[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2744-2763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-573]



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Part III





Department of Agriculture





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Agricultural Marketing Service



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7 CFR Parts 900, 1150, etc.



Exemption of Organic Handlers From Assessments for Market Promotion 
Activities Under Marketing Order Programs and Exemption of Organic 
Producers From Assessment by Research and Promotion Programs; Final 
Rules

  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 10 / Friday, January 14, 2005 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 2744]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Parts 1150, 1160, 1205, 1206, 1207, 1209, 1210, 1215, 1216, 
1218, 1219, 1220, 1230, 1240, 1250, 1260, and 1280

[Docket No. PY-02-006]
RIN 0581-AC15


Exempting Organic Producers From Assessment by Research and 
Promotion Programs

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule amends all 17 commodity research and promotion 
orders and/or rules and regulations to exempt any person receiving and 
handling solely 100 percent organic products from paying assessments to 
any research and promotion program administered by the Agricultural 
Marketing Service (AMS). To obtain an exemption, the person must 
operate under an approved organic system plan authorized by the 
National Organic Program (NOP) and produce and market only products 
that are eligible for a 100 percent organic label under the NOP. A 
separate final rule to exempt any person producing and marketing solely 
100 percent organic products from paying assessments for market 
promotion activities under certain marketing order programs 
administered by AMS is also being published in today's Federal 
Register.

DATES: Effective February 14, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela C. Snyder, Office of the Deputy 
Administrator, Poultry Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.; STOP 0256, 
Room 3932-South; Washington, DC 20250; (202) 720-4476 or (760) 386-
0424; (202) 720-5631 (fax); or e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Prior documents in this proceeding:
    Proposed Rule and Invitation for Comments on Proposed Amendments: 
Published April 26, 2004 [69 FR 22689]; Proposed Rule; Extension of 
Comment Period: Published May 26, 2004 [69 FR 29907].

Executive Order 12866

    This rule has been determined to be ``not significant'' for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866 and therefore has not been reviewed 
by the Office of Management and Budget.

Executive Order 12988

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. It is not intended to have retroactive effect. This 
rule would not preempt any State or local laws, regulations, or 
policies, unless they present an irreconcilable conflict with this 
rule.
    The Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996; 
Cotton Research and Promotion Act; Dairy Production Stabilization Act 
of 1983; Egg Research and Consumer Information Act; Fluid Milk 
Promotion Act of 1990; Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and 
Information Act of 2000; Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer 
Information Act; Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information 
Act of 1990; Popcorn Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act; 
Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985; Potato 
Research and Promotion Act; Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer 
Information Act; and Watermelon Research and Promotion Act provide that 
administrative proceedings must be exhausted before parties may file 
suit in court. Under these acts, any person subject to an order may 
file a petition with the Secretary of Agriculture 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. The petitioner 
is afforded the opportunity for a hearing on the petition. After the 
hearing, the Secretary will make a ruling on the petition. The acts 
provide that the district courts of the United States in any district 
in which the person is an inhabitant, or has his principal place of 
business, has jurisdiction to review the Secretary's ruling, provided a 
complaint is filed within 20 days from the date of the entry of ruling. 
There are no administrative proceedings that must be exhausted prior to 
any judicial challenge to the provisions of the Beef Promotion and 
Research Act of 1985.

Background

    Section 10607 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(Pub. L. 107-171)--known as the 2002 Farm Bill--amended Section 501 of 
the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 
7401) (FAIR Act) on May 13, 2002. The amendment exempts any person that 
produces and markets solely 100 percent organic products, and that does 
not produce any conventional or nonorganic products, from paying 
assessments under a commodity promotion law with respect to any 
agricultural commodity that is produced on a certified organic farm as 
defined in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 6502). USDA has implemented National Organic Program (NOP) 
requirements at 7 CFR part 205 to carry out the intent of the OFPA.
    The Farm Bill text reads as follows: ``Notwithstanding any 
provision of a commodity promotion law, a person that produces and 
markets solely 100 percent organic products, and that does not produce 
any conventional or nonorganic products, shall be exempt from the 
payment of an assessment under a commodity promotion law with respect 
to any agricultural commodity that is produced on a certified organic 
farm (as defined in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 
1990 (7 U.S.C. 6502)).''
    On April 26, 2004, a proposed rule was published in the Federal 
Register [69 FR 22690] inviting comments on a proposal to amend the 
orders and/or rules and regulations of the 16 research and promotion 
programs for which the U.S. Department of Agriculture has oversight. 
These amendments would establish a provision for organic producers and 
marketers meeting the specified criteria and procedures to be exempt 
from paying assessments under research and promotion programs.
    Interested parties were provided 30 days to comment on the proposed 
amendments. At the request of a commenter, the comment period was 
extended by an additional 30 days to June 25, 2004 [69 FR 29907, 
published May 26, 2004].

Summary of Changes From the Proposed Rule

    This final rule differs from the proposed rule in a number of 
respects.
     This final rule covers a new program for mangos that was 
implemented following publication of the proposed rule. Accordingly, a 
new Subpart C is added to 7 CFR part 1206.
     This final rule clarifies that, for the purpose of 
obtaining an assessment exemption, a person must operate under an NOP-
approved organic system plan and must produce and market only 
commodities eligible for a ``100 percent organic'' label under the NOP 
(7 CFR part 205.300-205.311). This applies to all commodities produced 
and marketed by the person, not only those covered by the applicable 
research and promotion program under which the exemption is sought.
     This final rule considers any assessment payer, for the 
purpose of

[[Page 2745]]

obtaining an exemption, to be the person that produces and markets the 
commodity. Accordingly, the regulatory text has been modified as 
appropriate to reflect this, and the definition of ``produce'' as 
proposed has been deleted. Therefore, persons other than producers are 
no longer required to alter a product. In addition, we have added a 
provision wherein products produced and marketed under an organic 
system plan but not sold, labeled, or represented as organic would not 
disqualify producers from exemption.
     An effective date is specified in the regulatory text of 
each program providing that the exemption will apply at the next 
assessable period following issuance of the Certificate of Exemption.
     Other changes made in the final rule include more specific 
language concerning the application form, clarifying the information 
required of importers, and a change from 30 to 60 days for boards and 
councils to grant or deny exemption requests during the first 6 months 
following the final rule's effective date.
     Miscellaneous changes to some programs' regulatory text 
were also made for clarity.

Summary of Comments

    We received 132 timely comments from individuals, conventional and 
organic farmers, industry organizations, research and promotion boards, 
organic trade organizations, a law firm, and a State department of 
agriculture. We also received 25 comments from organic farmers past the 
close of the comment period, but these did not raise any new issues.
    Of the 132 comments timely submitted, 9 were from conventional 
farmers, 96 were from organic farmers, 11 were from industry 
organizations, 4 were from organic organizations, 7 were from research 
and promotion boards, 1 was from an organic cooperative, 1 was from a 
State department of agriculture, 2 were from individuals, and 1 was 
from a law firm on behalf of an organic dairy. Of the timely comments, 
we received 89 form letters.
    The comments largely fall into two broad categories. One category 
addresses issues of assessment exemption eligibility and application of 
the FAIR Act. The other category addresses administrative and 
procedural issues.

Issues of Eligibility and Application of the FAIR Act

    Definition of Produce: The Farm Bill language states that any 
eligible person who produces and markets solely 100 percent organic 
products and meets the other specified requirements would be exempt 
from the applicable assessments. For the purpose of the proposed rule, 
we defined produce to mean ``to grow or produce food, feed, livestock, 
or fiber or to receive food, feed, livestock, or fiber and alter that 
product by means of feeding, slaughtering, or processing.''
    Some commenters stated that the definition of ``produce'' in the 
proposed rule was overly broad, not supported by statutory authority, 
and that it illegally expanded the application of the exemption to 
persons not intended to receive the exemption by including processing 
activities, either by processors or importers. Other commenters said 
that importers should not be exempt because the altering or processing 
would be done after the assessment is paid, because assessments are 
collected by the U.S. Customs Service at the time of entry into the 
country. In addition, commenters argued that someone who meets the 
``produce'' definition should do so for all of the exempt product; 
e.g., an importer who imports 10,000 pounds of 100 percent organic beef 
and processes 2 pounds should not be exempt from the entire assessment.
    Still other commenters commended AMS for recognizing that Congress 
intended to exempt not just producers but also handlers, first 
handlers, processors, importers, exporters, feeders, and seed stock 
producers.
    The Farm Bill refers to ``persons who produce,'' not ``producers.'' 
Therefore, any person who produces--whether a producer, importer, 
processor, or other entity--would qualify for exemption, assuming all 
of the specified criteria are met. We have reevaluated the definition 
of produce and determined that the phrase ``produces and markets'' 
should apply to the function the person performs that compels the 
payment of an assessment. In other words, for producers and seed stock 
producers, produce and market means to produce the commodity. For 
handlers and first handlers, produce and market means to handle the 
commodity; for importers, to import the commodity; for processors, to 
process; for feeders, to produce by feeding; and for exporters, to 
export. The regulatory text was changed accordingly, and we removed the 
definition of produce that appeared in the proposed rule.
    Solely 100 Percent Organic: The Farm Bill language states that in 
order to be eligible for exemption, the person must produce and market 
solely 100 percent organic products and must not produce any 
conventional or nonorganic products. The proposed rule was drafted to 
state that whatever the person produces must be 100 percent organic--
not just the commodity for which the exemption is sought.
    Some commenters encouraged narrow interpretation of the exemption--
that persons must meet the 100 percent definition for everything 
produced and that split operations should not qualify for the 
exemption. However, numerous commenters, including form letter 
submitters, said that a producer should only have to be certified as 
100 percent organic for the commodity for which the exemption is 
sought. They also stated that by referencing the Organic Foods 
Production Act (OFPA), Congress did not limit exemptions for approved 
split operations because Congress has determined that a split operation 
may produce 100 percent certified organic products. A few commenters 
said that rendering a certified organic farmer who produces any non-
organic commodity ineligible for exemption would be in conflict with 
the OFPA and Congressional intent.
    Furthermore, a large number of commenters, including form letter 
submitters, wrote that Congress' use of ``100 percent organic'' meant 
that the person's entire product line must be certified as organically 
produced and handled and did not refer to the labeling provisions that 
distinguish between the organic products bearing various percentages of 
organic ingredients.
    One commenter said that fluid milk can only be classified as 95 
percent or more organic due to the addition of vitamins and that 
Congress did not intend to exclude fluid milk processors, and a number 
of commenters, including form letter submitters, said this demonstrated 
that the rule was drawn too narrowly.
    The Farm Bill language requires that a person must produce and 
market solely 100 percent organic products in order to receive the 
exemption. Because of the construction of the language, we deem ``100 
percent organic'' to mean the labeling term described under the NOP and 
``solely 100 percent organic products'' to mean every product in the 
person's farm or operation. Therefore, our determination is that to be 
exempt, a person must produce only products eligible to be labeled as 
``100 percent organic,'' and this applies to all commodities, not just 
the commodity for which the exemption is sought. To be clear, this 
means that split operations will not qualify for exemption. However, 
handlers, first handlers, and processors who receive only 100 percent 
organic products from split operations will still qualify for 
exemption,

