[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-182]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 3 / Wednesday, January 5, 2005 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 661]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 983

[Docket No. FV02-983-1 FR]


Pistachios Grown in California; Delay of the Effective Date for 
Aflatoxin, Size and Quality Requirements

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: This document delays the effective date from February 1, 2005, 
to August 1, 2005, for aflatoxin, size and quality requirements 
established under Marketing Order No. 983 (order). The order regulates 
the handling of pistachios produced in California. Sections 983.38 
through 983.45 of the order establish maximum aflatoxin along with 
minimum size and quality requirements for California pistachios. The 
Administrative Committee for Pistachios, which is responsible for 
locally administering the order, recommended the delay in the effective 
date. Postponing the effective date of the regulations will provide the 
industry and the newly established administrative committee with 
additional preparation time needed to meet the aflatoxin, size and 
quality requirements of the order. Also, the postponed effective date 
would correspond with the beginning of the 2005 crop year.

DATES: The effective date of Sec. Sec.  983.38 through 983.45 of 7 CFR 
part 983 published at 69 FR 17844 is delayed until August 12, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Schmaedick, Marketing 
Specialist, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs, AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 1035, Moab, Utah 84532; telephone: (435) 
259-7988, Fax: (435) 259-4945; or Rose Aguayo, 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.
    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 document delays the effective date from 
February 1, 2005, to August 1, 2005, for aflatoxin, size and quality 
provisions established under Marketing Order No. 983 (order). The 
order, which became effective in April 2004, regulates the handling of 
pistachios produced in California. Sections 983.38 through 983.45 of 
the order establish maximum aflatoxin along with minimum size and 
quality requirements for California pistachios, and were scheduled to 
become effective on August 1, 2004.
    The Administrative Committee for Pistachios (Committee) recommended 
the delay in the effective date at a December 8, 2004, meeting. The 
Committee voted unanimously that postponing the effective date will 
provide the industry and the Committee with additional time to 
establish rules, regulations, and program procedures needed to 
implement the aflatoxin, size and quality requirements of the order. 
Rules, regulations and program procedures are recommended by the 
Committee, which is responsible for locally administering the order, 
for approval by the Secretary. Postponing the effective date of the 
order's regulatory provisions will allow the new Committee time to 
become more established and actively participate in implementing the 
order.
    Also, the postponed effective date would correspond with the 
beginning of the 2005 crop year. Given that the California pistachio 
marketing order is a newly established regulatory program, the 
Agricultural Marketing Service deems that the coordination of program 
reporting and recordkeeping requirements with the beginning of the 
program's fiscal and crop year as important to successful 
implementation of the order.
    Thus, the effective date of Sec. Sec.  983.38 through 983.45 should 
be delayed until August 1, 2005. This delay will provide sufficient 
time for the Committee to recommend any rules and regulations deemed 
necessary.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 983

    Marketing agreements, Pistachios, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

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

    Dated: December 29, 2004.
A. J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-182 Filed 1-4-05; 8:45 am]
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