'' in the 
sixth sentence, effective August 1, 2003, through July 31, 2006.

0
3. Section 993.51 is amended by suspending the words ``, and before 
shipping or disposing'' and ``or the pack specifications, including 
labeling,'' in the first sentence, effective August 1, 2003, through 
July 31, 2006.

0
4. In Sec.  993.97, section II pertaining to minimum standards for 
processed prunes is suspended in its entirety effective August 1, 2003, 
through July 31, 2006.

0
5. In Sec.  993.150:
0
a. Paragraphs (a), (b), (d), (e), and (f) are suspended in their 
entirety effective August 1, 2003, through July 31, 2006.
0
b. Paragraph (g) is amended by suspending paragraph (g)(1) in its 
entirety effective August 1, 2003, through July 31, 2006, and by 
removing paragraphs (g)(2)(i), (g)(2)(iii), and (g)(2)(iv) in their 
entirety effective August 1, 2003.
0
c. Paragraph (g)(2)(ii) is redesignated as paragraph (g)(2)(i) and 
revised as follows effective August 1, 2003:


Sec.  993.150  Disposition of prunes by handlers.

* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (i) Documentation of shipment or other disposition. For each 
quantity of undersized prunes so shipped or otherwise disposed of, the 
handler shall promptly forward to the Committee one copy of the 
applicable bill of lading, truck receipt, or related documentation of 
disposition which shall show: (a) The name of the consignee; (b) the 
destination by name and address of the person designated to receive the 
prunes; (c) the date of shipment or other disposition; (d) the net 
weight of the prunes; and (e) identification of the prunes as 
undersized prunes.
0
d. Paragraphs (g)(3)(i) and (g)(3)(ii) are revised effective August 1, 
2003, to read as follows:


Sec.  993.150  Disposition of prunes by handlers.

* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (i) Undersized French prunes. Whenever an undersized regulation 
specifies an opening for French prunes, any quantity of any size of 
French prunes disposed of by a handler in compliance with Sec.  
993.50(g) shall satisfy a handler's undersized disposition.
    (ii) Undersized non-French prunes. Whenever an undersized 
regulation specifies an opening for non-French prunes, any quantity of 
any size of non-French prunes disposed of by a handler in compliance 
with Sec.  993.50(g) shall satisfy a handler's undersized disposition.


Sec.  993.150  Disposition of prunes by handlers.

0
6. Sections 993.515, 993.516, 993.517, and 993.518 are suspended in 
their entirety effective August 1, 2003, through July 31, 2006.

0
7. In Sec.  993.601(a) the words, ``and outgoing'', ``and the minimum 
standards which handlers' shipments or other final dispositions of 
prunes are required to meet pursuant to Sec.  993.50(a)'', ``IIC(3)'', 
and ``IIC(6)'' are suspended effective August 1, 2003, through July 31, 
2006.

PART 999--SPECIALTY CROPS; IMPORT REGULATIONS

0
8. Section 999.200 is suspended in its entirety effective August 1, 
2003, through July 31, 2006.

    Dated: July 16, 2003.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-18778 Filed 7-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P