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provided they themselves are not certified as split operations.
    A small number of commenters stated that some provision should be 
made to exempt organic farms in transition. They provided two examples. 
In the first example, a certified organic farmer purchases 200 acres of 
adjacent land on which conventional hay is currently grown. The farmer 
begins to transition the land to make it eligible for organic 
certification. During the 3 years that the land is transitioning to 
become eligible, the hay may not be sold as organically produced, and 
the farmer would lose the exemption if the hay is sold conventionally. 
In the second example, a 100 percent organic farm expands its operation 
by converting some non-organic crop land to organic. Under NOP rules, 
the land must be farmed organically for 3 years to complete the 
transition, and during that time, the farmer would not be eligible for 
the exemption.
    Under the proposed rule, transitional farms, though not 
specifically mentioned, were ineligible for exemption because they are 
split operations and did not produce 100 percent organic products, and 
this is also reflected in the final rule. In the first example, the 
farmer would be certified under NOP as a split operation for 3 years 
until the transition is complete. Regardless of whether the hay is 
sold, it could not be labeled or marketed as 100 percent organic during 
the 3-year transition period. Since the farmer must have NOP 
certification and meet the threshold of solely 100 percent organic, the 
farmer would not be eligible for exemption until the entire farm or 
operation was converted to organic production. In the second example, 
the farmer owns non-organic crop land and would be certified as a 
split-farm operation, therefore making the farmer ineligible for 
exemption. Once the 3-year transition is complete and the entire 
operation is certified, the farmer would be eligible for exemption.
    A large number of commenters, including form letter submitters, 
said that an organic producer may be forced to sell an animal 
conventionally because of using antibiotics or pesticides or 
maintaining a buffer area. They said that, in isolated instances and 
for humane purposes, an organic producer may administer antibiotic 
treatment. However, that treatment would prevent the animal from being 
sold as organic. They also said that organic producers may be ordered 
to use chemicals as part of a mandatory disease treatment program, and 
those products cannot be sold as organic for 3 years. Furthermore, they 
said that under NOP rules, an organic operation must maintain a buffer 
area between the organic farm's crops and any neighboring non-organic 
fields, and crops harvested from a buffer zone cannot be marketed as 
organic. These commenters said that because isolated use of antibiotics 
and pesticides would not cause the organic producer to lose NOP 
certification and because buffer areas are required by NOP rules, 
organic producers should not lose their exemption as the result of 
conventional sales under these circumstances. Our determination is that 
if the products were produced organically, a conventional sale of those 
organic products would not nullify a person's exemption from 
assessment. Under the NOP, organic farmers do not lose certification on 
their organic farms if they must sell products conventionally, and we 
have taken the same view. Therefore, we have determined that as long as 
the person maintains NOP certification, producers (including seed stock 
producers and feeders) will still meet the threshold of solely 100 
percent organic for exemption if: (1) They give an animal antibiotic 
treatment or use pesticides or chemicals as a result of mandatory 
programs and market the resulting product as conventional, and/or (2) 
they sell products from a buffer area; provided they maintain NOP 
certification and are not a split operation. The regulatory language of 
those programs that assess producers, seed stock producers, and feeders 
(beef, blueberries, cotton, dairy, eggs, Hass avocados, honey, lamb, 
mushrooms, peanuts, pork, potatoes, soybeans, and watermelons) was 
changed accordingly.
    However, to be consistent with the requirement to market solely 100 
percent organic products, handlers, processors, and other assessment 
payers who also are producers may not handle, process, or otherwise 
market their nonorganic production, other than to sell it to another 
handler or processor. The regulatory language was changed accordingly. 
Handlers are assessed under the watermelon program, first handlers are 
assessed under the lamb and mango programs, and processors are assessed 
under the fluid milk and popcorn programs. Only handlers, first 
handlers, and processors that handle or process solely 100 percent 
organic products from certified producers are eligible for exemption. 
Moreover, if a handler or processor receives products from producers 
who produce both 100 percent organic and conventional products, 
products from buffer zones, or products treated with antibiotics or 
pesticides, that handler or processor is not eligible for exemption. To 
be exempt, these handlers or processors must receive and handle or 
process solely 100 percent organic products. The producers from whom 
they receive products can grow other products conventionally, provided 
all of the products the handler or processor receives are eligible to 
be labeled as 100 percent organic. However, a handler or processor who 
is also a producer under the NOP may not sell products from buffer 
zones or treated with antibiotics or pesticides under mandatory 
programs and still maintain exemption eligibility.

Administrative and Procedural Issues

    Effective Date and Initial Coverage: One commenter believed that 
the rule should specify that the exemption is not retroactive. As 
provided in this final rule, the exemption is not retroactive, but the 
regulatory text was changed to clarify the effective date. The 
exemption will apply at the next assessable period following issuance 
of the Certificate of Exemption. For some applicants, it will be the 
next month; for others, the next fiscal year, and each program's 
regulatory language addresses specifics.
    Application: A number of commenters, including form letter 
submitters, said that persons should not have to apply for exemption 
but instead should only have to present the certificate from the USDA-
accredited certifying agent. These commenters said that the certificate 
contains sufficient information to permit boards to determine exemption 
eligibility, and no additional paperwork should be required.
    Several of these commenters commended USDA for proposing reporting 
requirements that would solely use the certification documents from a 
USDA-accredited certifier to satisfy the eligibility requirements of 
``100 percent organic'' as defined by the NOP. The commenters are 
correct that the certificate from a USDA-accredited certifying agent 
indicates whether the person's farm or operation is certified as 
operating under an organic system plan. However, the application 
provides additional information that is necessary for boards to 
determine whether the person meets the threshold for solely 100 percent 
organic and other specified criteria.
    Commenters also stated that they agreed with the proposed rule that 
the application should include only the following: Name, address, a 
copy of the organic exemption certificate, and a signed declaration 
that the farmer meets the qualifications for exemption. They said that 
if the form requires information beyond what is addressed in the 
regulatory text, the public must

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have a chance to comment. While the proposed regulatory text addressed 
the information requested on the form as ``name, address, copy of the 
organic certificate, and a signed certification * * *,'' the 
supplementary information of the proposed rule outlined this 
information in greater detail. This included the applicant's name, the 
name and address of the company, telephone and fax numbers, a copy of 
the organic certification, and a signed certification that the person 
meets the qualification for exemption.
    Herein, we are clarifying that some additional information is 
needed on the form that is part of the person's signed certification. 
This includes a list of commodities marketed by the applicant, and 
assertions that the applicant is certified, produces solely 100 percent 
organic products, and is not a split operation. Also, the form asks for 
an e-mail address, but this is optional. The proposed rule estimated 
that this form would take 30 minutes to complete, and the information 
that was not specifically itemized was and remains included in the 
paperwork burden estimate.
    These commenters also said that in requiring farmers to certify 
that they produce solely 100 percent organic products, the potential 
for confusion exists because this terminology differs from the typical 
language used by certifying agents. As part of their application, 
organic persons must submit a copy of their certification from a USDA-
accredited certifying agent. The boards will evaluate the remainder of 
the application to determine whether or not the person meets the 
threshold of solely 100 percent organic, though it should be readily 
apparent whether the applicant qualifies. Therefore, no changes were 
made.
    In response to one comment, we amended the regulatory text to 
reflect that the information required from importer applicants is the 
same as that required from other applicants. While that was the intent 
of the proposed rule, the regulatory text reflected slightly different 
requirements.
    We did not adopt a recommendation from several commenters that 
would require persons to submit, in lieu of an application, a notice of 
eligibility to the applicable board, along with any materials necessary 
to demonstrate that eligibility. The commenters also suggested that 
persons with less than $5,000 in income be required to file an 
affidavit and notify the board of any change in eligibility within 30 
days. Our determination is that the notice of eligibility or affidavit 
would virtually be the same burden as the application. Moreover, not 
only is the application minimally burdensome, but it is also necessary 
for boards to annually determine an applicant's eligibility and to 
verify compliance.
    One commenter drafted a form and suggested its use by applicants, 
and an industry organization suggested a three-part form with copies 
going to the producer, purchaser, and State council. The information 
requested on this form was, in our view, not sufficient to determine 
whether the applicant met the criteria for exemption. Therefore, we did 
not adopt this suggestion.
    Several commenters said that the certification process must be 
tightly controlled to prevent abuse. We believe that the process is 
sufficiently controlled between the application, documentation, and 
compliance measures. Furthermore, the exemption process is consistent 
with the process used by those programs with de minimis exemptions.
    One commenter said that the paperwork associated with the 
exemptions will be costly to the boards and divert funds from promotion 
and research and activities. Our response is that while there will be 
some expense involved in administering the exemption, we have taken 
steps to simplify and standardize the boards' processes and minimize 
costs.
    Requirement to Reapply Annually: The proposed rule required that 
the exempt person must reapply on an annual basis.
    One commenter supported annual recertification, but a number of 
commenters said that annual recertification is overly burdensome 
because NOP certificates are good until suspended, surrendered, or 
revoked. These commenters said that this requirement is unnecessary if 
the organic certificate is used. Instead, the burden should be on the 
farmer to notify the boards of any change in status and then repay any 
assessments owed. Some commenters urged AMS to provide strong language 
for revoking the exemption when its requirements are no longer 
satisfied.
    We reviewed this issue and did not remove the requirement to 
reapply annually because we believe that in order for boards to 
maintain compliance, an annual application is necessary. Boards must 
keep up with assessment payers' evolving operations, and an annual 
application is preferable to relying on exempt parties to notify boards 
of any changes. Without an annual application, persons who thought they 
were exempt but should not have been could end up owing a significant 
amount of outstanding assessments. The burden of reapplying annually is 
negligible compared to the benefits of exemption. Furthermore, this 
requirement is consistent with existing rules and regulations 
specifying that those who apply for exemption for de minimis reasons 
must do so every year.
    We did not adopt a suggestion from one commenter that, in lieu of 
annual recertification, the research and promotion boards take the 
money they have collected from organic producers and use it to send 
notifications to collecting handlers (or other parties that collect 
assessments from the assessment payer) and to include information about 
the organic exemption in all future literature about commodity checkoff 
programs. Notification will be made to the industry as a whole through 
this rule and a news release, and exempt persons are required to notify 
any person who collects and remits their assessments, if applicable, of 
their exempt status.
    Deadline for Granting Exemptions: The proposed rule stated that the 
boards/councils will grant or deny applications for exemption within 30 
days.
    A handful of commenters said that the 30-day deadline for granting 
exemptions is too short. Instead, boards should have 60 days to grant 
exemptions. We reviewed this recommendation and are maintaining the 30-
day deadline. This timeframe was included to ensure that qualifying 
persons receive the organic exemption in a timely manner. Moreover, 
there should be no deliberation based on the information that is 
requested on the form; it should be readily apparent whether or not 
applicants qualify. However, we recognize that boards may need 
additional time up-front to establish procedures. To that end, we 
amended the rule to allow boards 60 days to grant exemptions within the 
first 6 months of this rule's effective date. After 6 months, the 
timeframe will revert to 30 days.
    Notification of Denial: One commenter said that the rule should 
specify in writing that farmers who are denied the exemption are timely 
notified in writing. The regulatory language was amended to reflect 
that persons denied the exemption will be notified in writing within 
the same timeframe as those granted the exemption.
    An organic organization said that the rule should clarify that a 
person meeting the requirements of the application is presumed to be 
exempt and should further clarify the circumstances under which the 
applicant could be denied exemption. To clarify, any person meeting all 
criteria will be granted the exemption. Reasons for denial include

[[Page 2748]]

lack of NOP certification, failure to meet the definition of person, or 
failure to meet the threshold of solely 100 percent organic.
    In addition, we described an appeals process in the supplementary 
information.
    Recordkeeping: One commenter said that the rule should include a 
requirement to maintain exemption records for a term that is consistent 
with the term required for keeping records for compliance audits, and 
three commenters (one research and promotion board and two industry 
organizations) said that the rule should specify that boards and 
recordkeepers must maintain records for 7 years for compliance 
purposes. We did not adopt either of these suggestions because the 
individual orders and/or regulations already address recordkeeping 
requirements, and the 7-year period is beyond the 2 years generally 
specified.
    Two commenters said that the rule should specify an obligation to 
make available all records necessary to verify compliance, but we did 
not incorporate this suggestion. Recordkeeping requirements are already 
spelled out in the various orders and/or regulations, and specifying an 
obligation to make these documents available would be redundant.
    Collecting Handlers: A few commenters wanted to replace the 
provisions requiring the person to provide a copy of the exemption 
certificate to each person responsible for collecting and remitting the 
assessment. Instead, the person would be required to provide a 
correctly completed original and numbered exemption certificate at the 
time of sale from a book of certificates obtained from the board. We 
did not adopt this suggestion because we believe it is unnecessary and 
would put undue burden on the exempt person and the boards.
    Several commenters said that for the beef program, the collecting 
point (the one who reports to the State beef council) should list 
cattle on the monthly remittance report like they would report another 
State of origin. We reviewed this recommendation and determined that no 
change was needed in the rule. Instead, the boards will develop 
guidance or instructions for collecting handlers or whatever party is 
responsible for collecting and remitting assessments to report to the 
boards any commodity that was not assessed because of the organic 
exemption. This reporting would be handled on existing handler or 
remittance forms and would not add additional paperwork burden.
    One commenter said that the rule should specify that any watermelon 
handler that handles both organic and non-organic products cannot 
exempt any part of the assessments collected from the producer, nor 
from that handler's portion of the assessment for either organic or 
non-organic product. In response to this comment, we did not amend the 
rule. Under the watermelon program, handlers are assessed in addition 
to producers and importers. In the case of a producer selling to a 
handler, the producer pays an assessment on watermelons produced, which 
the handler collects and remits, and the handler also pays an 
assessment on watermelons handled. To be exempt, the producer must meet 
the specified criteria; likewise, for the handler to be exempt, the 
handler must meet the specified criteria. If the producer is exempt but 
the handler is not, the handler must pay assessments on all products 
handled. In no case, though, would the handler have to remit an 
assessment from an exempt producer on watermelons produced by that 
producer.
    One commenter said that specific reporting procedures need to be 
included for producers and collecting points to ensure that organic and 
nonorganic commodities are not mixed and that only certified organic 
commodities are subject to the exemption. In response to this comment, 
we did not make any changes to the rule. Persons are exempt under this 
rule, not commodities. Since only persons certified as 100 percent 
organic can be exempt, there should be no question of mixing organic 
and nonorganic commodities in terms of the exemption.
    Compliance: A number of commenters said that AMS and NOP should 
work in active cooperation with the boards on compliance. Another 
commenter said that sellers, purchasers, and handlers should be able to 
access full disclosure of animals that have been exempt from 
assessment; to that end, USDA should maintain a database indicating the 
name and address of any exempt person and the period of exemption. A 
number of commenters said that the rule should require USDA to provide 
quarterly updates to boards showing farmers certified as organic and 
those whose certification has been revoked. We are not establishing a 
database for public access, but we concur that we should assist the 
boards' compliance efforts. Therefore, while no change was made to the 
regulatory text, we will share with the boards information in some form 
as appropriate for the boards to maintain an effective compliance 
program.
    We did not adopt suggestions from commenters to specify that a 
person claiming organic exemption is subject to a board audit or to 
urge board staff to conduct regular audits. Since the boards already 
have the authority to conduct audits to maintain or verify compliance, 
it was unnecessary to articulate this in the regulatory text.
    Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) Numbers: One commenter asked for 
clarification on the process by which a board issued an HTS 
classification to an importer, while another said that the rule should 
specify that boards should consult with the U.S. Customs Service to 
establish an HTS number. However, no changes were made to the rule. AMS 
will work with the boards to establish HTS numbers, and we do not 
believe the process needs to be articulated in the regulatory text.
    State Programs: A commenter expressed concern that organic farmers 
could incorrectly believe that they are also exempt from paying 
assessments required by State law. Similarly, other commenters said 
that it should be the boards' responsibility to inform the exempt 
person that the exemption only covers national program assessments and 
not a State program authorized by State law and that the certificate of 
exemption should clearly state that the person is not exempt under any 
State law. We did not adopt these suggestions. The 17 programs affected 
by this exemption are identified in this final rule as the only 
programs for which an organic exemption can be obtained, and we do not 
believe it is necessary to articulate this in the regulatory text.
    Other Comments: We did not adopt a suggestion from several 
commenters that the rule state that the exemption is granted to the 
person and not the commodity. We believe the rule is clear that persons 
are exempt from paying assessments, not that commodities are exempt 
from being assessed.
    One commenter expressed concern about the administration and 
implementation of the exemption and said that there should be one 
governing body controlling certification and exemption requirements. 
This commenter suggested that the boards would best be able to spot 
forgeries and should therefore be the designated governing body. We 
determined that no changes to the rule are necessary. The proposed rule 
specified that the boards or their designees administer the exemption. 
The reason designees are included is that in the beef program, the 
Qualified State Beef Councils are responsible for receiving 
assessments, and the Board only receives assessments

