[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 20, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 33851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3028]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 118 / Wednesday, June 20, 2007 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 33851]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 60

[Docket No. AMS-LS-06-0166; LS-03-04]
RIN 0581-AC26


Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Fish and Shellfish

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Interim final rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is reopening the 
comment period for 60 days for the interim final rule for mandatory 
country of origin labeling (COOL) for fish and shellfish covered 
commodities that was published in the Federal Register on October 5, 
2004 (69 FR 59708). The interim final rule requires certain retailers 
and their suppliers to notify their customers of the country of origin 
and the method of production (wild and/or farm-raised) of specified 
fish and shellfish products. The interim final rule also specifies 
recordkeeping responsibilities for affected retailers and their 
suppliers. AMS requests general comments on the interim final rule. All 
affected persons are hereby given notice of the opportunity to submit 
written data and views concerning the interim final rule. AMS will 
review the submitted comments and information as it promulgates a final 
rule for mandatory COOL for fish and shellfish.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 20, 2007, to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted through the internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Send written comments to: Country of Origin 
Labeling Program, Room 2607-S; Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), 
USDA; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0254, or by 
facsimile to (202) 720-1112. Comments received will be posted on the 
Web site http://www.regulations.gov. Comments sent to the above 
location that specifically pertain to the information collection and 
recordkeeping requirements should also be sent to the Desk Officer for 
Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 725 17th 
Street, NW., Room 725, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin O'Connor; Chief, Standards, 
Analysis, and Technology Branch; Livestock and Seed Program, AMS, USDA, 
by telephone on (202) 720-4486, or via e-mail to: [email protected]. 
Information can also be found at http://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
of 2002 (Farm Bill) (7 U.S.C. 7901) and the 2002 Supplemental 
Appropriations Act (Appropriations Act) (Pub. L. 107-206) amended the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) by adding 7 
U.S.C. 1638-1638d to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate 
regulations by September 30, 2004, requiring retailers to notify their 
customers of the country of origin of covered commodities. On October 
30, 2003, AMS published a proposed rule for mandatory COOL for all 
covered commodities--beef, lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural 
commodities, and peanuts (68 FR 61944). Subsequently, the FY 2004 
Consolidated Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 108-199) delayed the 
applicability of mandatory COOL for all covered commodities except wild 
and farm-raised fish and shellfish until September 30, 2006. The 
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-97) further 
delayed the applicability of mandatory COOL for all covered commodities 
except wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish until September 30, 
2008. On October 5, 2004, AMS published an interim final rule (69 FR 
59708) for the mandatory COOL program for fish and shellfish. The 
interim final rule can be found at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/index.htm. The interim final rule became effective on April 4, 2005.
    AMS reopened the interim final rule's comment period for 90 days on 
November 27, 2006 (71 FR 68431). The reopened comment period was 
limited to comments concerning the economic impacts of the interim 
final rule, including implementation costs, maintenance costs, the 
burden of the information collection and recordkeeping requirements, 
benefits and net economic impacts. Comments and information received as 
a result of the reopened interim final rule's comment period, to the 
extent relevant, would be reviewed in connection with any final 
regulatory action for fish and shellfish and any of the other covered 
commodities.
    In preparation for promulating a final rule for mandatory COOL for 
fish and shellfish, AMS now seeks comments on general aspects of the 
interim final rule's provisions. Given that the interim final rule has 
been in effect for more than 2 years, affected retailers and their 
suppliers now have considerable experience in complying with the 
requirements, and have perspective relating to the information that is 
provided under the program and the program's costs and benefits. AMS 
invites interested parties to submit comments, data, or other relevant 
information on the mandatory COOL program set forth in teh interim 
final rule.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.

    Dated: June 14, 2007.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 07-3028 Filed 6-15-07; 8:53 am]
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