[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 11 (Thursday, January 18, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2211-2212]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-598]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1260

[No. LS-07-03]


Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Program; Section 610 
Review

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of review and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's 
(AMS) review of the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Program, 
which is conducted under the Beef Promotion and Research Order (Order), 
under the criteria contained in section 610 of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (RFA).

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by March 19, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this notice of review. Comments must be sent to Kenneth R. 
Payne, Chief, Marketing Programs, Livestock and Seed Program, AMS, 
USDA, Room 2628-S, STOP 0251, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0251; Fax: (202) 720-1125; via e-mail at 
[email protected] or online at www.regulations.gov. All comments 
should reference the docket number, the date, and the page number of 
this issue of the Federal Register. Comments will be available for 
public inspection via the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/mpb/rp-beef.htm or during regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Payne, Chief, Marketing 
Programs Branch, Livestock and Seed

[[Page 2212]]

Program, AMS, USDA, Room 2628-S, STOP 0251, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-0251 or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Order (7 CFR part 1260) is authorized 
under the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985 (Act) (7 U.S.C. 2901 
et seq.). This program is a national beef program for beef and beef 
product promotion, research, consumer information, and industry 
information as part of a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the beef 
industry's position in the marketplace by maintaining and expanding 
existing domestic and foreign markets and by developing new markets for 
beef and beef products. The program is funded by a mandatory assessment 
of $1-per-head, collected each time cattle are sold. All producers 
owning and marketing cattle, regardless of the size of their operation 
or the value of their cattle, must pay the assessment. A comparable 
assessment is collected on all imported cattle, beef, and beef 
products. Assessments collected under this program are used for 
promotion, research, consumer information, and industry information.
    The national program is administered by the Cattlemen's Beef Board 
(Board), which has 104 producer and importer members. Board members 
serve 3-year terms, but no individual may serve more than two 
consecutive 3-year terms. Producer members represent 35 States and 4 
geographic units. The program became effective on July 18, 1986, when 
the Order was issued. Assessments began on October 1, 1986.
    On February 18, 1999, AMS published in the Federal Register (64 FR 
8014) its plan to review certain regulations. On January 4, 2002, AMS 
published in the Federal Register (67 FR 525) an update to its plan to 
review regulations, including the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and 
Research Program, which is conducted under the Order, under criteria 
contained in section 610 of the RFA (5 U.S.C. 601-612). Because many 
AMS regulations impact small entities, AMS decided, as a matter of 
policy, to review certain regulations that, although may not meet the 
threshold requirement under section 610 of the RFA, warrant review. 
Accordingly, this notice and request for comments is made for the 
Order.
    The purpose of the review is to determine whether the Order should 
continue without change or whether it should be amended or rescinded 
(consistent with the objectives of the Act) to minimize the impact on 
small entities. AMS will consider the following factors: (1) The 
continued need for the Order; (2) The nature of complaints or comments 
received from the public concerning the Order; (3) the complexity of 
the Order; (4) the extent to which the Order overlaps, duplicates, or 
conflicts with other Federal rules, and, to the extent feasible, with 
State and local governmental rules; and (5) the length of time since 
the Order has been evaluated or the degree to which technology, 
economic conditions, or other factors have changed in the area affected 
by the Order.
    Written comments, views, opinions, and other information regarding 
the Order's impact on small businesses are invited.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2901-2918.

    Dated: January 10, 2007.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E7-598 Filed 1-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P