[[Page 2749]]

directly in cases where there is no State beef council.
    Other commenters said that the rule should specify that the exempt 
organic person cannot be owned or affiliated with a person who pays 
assessments to a research and promotion board, nor can they be 
affiliated with a person who produces conventional products. In 
response to these comments, one commenter stated that nothing in the 
law permits USDA to make distinctions based on corporate structure. We 
reviewed these comments. The Farm Bill specifies that the exemption is 
granted to persons that produce and market solely 100 percent organic 
products, and a person can be an individual, group of individuals, 
corporation, association, cooperative, or other business entity. 
Therefore, no changes were made to the rule.
    A commenter said that the rule should more strictly and accurately 
specify and define those who qualify and do not qualify. However, we 
did not believe any changes to the rule were necessary in light of the 
comment discussion, supplementary information, and examples contained 
herein addressing eligibility.
    We did not adopt a suggestion from one commenter to address 
importers in the dairy regulations (7 CFR part 1105). Separate 
rulemaking to assess importers under the dairy promotion and research 
program is not finalized. Consequently, we cannot address the organic 
exemption for importers under the dairy promotion and research 
regulations until a final rule has been issued and importers become 
subject to assessment.
    We incorporated, with modification as necessary, certain editorial 
comments concerning regulatory text to correct and consolidate 
references to assessment payers and clarify provisions in 7 CFR part 
1240.
    We incorporated, with modification as necessary, a comment 
concerning regulatory text in 7 CFR part 1260 to clarify that the board 
or a State beef council receives assessments under the beef promotion 
and research program.

Provisions of This Rule

    The FAIR Act amendment covers research and promotion programs 
established under either free-standing legislation (beef, cotton, eggs, 
fluid milk, dairy, Hass avocados, honey, mushrooms, popcorn, pork, 
potatoes, soybeans, and watermelons) or the Commodity Promotion, 
Research, and Information Act of 1996 (blueberries, lamb, mangos, and 
peanuts).
    When the proposed rule on this organic exemption was issued, 
rulemaking to establish a mango program was ongoing. A second proposed 
rule on the Mango Promotion, Research and Information Order was 
published in the October 9, 2003, issue of the Federal Register [68 FR 
58556]. In November 2003, first handlers and importers of mangos voted 
to approve a national mango promotion, research, and information order. 
A final rule was published on October 4, 2004 [69 FR 59120], and the 
mango promotion, research, and information program became effective 
November 4, 2004, and was codified at 7 CFR part 1206. The proposed 
rule on the organic exemption outlined that if the mango program were 
finalized, provisions similar to those proposed for Hass avocados (7 
CFR part 1219) would be added to exempt persons producing and marketing 
solely 100 percent organic products from paying assessments under a 
mango research and promotion program. Consequently, a new Subpart C was 
added to 7 CFR part 1206 to establish rules and regulations addressing 
how eligible organic first handlers and importers of mangos would 
obtain an exemption.
    Wholly industry-funded and -operated and charged with creating and 
expanding markets for the agricultural commodities they represent, 
these programs are overseen by AMS, including review of budgets, plans, 
and projects. Producers, handlers, importers, and/or others in the 
marketing chain pay assessments to these commodity boards to fund the 
programs. Industries voluntarily request these programs. Research and 
promotion programs allow industries to establish, finance, and carry 
out coordinated programs of research, producer and consumer education, 
and promotion to improve, maintain, and develop markets for their 
commodities.
    Under this proposal, language would be added to the orders, plans, 
and/or regulations of each program specifying the criteria for 
identifying persons eligible to obtain an assessment exemption and 
procedures for applying for an exemption. The provision would be 
tailored to each of the 17 programs, all of which have structural and 
operational distinctions. The result would be some procedural 
differences between the programs' regulatory language. For example, 
under the cotton program, producers would be required to reapply for 
exemption every year on or before the beginning of the crop year [see 
Sec.  1205.519(b)]. Under the watermelon program, however, producers 
and handlers would reapply for exemption on or before January 1 of each 
year [see Sec.  1210.516(b)].

Who Is Eligible for Exemption

    To be eligible for an exemption, the person must be subject to an 
assessment under a research and promotion program administered by AMS. 
Of the 17 research and promotion programs covered under this proposed 
rule, 14 assess producers. Most of these programs also assess other 
entities, including handlers, first handlers, importers, exporters, 
feeders, and seed stock producers. One program assesses first handlers 
and importers, and two programs assess processors.
    The FAIR Act amendment specifies that to be exempt from a commodity 
promotion assessment, a person--meaning an individual, group of 
individuals, corporation, association, cooperative, or other business 
entity--must produce and market solely 100 percent organic products and 
must not produce any nonorganic or conventional products. For purposes 
of this rule, produce and market means the function the person performs 
requiring the payment of an assessment. For producers and seed stock 
producers, it means to produce the commodity; for handlers and first 
handlers, it means to handle; for importers, it means to import; for 
processors, it means to process; for feeders, to produce by feeding; 
and for exporters, to export.
    Regardless, to be exempt, all persons must possess certification 
from a USDA-accredited certifying agent and certify that the farm or 
handling operation meets the requirements of 100 percent organic as 
defined in 7 CFR part 205 and other specified criteria. Exemption 
eligibility is based on a three-prong test: (1) The person must be a 
certified organic producer or operator; (2) the person must be eligible 
to label all products as 100 percent organic as described in 7 CFR part 
205; and (3) the 100 percent organic labeling eligibility applies to 
every commodity the person produces and markets.
    Selling an organic product in the conventional marketplace does not 
nullify the exemption eligibility of a producer, seed stock producer, 
or feeder. A person who produces and markets agricultural commodities 
under an approved organic system plan and is not a split operation as 
described under the NOP will not be disqualified from exemption when 
the agricultural commodities produced and marketed under the plan are 
not sold, labeled, or represented as organic. In other words, if 
products are certified as 100 percent organic, a person who sells some 
of these products in the conventional marketplace is not disqualified 
from the exemption. There could be a variety of

[[Page 2750]]

reasons why a producer, seed stock producer, or feeder would sell 
organic products through conventional channels. These include lack of 
demand for organic products or lack of sufficient organic markets.

Examples

     A farmer grows 100 percent organic soybeans and 100 
percent organic corn. The farmer is eligible for exemption under the 
soybean promotion, research, and consumer information program.
     A farmer grows 100 percent organic soybeans and 
conventional corn. While the farmer's soybean land may be certified as 
operating under an organic system plan, the farmer is a split operation 
and is therefore not eligible for exemption under the soybean 
promotion, research, and consumer information program because the 
farmer's production is not solely 100 percent organic.
     An importer imports only 100 percent organic boxed beef. 
The importer is eligible for exemption under the beef promotion and 
research program.
     A farmer grows 100 percent organic soybeans but, because 
of a State-mandated disease eradication program, must sell the affected 
soybeans conventionally for the next 3 years. Assuming the farmer 
remains certified, the farmer is eligible for exemption under the 
soybean promotion, research, and consumer information program, even 
during the 3-year period.
     A watermelon handler receives solely 100 percent organic 
watermelons. One of the handler's producers is required by the State 
government to spray all or a portion of the watermelons with chemicals 
to eradicate a disease. The producer maintains NOP certification during 
the 3-year period in which the watermelons must be sold conventionally, 
during which time the handler handles this producer's watermelons. The 
handler is not eligible for exemption.
     A certified producer grows soybeans which are 100 percent 
organic. The producer purchases neighboring land that has grown 
conventional soybeans and plans to farm that land organically. Under 
NOP rules, it will be 3 years before that newly acquired land can be 
certified. The producer is not eligible for exemption under the soybean 
promotion, research, and consumer information program because the 
producer does not meet the threshold of solely 100 percent organic.
     A watermelon handler receives solely 100 percent organic 
watermelons from a watermelon producer who also grows conventional 
products and is certified under NOP as a split farm operation. The 
handler handles only 100 percent organic products. The handler is 
eligible for exemption.
     A fluid milk processor processes organic milk, but the 
milk does not meet the threshold of 100 percent organic as defined 
under NOP because of the addition of vitamins. The fluid milk processor 
is not eligible for exemption.

Procedures

    According to the 2002 Farm Bill, any person that produces and 
markets solely 100 percent organic products, and that does not produce 
any conventional or non-organic products, is exempt from paying 
assessments under a commodity promotion law with respect to any 
agricultural commodity that is produced on a certified organic farm as 
defined in 7 CFR 205. Produce and market means the function the person 
performs that requires the payment of assessment. For producers, 
produce and market means to produce the commodity. For handlers, it 
means to handle; for importers, to import; for processors, to process; 
etc.
    To be exempt from paying assessments under a research and promotion 
program administered by AMS, the person would submit an application--
``Organic Exemption Request Form''--to the applicable board or council. 
The form would need to be submitted to the board, council, or other 
party designated by the board or council prior to or during the initial 
applicable assessment period and annually thereafter as long as the 
applicant continues to be eligible for the exemption. This application 
would include the applicant's name, name and address of the company, 
telephone and fax numbers, a copy of the applicant's organic farm or 
organic handling operation certificate provided by a USDA-accredited 
certifying agent under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 6502), and a signed certification that the applicant meets all 
of the requirements specified for an assessment exemption. This signed 
declaration includes additional information necessary to demonstrate 
eligibility.
    If the applicant complies with these requirements and is eligible 
for an assessment exemption, the board or council would approve the 
exemption and notify the applicant. For the first 6 months following 
the rule's effective date, boards or councils will have 60 days to 
approve the exemption request. After that, boards or councils will have 
30 days to approve the exemption request.
    If the application is disapproved, the board or council would 
notify the applicant of the reason(s) for disapproval within the same 
timeframe. Applicants may appeal if a board or council does not approve 
their exemption requests. The first appeal level would be the board or 
council. If the applicant is still not satisfied with the decision made 
by the committee or board on appeal, the applicant may appeal to USDA. 
All decisions of USDA will be final.
    For the purpose of assuring fair and consistent treatment of all 
persons applying for organic assessment exemptions, USDA has the right 
to review any decision made by the boards or councils.
    Most of the programs require that the person responsible for 
remitting assessments on behalf of the exempt party maintain a record 
of that party's exemption. In most cases, this is a handler maintaining 
a record of an exempt producer.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The provisions of the proposed rule were carefully reviewed, and 
every effort was made to minimize information collection requirements 
and still ensure effective administration of the exemption. In 
accordance with OMB regulations [5 CFR 1320], which implement the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the information 
collection and recordkeeping requirements that are imposed by this rule 
were submitted to OMB as a reinstatement with change under control 
number 0581-0217.
    This action will enable organic producers and marketers to apply 
for exemption under the following 17 research and promotion programs: 7 
CFR parts 1150, 1160, 1205, 1206, 1207, 1209, 1210, 1215, 1216, 1218, 
1219, 1220, 1230, 1240, 1250, 1260, and 1280. Producers and marketers 
include producers, handlers, first handlers, processors, exporters, 
feeders, and seed stock producers.
    Form AMS-15, Organic Exemption Request Form, was described in the 
proposed rule as requiring the applicant's name, name and address of 
the company, telephone and fax numbers, a copy of the applicant's 
organic farm or organic handling certificate provided by a USDA-
accredited certifying agent under the Organic Foods Production Act of 
1990 (7 U.S.C. 6502), and a signed certification that the applicant 
meets all of the requirements specified for an assessment exemption. 
This signed certification includes providing certain additional 
information. This is a list of

