[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 26 (Thursday, February 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7245-7246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2196]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket  AMS-FV-2007-0036; FV-06-318]


United States Standards for Grades of Pineapples

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) is revising the voluntary United States Standards 
for Grades of Pineapples. Specifically, AMS is replacing Tables I and 
II in the tolerances section with numerical tolerances and numerical 
application of tolerances. Decay tolerances will also be revised. This 
change will bring the standards for pineapples in line with current 
marketing practices, thereby, improving the usefulness of the standards 
in serving the industry.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 10, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vincent J. Fusaro, Standardization 
Section, Fresh Products Branch; (202) 720-2185. The revised United 
States Standards for Grades of Pineapples is available by accessing the 
AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/stanfrfv.htm.

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

[[Page 7246]]

and makes copies of official standards available upon request. The 
United States Standards for Grades of Fruits and Vegetables not 
connected with 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 revising the voluntary United States Standards for Grades of 
Pineapples using the procedures that appear in Part 36, Title 7 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).

Background

    Prior to undertaking detailed work to develop a proposed revision 
to the standards, AMS published a notice on September 21, 2006, in the 
Federal Register (71 FR 55160), soliciting comments on a possible 
revision of the United States Standards for Grades of Pineapples. Based 
on comments received and information gathered, a second notice was 
published on August 15, 2007, in the Federal Register (72 FR 45724), 
proposing to revise the standards by replacing Tables I and II in the 
tolerances section with numerical tolerances and numerical application 
of tolerances. Decay tolerances were also proposed for revision. In 
response to this notice AMS received two supporting comments and one 
opposing comment. The comments are available by accessing the http://www.regulations.gov Web site.
    The two supporting comments stated that the revision would 
facilitate the marketing of pineapples and make the standards for 
pineapples more uniform. The opposing commentor did not feel the 
revision was necessary at this time due to more pressing issues, which 
were not elaborated on by the commentor.
    Based on comments received and information gathered, AMS is 
revising the pineapple standards by replacing Tables I and II in the 
tolerances section with numerical tolerances and numerical application 
of tolerances, as well as revising the decay tolerances.
    The official grade of a lot of pineapples covered by these 
standards will be determined by the procedures set forth in the 
Regulations Governing Inspection, Certification, and Standards of Fresh 
Fruits, Vegetables and Other Products (Sec. 51.1 to 51.61).
    The United States Standards for Grades of Pineapples will be 
effective 30 days after publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register.

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

    Dated: February 1, 2008.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-2196 Filed 2-6-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P