[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 47 (Friday, March 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12173-12174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4811]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket Number FV-04-304]


United States Standards for Grades of Mangos

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on the proposed voluntary 
U.S. Standards for Grades of Mangos. Members of the Fruit and Vegetable 
Industry Advisory Committee, the Fresh Produce Association of the 
Americas and other members of the mango industry have requested this 
action to be taken. The proposed standards would provide industry with 
a common language and uniform basis for trading, thus promoting orderly 
and efficient marketing of mangos.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 10, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
the Standardization Section, Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 1661, South Building, 
Stop 0240, Washington, DC 20250-0240, fax (202) 720-8871, e-mail 
[email protected]. Comments should make reference to the dates 
and page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made 
available for public inspection in the above office during regular 
business hours and on the Internet.
    The draft of the United States Standards for Grades of Mangos is 
available by accessing AMS's home page on the Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David L. Priester, at the above 
address or call (202) 720-2185, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), as amended, directs and authorizes 
the Secretary of Agriculture ``to develop and improve standards of 
quality, condition, quantity, grade and packaging and recommend and 
demonstrate such standards in order to encourage uniformity and 
consistency in commercial practices * * *.'' AMS is committed to 
carrying out this authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing 
of agricultural commodities and makes copies of official standards 
available upon request. The United States Standards for Grades of 
Fruits and Vegetables not connected with Federal Marketing Orders or 
U.S. Import Requirements, no longer appear in the Code of Federal 
Regulations, but are maintained by the USDA/AMS/Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs.
    AMS is proposing to establish voluntary U.S. Standards for Grades 
of Mangos using the procedures that appear in part 36 title 7 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).

Background

    On December 16, 2003, AMS published a notice in the Federal 
Register (68 FR 69984) soliciting comments for the possible development 
of U.S. Standards for Grades of Mangos. AMS received seven comments, 
one from a foreign government agency, two from trade organizations, 
three from importers, and one from growers and exporters. All of these 
comments supported the creation of U.S. standards.
    Based on those comments, AMS has developed proposed grade standards 
for mangos. These standards contain sections pertaining to grades, 
sizes,

[[Page 12174]]

tolerances, application of tolerances, definitions, and a table of 
defects. This proposal would establish the following grades as well as 
a tolerance for each grade: U.S. Fancy, U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2. In 
addition, a proposed ``Application of Tolerances'' section and ``Size 
Requirements'' section with a table listing size designations would 
also be established. AMS is proposing to define ``Injury,'' ``Damage,'' 
``Serious damage,'' along with specific basic requirements and other 
defects. Also proposed is a ``Classification of Defects'' section, in a 
table format, which would list some of the various defects affecting 
mangos and proposed scoring guides for the particular grade involved. 
AMS is soliciting comments on the proposed U.S. Standards for Grades of 
Mangos and the probable impact on growers, processors, and 
distributors.
    According to AMS' Market News Branch Summaries referenced in the 
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Shipments Report, from 1993 through 2003 
mango importation continued to steadily increase in the U.S. Recently, 
the mango industry stressed the need for U.S. standards which would 
provide a uniform basis for trading mangos that are imported, exported, 
or marketed domestically.
    The adoption of these proposed standards would provide the rapidly 
growing mango industry with U.S. grade standards similar to those 
extensively in use by the fresh produce industry to assist in orderly 
marketing of other commodities.
    The official grade of a lot of mangos covered by these standards 
will be determined by the procedures set forth in the Regulations 
Governing Inspection, Certification, and Standards of Fresh Fruits, 
Vegetables and Other Products (Sec. 51.1 to 51.61).
    This notice provides for a 60 day comment period for interested 
parties to comment on the proposed U.S. Standards for Grades of Mangos.

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

    Dated: March 7, 2005.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-4811 Filed 3-10-05; 8:45 am]
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