[[Page 2751]]

commodities marketed by the applicant and assertions that the applicant 
is not a split operation and produces and markets only products 
eligible to be labeled as 100 percent organic. Also, the form asks for 
an e-mail address, but this is optional.
    As a result of comments received, the Organic Exemption Request 
Form was modified to eliminate some information that was part of the 
signed certification that we no longer deemed applicable and add some 
information that was determined to be necessary. This revised 
information has no affect on the burden or description of the form.
    Title: Organic Producer and Marketer Exemption from Assessment 
Under Research and Promotion Programs
    OMB Number: 0581-0217.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Abstract: The information collection requirements in this request 
are essential to carry out the intent of the 2002 Farm Bill in 
exempting from assessment persons who produce and market solely 100 
percent organic products.
    The request for approval of the new information collection is as 
follows:
    Form AMS-15, Organic Exemption Request Form:
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Eligible Certified Organic Producers and Marketers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,165.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,082.5 hours.
    Most of the programs require that the person responsible for 
remitting assessments on behalf of the exempt party maintain a record 
of that party's exemption. In most cases, this is a handler maintaining 
a record of an exempt producer. The burdens on these persons for such 
recordkeeping requirements are included in the information collection 
requests previously approved for all of the programs--Hass avocados 
under OMB control number 0581-0197, beef and pork under 0590-0001, lamb 
under 0581-0198, mangos under 0581-0209, and the rest under 0581-0093.
    The information collection will be used only by authorized 
representatives of USDA, including AMS staff, and authorized 
representatives of the boards and councils or their designees. 
Authorized representatives of the boards and councils (or their 
designees) will be the primary users of the information, and AMS will 
be the secondary user.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    In accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq.) (RFA), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has examined the 
impact of the proposed rule on small entities. The purpose of the RFA 
is to fit regulatory actions to the scale of businesses subject to such 
actions so that small businesses will not be disproportionately 
burdened.
    As previously mentioned, producers, handlers, first handlers, 
processors, importers, exporters, feeders, and seed stock producers pay 
assessments to the national boards or councils that administer various 
commodity research and promotion programs, or in some cases to other 
parties designated by a board or council to collect assessments. 
Initiated as a result of the 2002 Farm Bill, which amended Section 501 
of the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (FAIR 
Act), this rule exempts from assessment those entities that produce and 
market solely 100 percent organic products.
    To obtain the exemption, eligible producers, handlers, first 
handlers, processors, importers, exporters, feeders, and seed stock 
producers must submit a request for exemption to the appropriate board 
or council on a form. While the rule imposes certain reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements on these entities, the form requires the 
minimum information necessary to effectively administer the exemption 
provision, and its use is necessary for compliance purposes.
    In preparing its initial regulatory flexibility analysis, AMS 
attempted to identify the entities that would be affected by the 
proposed rule and to examine the potential impact on such entities. 
However, information was not available to allow AMS to determine 
whether any importers would be covered by this proposed rule under the 
beef and pork programs. In addition, information was not available to 
allow AMS to identify the respondents under the lamb program as 
producers, first handlers, feeders, exporters, and seed stock 
producers, so AMS addressed the lamb program in the aggregate to 
determine the economic impact. Because a provision for mangos was 
included in this final rule, information on mangos was obtained and 
used to prepare the final regulatory flexibility analysis.
    The estimated respondents providing new information to the boards 
or councils and the burden associated with the information collections 
is as follows. There would be an estimated 2,165 respondents providing 
new information to the boards or councils under the following programs:
    Beef: 167 producers, number of importers unknown (167 total).
    Blueberries: 7 producers, 0 importers (7 total).
    Cotton: 100 producers, 10 importers (110 total).
    Dairy: 600 producers.
    Eggs: 0 producers.
    Fluid milk: 0 processors.
    Hass avocados: 60 producers, 0 importers (60 total).
    Honey: 10 producers, 0 importers (10 total).
    Lamb: 40 respondents (including producers, first handlers, feeders, 
seed stock producers, and exporters).
    Mangos: 1 first handler, 5 importers (6 total).
    Mushrooms: 2 producers, 0 importers (2 total).
    Peanuts: 54 producers.
    Popcorn: 0 processors.
    Pork: 18 producers, number of importers unknown (18 total).
    Potatoes: 35 producers, 0 importers (35 total).
    Soybeans: 1,028 producers.
    Watermelons: 27 producers, 1 handler, 0 importers (28 total).
    No respondents were identified for the fluid milk, popcorn, and egg 
programs. The fluid milk and egg programs exempt smaller entities from 
assessment--fluid milk processors processing 3 million pounds or less 
during the first month of the fiscal period and egg producers owning 
75,000 or fewer laying hens. Among assessment payers, no solely 100 
percent organic processors or producers are known; if they exist, they 
are already exempt for de minimis reasons. No popcorn processors that 
produce (as defined in this rule) solely 100 percent organic product 
were identified because of the current nature of the popcorn industry.
    The burden associated with the information collection would be 
$10,825.00 for all respondents, or $5.00 per respondent. These totals 
have been estimated by multiplying the burden hours associated with the 
exemption request form by $10.00 per hour, a sum deemed to be 
reasonable should the respondents be compensated for their time.
    Under the 17 research and promotion programs, those assessed pay 
assessments to the boards and councils that administer the programs. 
The total annual collections and assessment rates for each board or 
council are as follows:
    Beef: $83.6 million; $1 per head.

[[Page 2752]]

    Blueberries: $1.5 million; $12 per ton.
    Cotton: $65.2 million; $1 per bale plus 0.5 percent of the value of 
the lint in each bale.
    Dairy: $255.0 million; 15 cents per cwt.
    Eggs: $19.7 million; 10 cents per 30-dozen case of eggs.
    Fluid milk: $106.2 million; 20 cents per cwt.
    Hass avocados: $16.3 million; 2.5 cents per pound.
    Honey: $3.6 million; 1 cent per pound.
    Lamb: $3.5 million; $0.005 per pound of live weight, $0.30 per head 
on lambs purchased for slaughter.
    Mangos: $2.5 million; 0.5 cents per pound.
    Mushrooms: $1.7 million; .002 cents per pound.
    Peanuts: $6.7 million; 1 percent of the value of the peanuts.
    Popcorn: $558,000; 6 cents per cwt.
    Pork: $47.8 million; 0.40 percent of the market value.
    Potatoes: $8.6 million; 2 cents per cwt.
    Soybeans: $77.8 million; \1/2\ of 1 percent of the net market 
value.
    Watermelons: $1.5 million; 2 cents per cwt for domestic watermelons 
produced, 2 cents per cwt for domestic watermelons first handled, 4 
cents per cwt for imported watermelons.
    The Small Business Administration [13 CFR 121.201] defines small 
agricultural producers as those having annual receipts of $750,000 or 
less annually and small agricultural service firms as those having 
annual receipts of $5 million or less. These include producers, 
feeders, and seed stock producers. Importers, exporters, handlers, and 
first handlers would be considered agricultural service firms. Using 
these criteria, most if not all of the agricultural producers and 
agricultural service firms covered by this rule would be considered 
small businesses.
    This rule allows producers and marketers of solely 100 percent 
organic products to request an exemption from paying assessments. These 
exemptions were estimated by multiplying the exempt volume by the 
assessment rate, and the amounts for exempt entities would be as 
follows:
    Beef: producers--$15,197; importers--unknown.
    Blueberries: producers--$5,833; importers--$0 ($5,833 total).
    Cotton: producers--$52,000; importers--$25,000 ($77,000 total).
    Dairy: producers--$1.33 million.
    Eggs: producers--$0.
    Fluid milk: processors--$0.
    Hass avocados: producers--$91,000; importers--$0 ($91,000 total).
    Honey: producers--$11,174; importers--$0 ($11,174 total).
    Lamb: $2,987 total (includes producers, first handlers, feeders, 
seed stock producers, and exporters).
    Mangos: $30,000 (includes first handlers and importers).
    Mushrooms: producers--$14,400; importers--$0 ($14,400 total).
    Peanuts: producers--$18,690.
    Popcorn: processors--$0.
    Pork: producers--$966; importers--unknown.
    Potatoes: producers--$45,000; importers--$0 ($45,000 total).
    Soybeans: producers--$40,273.
    Watermelons: producers--$17,890; handlers--$950; importers--$0 
($18,840 total).
    Therefore, the estimated net economic impact of this rule on the 
respondents is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Paperwork      Exemption from
                           Program                               burden costs     assessments       Net amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beef.........................................................             $835          $15,197          $14,362
Blueberries..................................................               35            5,833            5,798
Cotton.......................................................              550           77,000           76,450
Dairy........................................................            3,000        1,330,000        1,327,000
Eggs.........................................................                0                0                0
Fluid milk...................................................                0                0                0
Hass avocados................................................              300           91,000           90,700
Honey........................................................               50           11,174           11,124
Lamb.........................................................              200            2,987            2,787
Mangos.......................................................               60           30,000           29,940
Mushrooms....................................................               10           14,400           14,390
Peanuts......................................................              270           18,690           18,420
Popcorn......................................................                0                0                0
Pork.........................................................               90              966              876
Potatoes.....................................................              175           45,000           44,825
Soybeans.....................................................            5,140           40,273           35,133
Watermelons..................................................              140           18,840           18,700
                                                              ------------------
      Total..................................................           10,825        1,701,360        1,690,505
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Based on the above figures, this rule should have only a beneficial 
economic effect on small entities.
    Reports and forms are periodically reviewed to reduce information 
requirements and duplication by industry and public sector agencies. In 
addition, USDA has not identified any relevant Federal rules that 
duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this rule.
    With regard to alternatives, the FAIR Act required USDA to take 
this action, which will lessen the assessment costs for persons who 
produce and market solely 100 percent organic products. In drafting the 
exemption procedures, every effort has been made to minimize the burden 
on the persons impacted and to simplify the process. The anticipated 
assessment reductions for eligible persons are expected to greatly 
outweigh the costs related to the additional reporting.

List of Subjects

7 CFR Part 1150

    Dairy products, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Research.

7 CFR Part 1160

    Fluid milk products, Milk, Promotion.

7 CFR Part 1205

    Advertising, Agricultural Research, Cotton, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

7 CFR Part 1206

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Consumer 
information, Mangos, Marketing agreements, Promotion, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

[[Page 2753]]

7 CFR Part 1207

    Advertising, Agricultural research, Potatoes, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

7 CFR Part 1209

    Advertising, Agricultural Research, Marketing agreements, 
Mushrooms, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

7 CFR Part 1210

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Agricultural 
research, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Watermelons.

7 CFR Part 1215

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Consumer 
information, Marketing agreements, Popcorn, Promotion, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

7 CFR Part 1216

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Consumer 
information, Marketing agreements, Peanut promotion, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

7 CFR Part 1218

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Blueberries, 
Consumer information, Marketing agreements, Blueberry promotion, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

7 CFR Part 1219

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Consumer 
information, Hass avocados, Marketing agreements, Promotion, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements.

7 CFR Part 1220

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Agricultural 
research, Marketing agreements, Soybeans and soybean products, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

7 CFR Part 1230

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Agricultural 
research, Marketing agreement, Meat and meat products, Pork and pork 
products.

7 CFR Part 1240

    Advertising, Agricultural research, Honey, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

7 CFR Part 1250

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Agricultural 
research, Eggs and egg products, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

7 CFR Part 1260

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Agricultural 
research, Imports, Marketing agreements, Meat and meat products, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

7 CFR Part 1280

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Consumer 
information, Lamb and lamb products, Marketing agreements, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements.

0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR parts 1150, 1160, 
1205, 1206, 1207, 1209, 1210, 1215, 1216, 1218, 1219, 1220, 1230, 1240, 
1250, 1260, and 1280 are amended as follows:

PART 1150--DAIRY PROMOTION

0
1. The authority citation for part 1150 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 4501-4514 and 7 U.S.C. 7401

.0
2. Add a new Sec.  1150.157 to read as follows:


Sec.  1150.157  Assessment exemption.

