[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 129 (Thursday, July 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38357-38358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10550]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration


United States Standards for Feed Peas

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.

ACTION: Final notice.

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SUMMARY: We are establishing U.S. standards for Feed Peas under the 
authority of the U.S. Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended 
(AMA). Current U.S. standards for Whole Dry Peas and Split Peas reflect 
the needs of the edible dry pea market. The quality and standards 
established for the edible dry pea market greatly differ from the feed 
pea market. Consequently, the current standards for edible dry peas do 
not reflect the current needs of the feed pea market. This action 
provides uniform standards and facilitates the marketing of feed peas.

DATES: Effective Date: July 7, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marianne Plaus at GIPSA, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3630; Telephone (202) 
690-3460; Fax Number (202) 720-1015; or e-mail to: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The AMA directs and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to 
develop and improve standards for agricultural products (7 U.S.C. 
1622). These are standards of quality, condition, quantity, grade, and 
packaging. The intent of such standards is to encourage uniformity and 
consistency in commercial practices.
    The United States Dry Pea and Lentil Council and other dry pea 
industry representatives requested that GIPSA establish standards for 
dry peas used as feed for animals (feed peas). The pea

[[Page 38358]]

industry indicated the need to establish separate standards for 
marketing peas as a feed product due to an increasing demand for peas 
used in animal feed. The quality and standards established for the 
edible dry pea market differ from the feed pea market.
    GIPSA worked with the United States Dry Pea and Lentil Council and 
others in the pea industry to develop the standards for feed peas.
    The standards include definitions, the basic principles governing 
application of standards, such as the type of sample used for a 
particular quality analysis, reporting requirements for analytical 
results, the actual quality grade specifications, and the format for 
the grade for certification purposes. The standards include 
specifications for both U.S. Grade No. 1 Feed Peas and for U.S. Sample 
Grade Feed Peas. Feed peas that do not meet the requirements for U.S. 
Grade No. 1 Feed Peas are to be classified as U.S. Sample Grade Feed 
Peas.
    In the May 12, 2006, Federal Register (71 FR 27672-27674) we 
invited comments on the U.S. Standards for Feed Peas. We received no 
comments during the 30-day comment period. Therefore, we are 
establishing U.S. Standards for Feed Peas as proposed.
    The U.S. Standards for Peas, including the new Standards for Feed 
Peas, do not appear in the Code of Federal Regulations; the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture maintains the standards. The process for 
developing these standards are specified in the regulations in 7 CFR 
868.102, Procedures for establishing and revising grade standards.
    You may view or print the U.S. Standards for Feed Peas from the 
GIPSA Web site at http://www.gipsa.usda.gov or by contacting us by 
phone, fax, or e-mail using the information provided above under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. We expect requests for service this season 
beginning in mid-July. Accordingly, the standards are effective one day 
after publication of this final notice in the Federal Register.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627; 7 CFR 868.103.

James E. Link,
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-10550 Filed 7-5-06; 8:45 am]
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