[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 47 (Friday, March 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12174-12175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4815]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket Number FV-04-309]


United States Standards for Grades of Persian (Tahiti) Limes

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), is soliciting 
comments on its proposal to revise the United States Standards for 
Grades of Persian (Tahiti) Limes. Specifically, AMS is proposing to 
revise the color and juice requirements. The proposed revision would 
simplify the two requirements in the standards which are complex and 
difficult to apply. These changes would bring the lime standards in 
line with other citrus standards, thereby, improving the usefulness in 
serving the industry.

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. The U.S. Standards for Grades of Persian (Tahiti) Limes 
are available either from the above address or the Fresh Products 
Branch Web site page at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/limes.pdf.

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 that are not requirements of Federal Marketing 
Orders or U.S. Import Requirements, no longer appear in the Code of 
Federal Regulations, but are maintained by USDA, AMS, Fruit and 
Vegetable Programs.
    AMS is proposing to revise the voluntary U.S. Standards for Grades 
of Persian (Tahiti) Limes using the procedures that appear in Part 36 
Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR Part 36). These 
standards were last revised in 1958.

Background

    Prior to undertaking research and other work associated with 
revision of the grade standards, AMS decided to seek public comments on 
the petition. A notice requesting comments on the possible revision of 
the U.S. Standards for Grades of Persian (Tahiti) Limes was published 
in the June 25, 2004, Federal Register (69 FR 35572).
    In response to the request for comments, AMS received two comments. 
One comment from a private individual which did not support the 
revision. One comment from a national association of produce receivers 
favored the revision.
    Based on the comments received and information gathered, AMS is 
proposing to revise the standards for limes following the standard 
format for U.S. Grade Standards. The proposed revisions would remove 
the requirements related to color which specify the percentage of the 
lime surface that shall have good green color. The standard also 
specify's that limes which fail to meet a grade due to blanching shall 
be designated as ``Mixed Color'' and limes that fail to meet a grade 
because of turning yellow due to ripening shall be designated as 
``Turning.'' Also, the proposed revision would remove the juice content 
requirement. This will result in limes with lesser color and juice 
content to be scored as defects using the existing ``Damage'' and 
``Serious Damage'' definitions for ``Blanching,'' ``Yellow Color'' and 
``Dryness or Mushy Condition.'' Therefore, when individual limes fail 
to meet the above requirements, they will be scored as defects against 
a given U.S. grade, and if the number of defects exceeds the total 
grade tolerance, the limes would fail to meet the U.S. grade. This 
proposal will bring the standards for limes in line with the other U.S. 
standards for citrus. AMS believes that

[[Page 12175]]

changing these requirements is warranted to better serve the industry. 
The official grades of limes covered by these standards are determined 
by procedures set forth in the Regulations Governing Inspection, 
Certification and Standards of Fresh Fruits and 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 revision of the U.S. Standards for 
Grades of Persian (Tahiti) Limes.

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

    Dated: March 7, 2005.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-4815 Filed 3-10-05; 8:45 am]
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