    (a) A producer described in Sec.  1150.152 (a) and (b) who operates 
under an approved National Organic Program (NOP) (7 CFR part 205) 
system plan; produces only products that are eligible to be labeled as 
100 percent organic under the NOP, except as provided for in paragraph 
(h) of this section; and is not a split operation shall be exempt from 
the payment of assessments.
    (b) To apply for an exemption under this section, a producer 
pursuant to Sec.  1150.152 (a) and (b) shall submit a request for 
exemption to the Board on a form provided by the Board at any time 
initially and annually thereafter on or before July 1 as long as the 
producer continues to be eligible for the exemption.
    (c) The request shall include the following: the producer's name 
and address, a copy of the organic farm or organic handling operation 
certificate provided by a USDA-accredited certifying agent as defined 
in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
6502), a signed certification that the applicant meets all of the 
requirements specified in paragraph (a) of this section for an 
assessment exemption, and such other information as may be required by 
the Board and with the approval of the Secretary.
    (d) If a producer described in Sec.  1150.152 (a) and (b) complies 
with the requirements of this section, the Board will grant an 
assessment exemption and issue a Certificate of Exemption to the 
producer. For exemption requests received on or before August 15, 2005, 
the Board will have 60 days to approve the exemption request; after 
August 15, 2005, the Board will have 30 days to approve the exemption 
request. If the application is disapproved, the Board will notify the 
applicant of the reason(s) for disapproval within the same timeframe.
    (e) The producer described in paragraph (c) of this section shall 
provide a copy of the Certificate of Exemption to each person 
responsible for remitting assessments to the Board on behalf of the 
producer pursuant to Sec.  1150.152.
    (f) The person responsible for remitting assessments to the Board 
pursuant to Sec.  1150.152 shall maintain records showing the exempt 
producer's name and address and the exemption number assigned by the 
Board pursuant to Sec.  1150.172.
    (g) The exemption will apply not later than the last day of the 
month following the Certificate of Exemption issuance date.
    (h) Agricultural commodities produced and marketed under an organic 
system plan, as described in 7 CFR 205.201, but not sold, labeled, or 
represented as organic, shall not disqualify a producer from exemption 
under this section, except that producers who produce both organic and 
non-organic agricultural commodities as a result of split operations 
shall not qualify for exemption. Reasons for conventional sales include 
lack of demand for organic products, isolated use of antibiotics for 
humane purposes, chemical or pesticide use as the result of State or 
emergency spray programs, and crops from a buffer area as described in 
7 CFR part 205, provided all other criteria are met.

PART 1160--FLUID MILK PROMOTION

0
3. The authority citation for part 1160 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6401-6417 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.


0
4. In Sec.  1160.211, paragraph (a)(1) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  1160.211  Assessments.

    (a)(1) Each fluid milk processor shall pay to the Board or its 
designated agent an assessment of $.20 per hundredweight of fluid milk 
products processed and marketed commercially in consumer-type packages 
in the

[[Page 2754]]

United States by such fluid milk processor. Any fluid milk processor 
who markets milk of its own production directly to consumers as 
prescribed under section 113(g) of the Dairy Production Stabilization 
Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 4504(g)), and not exempt under Sec.  1160.108 or 
Sec.  1160.215, shall also pay the assessment under this subpart. The 
Secretary shall have the authority to receive assessments on behalf of 
the Board.
* * * * *

0
5. A new Sec.  1160.215 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1160.215  Assessment exemption.

    (a) No assessment shall be required on fluid milk products exported 
from the United States.
    (b) A fluid milk processor described in Sec.  1160.211(a) who 
operates under an approved National Organic Program (NOP) (7 CFR part 
205) system plan; processes only products that are eligible to be 
labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP; and is not a split 
operation shall be exempt from the payment of assessments.
    (c) To apply for an assessment exemption, a fluid milk processor 
described in Sec.  1160.211(a) shall submit a request for exemption to 
the Board on a form provided by the Board at any time initially and 
annually thereafter on or before July 1 as long as the fluid milk 
processor continues to be eligible for the assessment exemption.
    (d) The request shall include the following: The fluid milk 
processor's name and address, a copy of the organic farm or organic 
handling operation certificate provided by a USDA-accredited certifying 
agent as defined in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 
1990 (7 U.S.C. 6502), a signed certification that the applicant meets 
all of the requirements specified in paragraph (b) of this section for 
an assessment exemption, and such other information as may be required 
by the Board and with the approval of the Secretary.
    (e) The Board will grant an assessment exemption to any fluid milk 
processor meeting the criteria in Sec.  1160.215(b) and issue a 
Certificate of Exemption to the fluid milk processor. For exemption 
requests received on or before August 15, 2005, the Board will have 60 
days to approve the exemption request; after August 15, 2005, the Board 
will have 30 days to approve the exemption request. If the application 
is disapproved, the Board will notify the applicant of the reason(s) 
for disapproval within the same timeframe.
    (f) The exemption will apply not later than the last day of the 
month following the Certificate of Exemption issuance date.

PART 1205--COTTON RESEARCH AND PROMOTION

0
6. The authority citation for part 1205 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2101-2118 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.


0
7. A new Sec.  1205.519 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1205.519  Organic exemption.

    (a) A producer who operates under an approved National Organic 
Program (NOP) (7 CFR part 205) system plan; produces only products that 
are eligible to be labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP, except 
as provided for in paragraph (h) of this section; and is not a split 
operation shall be exempt from the payment of assessments.
    (b) To apply for an exemption under this section, an eligible 
cotton producer shall submit a request for exemption to the Board--on a 
form provided by the Board--at any time initially and annually 
thereafter on or before the beginning of the crop year as long as the 
producer continues to be eligible for the exemption.
    (c) The request shall include the following: The producer's name 
and address, a copy of the organic farm or organic handling operation 
certificate provided by a USDA-accredited certifying agent as defined 
in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
6502), a signed certification that the applicant meets all of the 
requirements specified in paragraph (a) of this section for an 
assessment exemption, and such other information as may be required by 
the Board and with the approval of the Secretary.
    (d) If the producer complies with the requirements of this section, 
the Board will grant the exemption and issue a Certificate of Exemption 
to the producer. For exemption requests received on or before August 
15, 2005, the Board will have 60 days to approve the exemption request; 
after August 15, 2005, the Board will have 30 days to approve the 
exemption request. If the application is disapproved, the Board will 
notify the applicant of the reason(s) for disapproval within the same 
timeframe.
    (e) The producer shall provide a copy of the Certificate of 
Exemption to each handler to whom the producer sells cotton. The 
handler shall maintain records showing the exempt producer's name and 
address and the exemption number assigned by the Board.
    (f) An importer who imports only products that are eligible to be 
labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP (7 CFR part 205) and who 
is not a split operation shall be exempt from the payment of 
assessments. That importer may submit documentation to the Board and 
request an exemption from assessment on 100 percent organic cotton and 
100 percent organic cotton products--on a form provided by the Board--
at any time initially and annually thereafter as long as the importer 
continues to be eligible for the exemption. This documentation shall 
include the same information required of producers in paragraph (c) of 
this section. If the importer complies with the requirements of this 
section, the Board will grant the exemption and issue a Certificate of 
Exemption to the importer. The Board will also issue the importer a 9-
digit alphanumeric Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification 
valid for 1 year from the date of issue. This HTS classification should 
be entered by the importer on the Customs entry documentation. Any line 
item entry of 100 percent organic cotton and cotton products bearing 
this HTS classification assigned by the Board will not be subject to 
assessments.
    (g) The exemption will apply immediately following the issuance of 
the Certificate of Exemption.
    (h) Agricultural commodities produced and marketed under an organic 
system plan, as described in 7 CFR 205.201, but not sold, labeled, or 
represented as organic, shall not disqualify a producer from exemption 
under this section, except that producers who produce both organic and 
non-organic agricultural commodities as a result of split operations 
shall not qualify for exemption. Reasons for conventional sales include 
lack of demand for organic products, isolated use of antibiotics for 
humane purposes, chemical or pesticide use as the result of State or 
emergency spray programs, and crops from a buffer area as described in 
7 CFR part 205, provided all other criteria are met.

PART 1206--MANGO PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION

0
8. The authority citation for part 1206 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.

0
9. Add a new Subpart C--Rules and Regulations to read as follows:

[[Page 2755]]

Subpart C--Rules and Regulations


Sec.  1206.200  Terms defined.

    Unless otherwise defined in this subpart, the definitions of terms 
used in this subpart shall have the same meaning as the definitions of 
such terms which appear in Subpart A--Mango Promotion, Research, and 
Information Order.


Sec.  1206.201  Definitions.

    Organic Act means section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act 
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6502).


Sec.  1206.202  Exemption for organic mangos.

    (a) A first handler who operates under an approved National Organic 
Program (NOP) (7 CFR part 205) system plan, handles only products that 
are eligible to be labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP, and is 
not a split operation shall be exempt from the payment of assessments.
    (b) To obtain this exemption, an eligible first handler shall 
submit a request for exemption to the Board--on a form provided by the 
Board--at any time initially and annually thereafter on or before the 
beginning of the fiscal period as long as the first handler continues 
to be eligible for the exemption.
    (c) The request shall include the following: The first handler's 
name and address, a copy of the organic farm or organic handling 
operation certificate provided by a USDA-accredited certifying agent as 
defined in the Organic Act, a signed certification that the applicant 
meets all of the requirements specified for an assessment exemption, 
and such other information as may be required by the Board and with the 
approval of the Secretary.
    (d) If the first handler complies with the requirements of 
paragraph (a) of this section, the Board will grant an assessment 
exemption and shall issue a Certificate of Exemption to the first 
handler. For exemption requests received on or before August 15, 2005, 
the Board will have 60 days to approve the exemption request; after 
August 15, 2005, the Board will have 30 days to approve the exemption 
request. If the application is disapproved, the Board will notify the 
applicant of the reason(s) for disapproval within the same timeframe.
    (e) An importer who imports only products that are eligible to be 
labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP (7 CFR part 205) and who 
is not a split operation shall be exempt from the payment of 
assessments. That importer may submit documentation to the Board and 
request an exemption from assessment on 100 percent organic mangos--on 
a form provided by the Board--at any time initially and annually 
thereafter on or before the beginning of the fiscal period as long as 
the importer continues to be eligible for the exemption. This 
documentation shall include the same information required of first 
handlers in paragraph (c). If the importer complies with the 
requirements of this section, the Board will grant the exemption and 
issue a Certificate of Exemption to the importer within the applicable 
timeframe. The Board will also issue the importer a 9-digit 
alphanumeric Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification valid for 
1 year from the date of issue. This HTS classification should be 
entered by the importer on the Customs entry documentation. Any line 
item entry of 100 percent organic mangos bearing this HTS 
classification assigned by the Board will not be subject to 
assessments.
    (f) The exemption will apply immediately following the issuance of 
the certificate of exemption.

PART 1207--POTATO RESEARCH AND PROMOTION

0
10. The authority citation for part 1207 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2611-2627 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.

0
11. A new Sec.  1207.514 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1207.514  Exemption for organic potatoes.

    (a) A producer who operates under an approved National Organic 
Program (NOP) (7 CFR part 205) system plan; produces only products that 
are eligible to be labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP, except 
as provided for in paragraph (h) of this section; and is not a split 
operation shall be exempt from the payment of assessments.
    (b) To apply for an exemption under this section, the producer 
shall submit a request for exemption to the Board--on a form provided 
by the Board--at any time initially and annually thereafter on or 
before July 1 as long as the producer continues to be eligible for the 
exemption.
    (c) The request shall include the following: The producer's name 
and address, a copy of the organic farm or organic handling operation 
certificate provided by a USDA-accredited certifying agent as defined 
in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
6502), a signed certification that the applicant meets all of the 
requirements specified in paragraph (a) of this section for an 
assessment exemption, and such other information as may be required by 
the Board and with the approval of the Secretary.
    (d) If the producer complies with the requirements of this section, 
the Board will grant the exemption and issue a Certificate of Exemption 
to the producer. For exemption requests received on or before August 
15, 2005, the Board will have 60 days to approve the exemption request; 
after August 15, 2005, the Board will have 30 days to approve the 
exemption request. If the application is disapproved, the Board will 
notify the applicant of the reason(s) for disapproval within the same 
timeframe.
    (e) The producer shall provide a copy of the Certificate of 
Exemption to each handler to whom the producer sells potatoes. The 
handler shall maintain records showing the exempt producer's name and 
address and the exemption number assigned by the Board.
    (f) An importer who imports only products that are eligible to be 
labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP (7 CFR part 205) and who 
is not a split operation shall be exempt from the payment of 
assessments. That importer may submit documentation to the Board and 
request an exemption from assessment on 100 percent organic potatoes, 
potato products, and seed potatoes--on a form provided by the Board--at 
any time initially and annually thereafter on or before July 1 as long 
as the importer continues to be eligible for the exemption. This 
documentation shall include the same information required of producers 
in paragraph (c) of this section. If the importer complies with the 
requirements of this section, the Board will grant the exemption and 
issue a Certificate of Exemption to the importer. The Board will also 
issue the importer a 9-digit alphanumeric Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
(HTS) classification valid for 1 year from the date of issue. This HTS 
classification should be entered by the importer on the Customs entry 
documentation. Any line item entry of 100 percent organic potatoes, 
potato products, and seed potatoes bearing this HTS classification 
assigned by the Board will not be subject to assessments.
    (g) The exemption will apply immediately following the issuance of 
the Certificate of Exemption.
    (h) Agricultural commodities produced and marketed under an organic 
system plan, as described in 7 CFR 205.201, but not sold, labeled, or 
represented as organic, shall not disqualify a producer from exemption

[[Page 2756]]

under this section, except that producers who produce both organic and 
non-organic agricultural commodities as a result of split operations 
shall not qualify for exemption. Reasons for conventional sales include 
lack of demand for organic products, isolated use of antibiotics for 
humane purposes, chemical or pesticide use as the result of State or 
emergency spray programs, and crops from a buffer area as described in 
7 CFR part 205, provided all other criteria are met.

PART 1209--MUSHROOM PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND CONSUMER INFORMATION

0
12. The authority citation for part 1209 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6101-6112 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.

0
13. In Sec.  1209.52, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  1209.52  Exemption from assessment.

