[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 30, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 75148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31945]


 ========================================================================
 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. 68, No. 249 / Tuesday, December 30, 2003 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 75148]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 900

[Docket No. FV03-900-1 EXT]


Proposed Rule To Exempt Organic Producers and Marketers From 
Assessments for Market Promotion Activities Under Marketing Order 
Programs

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the comment period on the proposal 
to exempt producers and marketers from assessments for marketing 
promotion activities under marketing order programs is extended.

DATES: Comments must be received by February 2, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this proposal. 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]. 
Comments should reference the docket number and the date and page 
number of this issue of the Federal Register. All comments received 
will be available for public inspection in the Office of the Docket 
Clerk at the Marketing Order Administration Branch, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237 during 
regular business hours, or can be viewed at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/moab.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Kelhart or 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.
    Small businesses may request information on compliance with this 
proposed regulation by contacting: Jay Guerber, Marketing Order 
Information Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; 
Telephone: (202) 720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-5698, or E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed rule on the exemption of 
organic producers and marketers from assessments for market promotion 
activities under marketing orders was published in the Federal Register 
on December 2, 2003 (68 FR 67381). The proposed rule invited comments 
through January 2, 2004.
    The Executive Director of the Organic Trade Association requested, 
in consideration of the holiday season, that the comment period be 
extended thirty days to provide ample time for a thorough review and to 
ensure that those most likely to be affected by the proposed rule have 
the opportunity to calculate the impact.
    An extension would provide interested persons more time to review 
and assess the proposed rule's impacts. Therefore, USDA is extending 
the period in which to file written comments until February 2, 2004. 
This notice is issued pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Agreement 
Act of 1937 and the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (Pub. L. 
107-171).

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.

    Dated: December 22, 2003.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-31945 Filed 12-23-03; 10:27 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P