[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 215 (Tuesday, November 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65069-65070]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9088]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Waivers of Requirement for Timely Presentation of Certificates of 
Quota Eligibility for Sugar Imported From Mexico in Fiscal Year (FY) 
2006

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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    The Department of Agriculture will consider requests for a waiver 
of the requirement for presentation, at the time of entry into U.S. 
Customs territory, of certificates for quota eligibility for sugar 
imported under tariff-rate quotas allocated to Mexico during FY 2006 
(October 1, 2005-September 30, 2006).

Background

    There were numerous disruptions to the U.S. sugar market in FY 
2006, leading to spot shortages and increased U.S. import requirements. 
Importers of sugar under tariff-rate quotas allocated to Mexico 
experienced delays in receiving certificates for quota eligibility, due 
in part to processing delays in both the United States and in Mexico. 
There were also numerous cases of delays at ports of entry into the 
United States for sugar under tariff-rate quotas even when the 
certificate for quota eligibility was available, and importers 
sometimes avoided delays by entering sugar under a high-duty tariff 
line which did not require a certificate for quota eligibility. Under 
15 CFR 2011.104, the Secretary has authority to grant a waiver, with 
respect to individual shipments, various requirements regarding use of 
certificates for quota eligibility, if he

[[Page 65070]]

determines that a waiver will not impair the proper operation of the 
sugar quota system, that it will not have the effect of modifying the 
allocation of sugar under Additional U.S. Note 5 to Chapter 17 of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule, and that such waiver is justified by 
unusual, unavoidable, or otherwise appropriate circumstances.
    Therefore, the Department will consider requests for a waiver of 
the requirement for presentation of certificates of quota eligibility 
for sugar imported from Mexico during FY 2006. This notice does not 
apply to requests for a waiver of a deadline to enter sugar within a 
tariff-rate quota period, and applies only to sugar imported from 
Mexico during FY 2006. To receive full consideration, written requests 
for a waiver of the requirement for presentation of a sugar certificate 
for quota eligibility along with the original entry of sugar from 
Mexico must be received by December 1, 2006. If Mexico's FY 2006 sugar 
tariff-rate quota fills, no more waivers will be considered. Individual 
entries affected by this notice will be processed in the order they are 
received.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Lord, Deputy Director, Import 
Policies and Programs Division, FAS, USDA, (202) 720-2916, e-mail: 
[email protected], fax (202) 720-0876.

    Dated: October 30, 2006.
W. Kirk Miller,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 06-9088 Filed 11-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M