    (a) The following persons shall be exempt from assessments under 
this part:
    (1) A person who produces or imports, on average, 500,000 pounds or 
less of mushrooms annually; and
    (2) A producer who operates under an approved National Organic 
Program (NOP) (7 CFR part 205) system plan; produces only products that 
are eligible to be labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP, except 
as provided for in Sec.  1209.252(a)(2)(vi); and is not a split 
operation; and
    (3) An importer who imports only products that are eligible to be 
labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP (7 CFR part 205) and who 
is not a split operation.
* * * * *

0
14. In Sec.  1209.252, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  1209.252  Exemption procedures.

    (a) Types of exemptions and requirements. (1) Any person who 
produces or imports, on average, 500,000 pounds or less of mushrooms 
annually and who desires to claim an exemption from assessments during 
a fiscal year shall apply to the Council, on a form provided by the 
Council, for a Certificate of Exemption. The producer or importer shall 
certify that the person's production or importation of mushrooms shall 
not exceed 500,000 pounds, on average, for the fiscal year for which 
the exemption is claimed. An average shall be calculated by averaging a 
person's estimated production or importation for the fiscal year for 
which an exemption is claimed with the person's production or 
importation in the preceding fiscal year.
    (2) To apply for an exemption for organic mushrooms:
    (i) An eligible mushroom producer shall submit a request for 
exemption to the Council--on a form provided by the Council--at any 
time initially and annually thereafter on or before January 1 as long 
as the producer continues to be eligible for the exemption.
    (ii) The request shall include the following: The producer's name 
and address, a copy of the organic farm or organic handling operation 
certificate provided by a USDA-accredited certifying agent as defined 
in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
6502), a signed certification that the applicant meets all of the 
requirements specified for an assessment exemption, and such other 
information as may be required by the Council and with the approval of 
the Secretary.
    (iii) If the producer complies with the requirements of Sec.  
1209.52 (a)(2), the Council will grant the exemption and issue a 
Certificate of Exemption to the producer. For exemption requests 
received on or before August 15, 2005, the Council will have 60 days to 
approve the exemption request; after August 15, 2005, the Council will 
have 30 days to approve the exemption request. If the application is 
disapproved, the Board will notify the applicant of the reason(s) for 
disapproval within the same timeframe.
    (iv) An eligible importer may submit documentation to the Council 
and request an exemption from assessment on 100 percent organic 
mushrooms--on a form provided by the Council--at any time initially and 
annually thereafter on or before January 1 as long as the importer 
continues to be eligible for the exemption. This documentation shall 
include the same information required of producers. If the importer 
complies with the requirements of this section, the Council will grant 
the exemption and issue a Certificate of Exemption to the importer. The 
Council will also issue the importer a 9-digit alphanumeric Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification valid for 1 year from the date of 
issue. This HTS classification should be entered by the importer on the 
Customs entry documentation. Any line item entry of 100 percent organic 
mushrooms bearing this HTS classification assigned by the Council will 
not be subject to assessments.
    (v) The exemption will apply immediately following the issuance of 
the Certificate of Exemption.
    (vi) Agricultural commodities produced and marketed under an 
organic system plan, as described in 7 CFR 205.201, but not sold, 
labeled, or represented as organic, shall not disqualify a producer 
from exemption under this section, except that producers who produce 
both organic and non-organic agricultural commodities as a result of 
split operations shall not qualify for exemption. Reasons for 
conventional sales include lack of demand for organic products, 
isolated use of antibiotics for humane purposes, chemical or pesticide 
use as the result of State or emergency spray programs, and crops from 
a buffer area as described in 7 CFR part 205, provided all other 
criteria are met.
* * * * *

PART 1210--WATERMELON RESEARCH AND PROMOTION

0
15. The authority citation for part 1210 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 4901-4916 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.

0
16. A new Sec.  1210.516 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1210.516  Exemption for organic watermelons.

    (a) A producer who produces only products that are eligible to be 
labeled as 100 percent organic under the National Organic Program (NOP) 
(7 CFR part 205), except as provided for in paragraph (h) of this 
section, or a handler who handles only products that are eligible to be 
labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP; and who operates under an 
approved NOP system plan, and is not a split operation shall be exempt 
from the payment of assessments.
    (b) To apply for this exemption, the producer or handler shall 
submit the request to the Board--on a form provided by the Board--at 
any time initially and annually thereafter on or before January 1 as 
long as the producer or handler continues to be eligible for the 
exemption.
    (c) The request shall include the following: The applicant's name 
and address, a copy of the organic farm or organic handling operation 
certificate provided by a USDA-accredited certifying agent as defined 
in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
6502), a signed certification that the applicant meets all of the 
requirements specified for an assessment exemption, and such other 
information as may be required by the Board and with the approval of 
the Secretary.

[[Page 2757]]

    (d) If the producer or handler complies with the requirements of 
this section, the Board will approve the exemption and issue a 
Certificate of Exemption to the producer or handler. For exemption 
requests received on or before August 15, 2005, the Board will have 60 
days to approve the exemption request; after August 15, 2005, the Board 
will have 30 days to approve the exemption request. If the application 
is disapproved, the Board will notify the applicant of the reason(s) 
for disapproval within the same timeframe.
    (e) The producer shall provide a copy of the Certificate of 
Exemption to each handler to whom the producer sells watermelons. The 
handler shall maintain records showing the exempt producer's name and 
address and the exemption number assigned by the Board.
    (f) An importer imports only products that are eligible to be 
labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP (7 CFR part 205) and who 
is not a split operation shall be exempt from the payment of 
assessments. That importer may submit documentation to the Board and 
request an exemption from assessment on 100 percent organic 
watermelons. The importer may request the exemption--on a form provided 
by the Board--at any time initially and annually thereafter on or 
before January 1, as long as the importer continues to be eligible for 
the exemption. This documentation shall include the same information 
required of producers and handlers in paragraph (c) of this section. If 
the importer complies with the requirements of this section, the Board 
will grant the exemption and issue a Certificate of Exemption to the 
importer. The Board will also issue the importer a 9-digit alphanumeric 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification valid for 1 year from 
the date of issue. This HTS classification should be entered by the 
importer on the Customs entry documentation. Any line item entry of 100 
percent organic watermelons bearing this HTS classification assigned by 
the Board will not be subject to assessments.
    (g) The exemption will apply immediately following the issuance of 
the Certificate of Exemption.
    (h) Agricultural commodities produced and marketed under an organic 
system plan, as described in 7 CFR 205.201, but not sold, labeled, or 
represented as organic, shall not disqualify a producer from exemption 
under this section, except that producers who produce both organic and 
non-organic agricultural commodities as a result of split operations 
shall not qualify for exemption. Reasons for conventional sales include 
lack of demand for organic products, isolated use of antibiotics for 
humane purposes, chemical or pesticide use as the result of State or 
emergency spray programs, and crops from a buffer area as described in 
7 CFR part 205, provided all other criteria are met.

PART 1215--POPCORN PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND CONSUMER INFORMATION

0
17. The authority citation for part 1215 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7481-7491 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.


0
18. Section 1215.52 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  1215.52  Exemption from assessment.

    (a) Persons that process and distribute 4 million pounds or less of 
popcorn annually, based on the previous year, shall be exempted from 
assessment.
    (b) Persons that operate under an approved National Organic Program 
(NOP) (7 CFR part 205) system plan; process only products that are 
eligible to be labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP; and are 
not split operations shall be exempt from the payment of assessments.
    (c) To claim an exemption, persons shall apply to the Board, in the 
form and manner prescribed in the rules and regulations.
0
19. Section 1215.300 is amended by:
0
(a) Revising paragraphs (b) and (c);
0
(b) Redesignating paragraph (d) as paragraph (f);
0
(c) Adding new paragraphs (d) and (e).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1215.300  Exemption procedures.

* * * * *
    (b) Persons that process solely 100 percent organic products and 
that do not process any conventional or nonorganic products as provided 
in Sec.  1215.52 paragraph (b) of this part may apply for an exemption 
by submitting a request for exemption to the Board on a form provided 
by the Board at any time initially. The request shall include the 
following: The applicant's name and address, a copy of the organic farm 
or organic handling operation certificate provided by a USDA-accredited 
certifying agent as defined in section 2103 of the Organic Foods 
Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6502), a signed certification that the 
applicant meets all of the requirements specified for an assessment 
exemption, and such other information as may be required by the Board 
and with the approval of the Secretary.
    (c) Upon receipt of an application, the Board shall determine 
whether an exemption may be granted and issue a Certificate of 
Exemption to the producer. For exemption requests received on or before 
August 15, 2005, the Board will have 60 days to approve the exemption 
request; after August 15, 2005, the Board will have 30 days to approve 
the exemption request. If the application is disapproved, the Board 
will notify the applicant of the reason(s) for disapproval within the 
same timeframe.
    (d) Any person who desires to renew the exemption from assessments 
for a subsequent fiscal year shall reapply to the Board by January 1 of 
that year.
    (e) The exemption will apply at the first reporting period 
following the issuance of the Certificate of Exemption.
* * * * *

PART 1216--PEANUT PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION

0
20. The authority citation for part 1216 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.


0
21. Section 1216.56 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1216.56  Exemption for organic peanuts.

    (a) A producer who operates under an approved National Organic 
Program (NOP) (7 CFR part 205) system plan; produces only products that 
are eligible to be labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP, except 
as provided for in paragraph (g) of this section; and is not a split 
operation shall be exempt from the payment of assessments.
    (b) In order to apply for this exemption, an eligible peanut 
producer shall submit a request for exemption to the Board--on a form 
provided by the Board--at any time initially and annually thereafter on 
or before August 1 as long as the producer continues to be eligible for 
the exemption.
    (c) The request shall include the following: The producer's name 
and address, a copy of the organic farm or organic handling operation 
certificate provided by a USDA-accredited certifying agent as defined 
in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
6502), a signed certification that the applicant meets all of the 
requirements specified for an assessment exemption, and such other 
information as may be required by the Board and with the approval of 
the Secretary.
    (d) If the producer complies with the requirements of this section, 
the Board will approve the exemption and issue a

[[Page 2758]]

Certificate of Exemption to the producer. For exemption requests 
received on or before August 15, 2005, the Board will have 60 days to 
approve the exemption request; after August 15, 2005, the Board will 
have 30 days to approve the exemption request. If the application is 
disapproved, the Board will notify the applicant of the reason(s) for 
approval within the same timeframe.
    (e) The producer shall provide a copy of the Certificate of 
Exemption to each handler to whom the producer sells peanuts. The 
handler shall maintain records showing the exempt producer's name and 
address and the exemption number assigned by the Board.
    (f) The exemption will apply at the first reporting period 
following the issuance of the Certificate of Exemption.
    (g) Agricultural commodities produced and marketed under an organic 
system plan, as described in 7 CFR 205.201, but not sold, labeled, or 
represented as organic, shall not disqualify a producer from exemption 
under this section, except that producers who produce both organic and 
non-organic agricultural commodities as a result of split operations 
shall not qualify for exemption. Reasons for conventional sales include 
lack of demand for organic products, isolated use of antibiotics for 
humane purposes, chemical or pesticide use as the result of State or 
emergency spray programs, and crops from a buffer area as described in 
7 CFR part 205, provided all other criteria are met.

PART 1218--BLUEBERRY PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION

0
22. The authority citation for part 1218 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.


0
23. Section 1218.53 is amended by redesignating paragraphs (b) through 
(e) as (h) through (k), adding new paragraphs (b) through (g), and 
revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  1218.53  Exemption procedures.

    (a) Any producer who produces less than 2,000 pounds of blueberries 
annually shall be exempt from the payment of assessments. Such producer 
may apply to the USACBC--on a form provided by the USACBC--for a 
certificate of exemption. Such producer shall certify that the 
producer's production of blueberries shall be less than 2,000 pounds 
for the fiscal year for which the exemption is claimed.
    (b) Any importer who imports less than 2,000 pounds of fresh and 
frozen blueberries annually shall be exempt from the payment of 
assessments. Such importer may apply to the USACBC--on a form provided 
by the USACBC--for a certificate of exemption. Such importer shall 
certify that the importer's importation of fresh and frozen blueberries 
shall not exceed 2,000 pounds for the fiscal year for which the 
exemption is claimed.
    (c) A producer who operates under an approved National Organic 
Program (NOP) (7 CFR part 205) system plan; produces only products that 
are eligible to be labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP, except 
as provided for in paragraph (g) of this section; and is not a split 
operation shall be exempt from the payment of assessments.
    (d) To apply for this exemption, a producer shall submit a request 
for exemption to the USACBC--on a form provided by the USACBC--at any 
time initially and annually thereafter on or before January 1 as long 
as the producer continues to be eligible for the exemption. The request 
shall include the following: The producer's name and address, with a 
copy of the organic farm or organic handling operation certificate 
provided by a USDA-accredited certifying agent as defined in section 
2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 CFR part 205), a 
signed certification that the applicant meets all of the requirements 
specified for an assessment exemption, and such other information as 
may be required by the Board and with the approval of the Secretary. If 
a producer complies with the requirements in paragraph (c) of this 
section, the USACBC will grant an assessment exemption and issue a 
certification of exemption to the producer. For exemption requests 
received on or before August 15, 2005, the USACBC will have 60 days to 
approve the exemption request; after August 15, 2005, the USACBC will 
have 30 days to approve the exemption request. If the application is 
disapproved, the USACBC will notify the applicant of the reason(s) for 
disapproval within the same timeframe.
    (e) An importer who imports only products that are eligible to be 
labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP (7 CFR part 205) and who 
is not a split operation shall be exempt from the payment of 
assessments. That importer may submit documentation to the Board and 
request an exemption from assessment on 100 percent organic fresh and 
frozen blueberries--on a form provided by the USACBC--at any time 
initially and annually thereafter on or before January 1 as long as the 
importer continues to be eligible for the exemption. This documentation 
shall include the same information required of producers in paragraph 
(d) of this section. If the importer complies with the requirements of 
this section, the USACBC will grant the exemption and issue a 
Certificate of Exemption to the importer. The USACBC will also issue 
the importer a 9-digit alphanumeric Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) 
classification valid for 1 year from the date of issue. This HTS 
classification should be entered by the importer on the Customs entry 
documentation. Any line item entry of 100 percent organic fresh and 
frozen blueberries bearing this HTS classification assigned by the 
USACBC will not be subject to assessments.
    (f) The exemption will apply immediately following the issuance of 
the Certificate of Exemption.
    (g) Agricultural commodities produced and marketed under an organic 
system plan, as described in 7 CFR 205.201, but not sold, labeled, or 
represented as organic, shall not disqualify a producer from exemption 
under this section, except that producers who produce both organic and 
non-organic agricultural commodities as a result of split operations 
shall not qualify for exemption. Reasons for conventional sales include 
lack of demand for organic products, isolated use of antibiotics for 
humane purposes, chemical or pesticide use as the result of State or 
emergency spray programs, and crops from a buffer area as described in 
7 CFR part 205, provided all other criteria are met.
* * * * *

PART 1219--HASS AVOCADO PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION

0
24. The authority citation for part 1219 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7801-7813 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.


0
25. In part 1219, add a new Subpart C--Rules and Regulations to read as 
follows:

Subpart C--Rules and Regulations


Sec.  1219.200  Terms defined.

    Unless otherwise defined in this subpart, the definitions of terms 
used in this subpart shall have the same meaning as the definitions of 
such terms which appear in Subpart A--Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, 
and Information Order of this part.


Sec.  1219.201  Definitions.

    Organic Act means section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act 
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6502).

[[Page 2759]]

Sec.  1219.202  Exemption for organic Hass avocados.

    (a) A producer who operates under an approved National Organic 
Program (NOP) (7 CFR part 205) system plan; only produces products that 
are eligible to be labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP, except 
as provided for in paragraph (h) of this section; and is not a split 
operation shall be exempt from the payment of assessments.
    (b) To obtain this exemption, an eligible Hass avocado producer 
shall submit a request for exemption to the Board--on a form provided 
by the Board--at any time initially and annually thereafter on or 
before November 1 as long as the producer continues to be eligible for 
the exemption.
    (c) The request shall include the following: the producer's name 
and address, a copy of the organic farm or organic handling operation 
certificate provided by a USDA-accredited certifying agent as defined 
in the Organic Act, a signed certification that the applicant meets all 
of the requirements specified for an assessment exemption, and such 
other information as may be required by the Board and with the approval 
of the Secretary.
    (d) If the producer complies with the requirements of paragraph (a) 
of this section, the Board will grant an assessment exemption and shall 
issue a Certificate of Exemption to the producer. For exemption 
requests received on or before August 15, 2005, the Board will have 60 
days to approve the exemption request; after August 15, 2005, the Board 
will have 30 days to approve the exemption request. If the application 
is disapproved, the Board will notify the applicant of the reason(s) 
for disapproval within the same timeframe.
    (e) The producer shall provide a copy of the Certificate of 
Exemption to each handler to whom the producer sells Hass avocados. The 
handler shall maintain records showing the exempt producer's name and 
address and the exemption number assigned by the Board.
    (f) An importer who imports only products that are eligible to be 
labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP (7 CFR part 205) and who 
is not a split operation shall be exempt from the payment of 
assessments. That importer may submit documentation to the Board and 
request an exemption from assessment on 100 percent organic Hass 
avocados--on a form provided by the Board--at any time initially and 
annually thereafter on or before November 1 as long as the importer 
continues to be eligible for the exemption. This documentation shall 
include the same information required of producers in paragraph (c) of 
this section. If the importer complies with the requirements of this 
section, the Board will grant the exemption and issue a Certificate of 
Exemption to the importer. The Board will also issue the importer a 9-
digit alphanumeric Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification 
valid for 1 year from the date of issue. This HTS classification should 
be entered by the importer on the Customs entry documentation. Any line 
item entry of 100 percent organic Hass avocados bearing this HTS 
classification assigned by the Board will not be subject to 
assessments.
    (g) The exemption will apply immediately following the issuance of 
the Certificate of Exemption.
    (h) Agricultural commodities produced and marketed under an organic 
system plan, as described in 7 CFR 205.201, but not sold, labeled, or 
represented as organic, shall not disqualify a producer from exemption 
under this section, except that producers who produce both organic and 
non-organic agricultural commodities as a result of split operations 
shall not qualify for exemption. Reasons for conventional sales include 
lack of demand for organic products, isolated use of antibiotics for 
humane purposes, chemical or pesticide use as the result of State or 
emergency spray programs, and crops from a buffer area as described in 
7 CFR part 205, provided all other criteria are met.

PART 1220--SOYBEAN PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND CONSUMER INFORMATION

0
26. The authority citation for part 1220 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6301-6311 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.


0
27. A new Sec.  1220.302 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1220.302  Exemption.

    (a) A producer who operates under an approved National Organic 
Program (NOP) (7 CFR part 205) system plan; produces only products that 
are eligible to be labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP, except 
as provided for in paragraph (g) of this section; and is not a split 
operation shall be exempt from the payment of assessments.
    (b) To apply for an exemption under this section, the producer 
shall submit the request to the Board or other party as designated by 
the Board--on a form provided by the Board--at any time initially and 
annually thereafter on or before January 1 as long as the producer 
continues to be eligible for the exemption.
    (c) The request shall include the following: the producer's name 
and address, a copy of the organic farm or organic handling operation 
certificate provided by a USDA-accredited certifying agent as defined 
in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
6502), a signed certification that the applicant meets all of the 
requirements specified for an assessment exemption, and such other 
information as may be required by the Board and with the approval of 
the Secretary.
    (d) If the producer complies with the requirements of this section, 
the Board or designee will grant the exemption and issue a Certificate 
of Exemption to the producer. For exemption requests received on or 
before August 15, 2005, the Board will have 60 days to approve the 
exemption request; after August 15, 2005, the Board will have 30 days 
to approve the exemption request. If the application is disapproved, 
the Board will notify the applicant of the reason(s) for disapproval 
within the same timeframe.
    (e) The producer shall provide a copy of the Certificate of 
Exemption to each first purchaser. The first purchaser shall maintain 
records showing the exempt producer's name and address and the 
exemption number assigned by the Board.
    (f) The exemption will apply at the first reporting period 
following the issuance of the exemption.
    (g) Agricultural commodities produced and marketed under an organic 
system plan, as described in 7 CFR 205.201, but not sold, labeled, or 
represented as organic, shall not disqualify a producer from exemption 
under this section, except that producers who produce both organic and 
non-organic agricultural commodities as a result of split operations 
shall not qualify for exemption. Reasons for conventional sales include 
lack of demand for organic products, isolated use of antibiotics for 
humane purposes, chemical or pesticide use as the result of State or 
emergency spray programs, and crops from a buffer area as described in 
7 CFR part 205, provided all other criteria are met.

PART 1230--PORK PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND CONSUMER INFORMATION

0
28. The authority citation for part 1230 is revised to read as follows:


[[Page 2760]]


    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 4801-4819 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.


0
29. A new Sec.  1230.102 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1230.102  Exemption.

    (a) A producer who operates under an approved National Organic 
Program (NOP) (7 CFR part 205) system plan; produces only products that 
are eligible to be labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP, except 
as provided for in paragraph (i) of this section; and is not a split 
operation shall be exempt from the payment of assessments.
    (b) To apply for an exemption under this section, the producer 
shall submit the request to the Board--on a form provided by the 
Board--at any time initially and annually thereafter on or before 
January 1 as long as the producer continues to be eligible for the 
exemption.
    (c) The request shall include the following: the producer's name 
and address, a copy of the organic farm or organic handling operation 
certificate provided by a USDA-accredited certifying agent as defined 
in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
6502), a signed certification that the applicant meets all of the 
requirements specified for an assessment exemption, and such other 
information as may be required by the Board and with the approval of 
the Secretary.
    (d) If the producer complies with the requirements of this section, 
the Board will grant the exemption and issue a Certificate of Exemption 
to the producer. For exemption requests received on or before August 
15, 2005, the Board will have 60 days to approve the exemption request; 
after August 15, 2005, the Board will have 30 days to approve the 
exemption request. If the application is disapproved, the Board will 
notify the applicant of the reason(s) for disapproval within the same 
timeframe.
    (e) The producer shall provide a copy of the Certificate of 
Exemption to each person responsible for collecting and remitting the 
assessment to the Board.
    (f) The person responsible for collecting and remitting the 
assessment to the Board shall maintain records showing the exempt 
producer's name and address and the exemption number assigned by the 
Board.
    (g) An importer who imports only products that are eligible to be 
labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP (7 CFR part 205) and who 
is not a split operation shall be exempt from the payment of 
assessments. That importer may submit documentation to the Board and 
request an exemption from assessment on 100 percent organic porcine 
animals or pork and pork products--on a form provided by the Board--at 
any time initially and annually thereafter on or before January 1 as 
long as the importer continues to be eligible for the exemption. This 
documentation shall include the same information required of producers 
in paragraph (c) of this section. If the importer complies with the 
requirements of this section, the Board will grant the exemption and 
issue a Certificate of Exemption to the importer. The Board will also 
issue the importer a 9-digit alphanumeric Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
(HTS) classification valid for 1 year from the date of issue. This HTS 
classification should be entered by the importer on the Customs entry 
documentation. Any line item entry of 100 percent organic porcine 
animals or pork and pork products bearing this HTS classification 
assigned by the Board will not be subject to assessments.
    (h) The exemption will apply immediately following the issuance of 
the Certificate of Exemption.
    (i) Agricultural commodities produced and marketed under an organic 
system plan, as described in 7 CFR 205.201, but not sold, labeled, or 
represented as organic, shall not disqualify a producer from exemption 
under this section, except that producers who produce both organic and 
non-organic agricultural commodities as a result of split operations 
shall not qualify for exemption. Reasons for conventional sales include 
lack of demand for organic products, isolated use of antibiotics for 
humane purposes, chemical or pesticide use as the result of State or 
emergency spray programs, and crops from a buffer area as described in 
7 CFR part 205, provided all other criteria are met.

PART 1240--HONEY RESEARCH, PROMOTION, AND CONSUMER INFORMATION

0
30. The authority citation for part 1240 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 4601-4612 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.


0
31. Section 1240.42 is amended by:
0
(a) Redesignating paragraph (d) as paragraph (e).
0
(b) Revising paragraph (c).

0
(c) Adding new paragraph (d).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  1240.42  Exemption from assessment.

* * * * *
    (c) If, after a person has been exempt from paying assessments for 
any year pursuant to this section, and the person no longer meets the 
requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section for exemption, 
the person shall file a report with the Board in the form and manner 
prescribed by the Board and pay an assessment on or before March 15 of 
the subsequent year on all honey or honey products produced or imported 
by such person during the year for which the person claimed the 
exemption.
    (d) A producer who operates under an approved National Organic 
Program (NOP) (7 CFR part 205) system plan; produces only products that 
are eligible to be labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP, except 
as provided for in Sec.  1240.114 (f); and is not a split operation 
shall be exempt from the payment of assessments. An importer who 
imports only products that are eligible to be labeled as 100 percent 
organic under the NOP (7 CFR part 205) and who is not a split operation 
shall be exempt from the payment of assessments.
* * * * *

0
32. Amend Sec.  1240.50 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  1240.50  Reports.

* * * * *
    (d) For persons who have an exemption from assessments under Sec.  
1240.42, such information as deemed necessary by the Board, and 
approved by the Secretary, concerning the exemption including 
disposition of exempted honey.

0
33. Revise Sec.  1240.114 to read as follows:


Sec.  1240.114  Exemption procedures.

    (a) To obtain a Certificate of Exemption for organic honey, an 
eligible producer shall submit a request for exemption to the Board--on 
a form provided by the Board--at any time initially and annually 
thereafter on or before January 1 as long as the producer continues to 
be eligible for the exemption. The request shall include the following: 
The producer's name and address, a copy of the organic farm or organic 
handling operation certificate provided by a USDA-accredited certifying 
agent as defined in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 
1990 (7 U.S.C. 6502), a signed certification that the applicant meets 
all of the requirements specified for an assessment exemption, and such 
other information as may be required by the Board and with the approval 
of the Secretary.
    (b) If the producer complies with the requirements of this section, 
the Board will approve the exemption and issue a

[[Page 2761]]

Certificate of Exemption to the producer. For exemption requests 
received on or before August 15, 2005, the Board will have 60 days to 
approve the exemption request; after August 15, 2005, the Board will 
have 30 days to approve the exemption request. If the application is 
disapproved, the Board will notify the applicant of the reason(s) for 
disapproval within the same timeframe.
    (c) A producer receiving an organic exemption shall provide a copy 
of the Certificate of Exemption to each first handler, producer-packer, 
importer, and exporter to whom the producer sells honey. The handler 
shall maintain records showing the exempt producer's name and address 
and the exemption number assigned by the Board.
    (d) An importer who is eligible to be exempt from the payment of 
assessments on imported organic honey and honey products may request an 
exemption from assessment on 100 percent organic honey and honey 
products--on a form provided by the Board--at any time initially and on 
or before January 1 as long as the importer continues to be eligible 
for the exemption. This documentation shall include the same 
information required of producers and producer-packers in paragraph (a) 
of this section. If the importer complies with the requirements of this 
section, the Board will grant the exemption and issue a Certificate of 
Exemption to the importer. The Board will also issue the importer a 9-
digit alphanumeric Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification 
valid for 1 year from the date of issue. This HTS classification should 
be entered by the importer on the Customs entry documentation. Any line 
item entry of 100 percent organic honey and honey products bearing this 
HTS classification assigned by the Board will not be subject to 
assessments.
    (e) The exemption will apply immediately following issuance of the 
Certificate of Exemption.
    (f) Agricultural commodities produced and marketed under an organic 
system plan, as described in 7 CFR 205.201, but not sold, labeled, or 
represented as organic, shall not disqualify a producer from exemption 
under this section, except that producers who produce both organic and 
non-organic agricultural commodities as a result of split operations 
shall not qualify for exemption. Reasons for conventional sales include 
lack of demand for organic products, isolated use of antibiotics for 
humane purposes, chemical or pesticide use as the result of State or 
emergency spray programs, and crops from a buffer area as described in 
7 CFR part 205, provided all other criteria are met.

0
34. In Sec.  1240.115, revise paragraph (b)(1) to read as follows:


Sec.  1240.115  Levy of assessments.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) Any persons other than importers holding a valid exemption 
certificate pursuant to Sec.  1240.42 during the 12-month period ending 
on December 31;
* * * * *

0
35. Amend Sec.  1240.118 by revising the first sentence to read as 
follows:


Sec.  1240.118  Reports of disposition of exempted honey.

    The Board may require reports by first handlers, producer-packers, 
importers, or any persons who receive an exemption from assessments 
under Sec.  1240.42 on the handling and disposition of exempted honey. 
* * *

0
36. Revise Sec.  1240.120 to read as follows:


Sec.  1240.120  Retention period for records.

    Each producer, first handler, producer-packer, importer, or any 
person who receives an exemption from assessments under Sec.  1240.42 
and is required to make reports pursuant to this subpart shall maintain 
and retain for at least two years beyond the marketing year of their 
applicability:
    (a) One copy of each report made to the Board;
    (b) Records of all exempt producers, producer-packers, and 
importers including certification of exemption as necessary to verify 
the address of such exempt person; and
    (c) Such records as are necessary to verify such reports.

0
37. Revise Sec.  1240.121 to read as follows:


Sec.  1240.121  Availability of records.

    Each producer, first handler, producer-packer, importer, or any 
person who receives an exemption from assessments under Sec.  1240.42 
and is required to make reports pursuant to this subpart shall make 
available for inspection by authorized employees of the Board or the 
Secretary during regular business hours, such records as are 
appropriate and necessary to verify reports required under this 
subpart.

0
38. Revise Sec.  1240.122 to read as follows:


Sec.  1240.122  Confidential books, records, and reports.

    All information obtained from the books, records, and reports of 
producers, first handlers, producer-packers, importers or any persons 
who receive an exemption from assessments under Sec.  1240.42 and all 
information with respect to refunds of assessments made to individual 
producers and importers shall be kept confidential in the manner and to 
the extent provided for in Sec.  1240.52 of the Order.

PART 1250--EGG RESEARCH AND PROMOTION

0
39. The authority citation for part 1250 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2701-2718 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.


0
40. Revise Sec.  1250.530 to read as follows:


Sec.  1250.530  Certification of exempt producers.

    (a) Number of laying hens. Egg producers not subject to the 
provisions of the Act pursuant to Sec.  1250.348 shall file with all 
handlers to whom they sell eggs a statement certifying their exemption 
from the provisions of the Act in accordance with the criterion of 
Sec.  1250.348. Certification shall be made on forms approved and 
provided by the Egg Board to collecting handlers for use by exempt 
producers. The certification form shall be filed with each handler on 
or before January 1 of each year as long as the producer continues to 
do business with the handler. A copy of the certificate of exemption 
shall be forwarded to the Egg Board by the handler within 30 days of 
receipt. The certification shall list the following: the name and 
address of the producer, the basis for producer exemption according to 
the requirements of Sec.  1250.348, and the signature of the producer.
    (b) Organic Production. A producer who operates under an approved 
National Organic Program (NOP) (7 CFR part 205) system plan; only 
produces products that are eligible to be labeled as 100 percent 
organic under the NOP, except as provided for in paragraph (b)(6) of 
this section; and is not a split operation shall be exempt from the 
payment of assessments.
    (1) To apply for an exemption under this section, a producer shall 
submit a request for exemption to the Board on a form provided by the 
Board at any time initially and annually thereafter on or before 
January 1 as long as the producer continues to be eligible for the 
exemption.
    (2) The request shall include the following: the producer's name 
and address, a copy of the organic farm or organic handling operation 
certificate provided by a USDA-accredited certifying agent as defined 
in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
6502), a signed

[[Page 2762]]

certification that the applicant meets all of the requirements 
specified in paragraph (b) of this section for an assessment exemption, 
and such other information as may be required by the Board and with the 
approval of the Secretary.
    (3) If the producer complies with the requirements of this section, 
the Board will grant an assessment exemption and issue a certificate of 
exemption to the producer. For exemption requests received on or before 
August 15, 2005, the Board will have 60 days to approve the exemption 
request; after August 15, 2005, the Board will have 30 days to approve 
the exemption request. If the application is disapproved, the Board 
will notify the applicant of the reason(s) for disapproval within the 
same timeframe.
    (4) The producer shall provide a copy of the certificate of 
exemption to each handler to whom the producer sells eggs. The handler 
shall maintain records showing the exempt producer's name and address 
and the exemption number assigned by the Board.
    (5) The exemption will apply at the first reporting period 
following the issuance of the Certificate of Exemption.
    (6) Agricultural commodities produced and marketed under an organic 
system plan, as described in 7 CFR 205.201, but not sold, labeled, or 
represented as organic, shall not disqualify a producer from exemption 
under this section, except that producers who produce both organic and 
non-organic agricultural commodities as a result of split operations 
shall not qualify for exemption. Reasons for conventional sales include 
lack of demand for organic products, isolated use of antibiotics for 
humane purposes, chemical or pesticide use as the result of State or 
emergency spray programs, and crops from a buffer area as described in 
7 CFR part 205, provided all other criteria are met.
    (c) If the exempt producer no longer qualifies for an exemption as 
specified in Sec.  1250.348 or 1250.530(b), that producer shall notify, 
within 10 days, all handlers with whom the producer has filed a 
Certificate of Exemption.

PART 1260--BEEF PROMOTION AND RESEARCH

0
41. The authority citation for part 1260 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2901-2911 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.


0
42. A new Sec.  1260.302 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1260.302  Organic exemption.

    (a) A producer who operates under an approved National Organic 
Program (NOP) (7 CFR part 205) system plan; only produces products that 
re eligible to be labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP, except 
as provided for in paragraph (i) of this section; and is not a split 
operation shall be exempt from the payment of assessments.
    (b) To apply for an exemption under this section, the producer 
shall submit the request to the Board or QSBC--on a form provided by 
the Board or QSBC--at any time initially and annually thereafter on or 
before January 1 as long as the producer continues to be eligible for 
the exemption.
    (c) The request shall include the following: the producer's name 
and address, a copy of the organic farm or organic handling operation 
certificate provided by a USDA-accredited certifying agent as defined 
in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
6502), a signed certification that the applicant meets all of the 
requirements specified for an assessment exemption, and such other 
information as may be required by the Board and with the approval of 
the Secretary.
    (d) If the producer complies with the requirements of this section, 
the Board or QSBC will grant the exemption and issue a Certificate of 
Exemption to the producer. For exemption requests received on or before 
August 15, 2005, the Board or QSBC will have 60 days to approve the 
exemption request; after August 15, 2005, the Board or QSBC will have 
30 days to approve the exemption request. If the application is 
disapproved, the Board will notify the applicant of the reason(s) for 
disapproval within the same timeframe.
    (e) The producer shall provide a copy of the Certificate of 
Exemption to each person responsible for collecting and remitting the 
assessment.
    (f) The person responsible for collecting and remitting the 
assessment shall maintain records showing the exempt producer's name 
and address and the exemption number assigned by the Board or QSBC.
    (g) An importer who imports only products that are eligible to be 
labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP (7 CFR part 205) and who 
is not a split operation shall be exempt from the payment of 
assessments. That importer may submit documentation to the Board and 
request an exemption from assessment on 100 percent organic cattle or 
beef and beef products--on a form provided by the Board--at any time 
initially and annually thereafter on or before January 1 as long as the 
importer continues to be eligible for the exemption. This documentation 
shall include the same information required of producers in paragraph 
(c) of this section. If the importer complies with the requirements of 
this section, the Board will grant the exemption and issue a 
Certificate of Exemption to the importer. The Board will also issue the 
importer a 9-digit alphanumeric Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) 
classification valid for 1 year from the date of issue. This HTS 
classification should be entered by the importer on the Customs entry 
documentation. Any line item entry of 100 percent organic cattle or 
beef and beef products bearing this HTS classification assigned by the 
Board will not be subject to assessments.
    (h) The exemption will apply immediately following the issuance of 
the Certificate of Exemption.
    (i) Agricultural commodities produced and marketed under an organic 
system plan, as described in 7 CFR 205.201, but not sold, labeled, or 
represented as organic, shall not disqualify a producer from exemption 
under this section, except that producers who produce both organic and 
non-organic agricultural commodities as a result of split operations 
shall not qualify for exemption. Reasons for conventional sales include 
lack of demand for organic products, isolated use of antibiotics for 
humane purposes, chemical or pesticide use as the result of State or 
emergency spray programs, and crops from a buffer area as described in 
7 CFR part 205, provided all other criteria are met.

PART 1280--LAMB PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION ORDER

0
43. The authority citation for part 1280 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.


0
44. A new Sec.  1280.406 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  1280.406  Exemption.

    (a) A producer, seed stock producer, or feeder who produces 
(including producing by feeding) only products that are eligible to be 
labeled as 100 percent organic under the National Organic Program (NOP) 
(7 CFR part 205), except as provided for in paragraph (h) of this 
section; a handler who handles only products that are eligible to be 
labeled as 100 percent organic under the NOP; or an exporter who 
exports only products that are eligible to be labeled as 100 percent

[[Page 2763]]

organic under the NOP; and who operates under an approved NOP system 
plan and is not a split operation.
    (b) To apply for an exemption under this section, the person shall 
submit the request to the Board--on a form provided by the Board--at 
any time initially and annually thereafter on or before January 1 as 
long as the person continues to be eligible for the exemption.
    (c) The request shall include the following: the person's name and 
address, a copy of the organic farm or organic handling operation 
certificate provided by a USDA-accredited certifying agent as defined 
in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
6502), a signed certification that the applicant meets all of the 
requirements specified for an assessment exemption, and such other 
information as may be required by the Board and with the approval of 
the Secretary.
    (d) If the person complies with the requirements of this section, 
the Board will grant the exemption and issue a Certificate of Exemption 
to the producer. For exemption requests received on or before August 
15, 2005, the Board will have 60 days to approve the exemption request; 
after August 15, 2005, the Board will have 30 days to approve the 
exemption request. If the application is disapproved, the Board will 
notify the applicant of the reason(s) for disapproval within the same 
timeframe.
    (e) An exempt producer shall provide a copy of the Certificate of 
Exemption to each person to whom the producer sells ovine animals or 
lamb and lamb products. The Certificate of Exemption must accompany the 
ovine animals through the production chain to the person responsible 
for remitting the assessment to the Board.
    (f) The person shall maintain records showing the exempt producer's 
name and address and the exemption number assigned by the Board.
    (g) The exemption will apply at the first reporting period 
following the issuance of the exemption.
    (h) Agricultural commodities produced and marketed under an organic 
system plan, as described in 7 CFR 205.201, but not sold, labeled, or 
represented as organic, shall not disqualify a producer, seed stock 
producer, or feeder from exemption under this section, except that 
persons producing or feeding both organic and non-organic agricultural 
commodities as a result of split operations shall not qualify for 
exemption. Reasons for conventional sales include lack of demand for 
organic products, isolated use of antibiotics for humane purposes, 
chemical or pesticide use as the result of State or emergency spray 
programs, and crops from a buffer area as described in 7 CFR part 205, 
provided all other criteria are met.

    Dated: January 5, 2005.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-573 Filed 1-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P