[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 222 (Thursday, November 19, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59920-59932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27430]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 222 / Thursday, November 19, 2009 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 59920]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 42

[Doc. No. AMS-FV-08-0027; FV-05-332]


United States Standards for Condition of Food Containers

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to amend the 
regulations governing the United States (U.S.) Standards for Condition 
of Food Containers. AMS regularly reviews standards to determine if 
they meet current industry practices. Based on our most recent review, 
we believe that the U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers 
needs to be revised. The revisions are necessary in order to provide 
standards that reflect current industry practices. Revisions to the 
U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers include simplifying 
Tables I, I-A, II, II-A, III, III-A, and III-B for sampling plans for 
normal, tightened, and reduced condition of container inspection to 
reflect the type of sampling plan used (single or double). It also 
includes updating the Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs), Tables IV--
Metal Containers, V--Glass Containers, VI--Rigid and Semirigid 
Containers, VII--Flexible Containers (Plastic, Cello, Paper, Textile, 
etc.), and X--Defects of Label, Marking, or Code (currently Table VIII) 
to incorporate new defects and updating current defects to include 
defects that would correspond to new packaging technologies such as 
aseptic packaging, metal cans with easy open lids, and plastic rings 
that hold several containers together. This revision also proposes 
adding new defect tables entitled Table VIII--Unitizing (Plastic or 
other type of casing/unitizing) and Table IX--Interior Can Defects. 
Finally, removing the Operating Characteristic (OC) curves for on-line 
sampling and inspection. Other minor non-substantive changes are also 
proposed.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 19, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments or 
comments on the Internet. Comments must be sent to Lynne Yedinak, 
Processed Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Stop 0247, Washington, DC 20250-0247; Telephone: (202) 
720-9939; FAX: (202) 690-1527; or Internet: http://www.regulations.gov. 
The current U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers is 
available through the address cited below or by accessing the Internet 
at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_00/7cfr42_00.html. All 
comments received will be posed without change, including any personal 
information provided. All comments should make reference to the date 
and page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made 
available for public inspection in the above office during regular 
business hours or can be viewed at: http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynne Yedinak at the above address, 
Telephone: (202) 720-9939, Fax: (202) 690-1527, or e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Executive Order 12866 Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been reviewed 
by the Office of Management and Budget.
    Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601-612), AMS has considered the economic impact of 
this action on small entities. Accordingly, AMS has prepared this 
initial regulatory flexibility analysis.
    The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory action to the scale of 
business subject to such actions in order that small businesses will 
not be unduly or disproportionately burdened.
    There are approximately 26,361 establishments identified in the 
1997 Economic Census as belonging to the North American Industry 
Classification System under the classification of ``food 
manufacturing'' and any number of these establishments could request 
their product containers be inspected under the provisions of the U.S. 
Standards for Condition of Food Containers for a number of AMS Program 
areas. The vast majority of these establishments would qualify as small 
businesses under the definition provided by the Small Business 
Administration.
    We have examined the economic implications of this proposed rule on 
small entities. Under the proposed rule, utilization of the U.S. 
Standards for Condition of Food Containers is voluntary. Small entities 
would only incur direct costs when purchasers, of their packaged food 
products, stipulate in their procurement documents that the food 
containers should conform to the requirements of the U.S. Standards for 
Condition of Food Containers. Since the standards were previously 
amended in May 1983, innovations in packaging technologies have 
provided an increasingly wide variety of acceptable new food 
containers. These new food containers are not represented by the 
current standards. According, we believe that this impact will be 
minimal because the revisions are necessary in order to provide 
standards that reflect current industry practices. Finally, the changes 
concerning removal of OC curves and other non-substantive changes will 
have no adverse impact on small or large entities.
    This rule would not impose any additional reporting or 
recordkeeping requirements on either small or large establishments. In 
addition, the Department has not identified any relevant Federal rules 
that duplicate, overlap or conflict with the Standards.
    AMS is committed to complying with the E-Government Act, to promote 
the use of the Internet and other information technologies to provide 
increased opportunities for citizen access to Government information 
and services, and for other purposes.

Executive Order 12988

    The rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. There are no administrative procedures which must be 
exhausted prior to any judicial challenge to the provisions of this 
rule.

Background

    The U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers (Standards) 
currently provides sampling procedures and

[[Page 59921]]

acceptance criteria for the inspection of stationary lots of filled 
food containers, which includes skip lot sampling and inspection 
procedures. It also provides on-line sampling and inspection procedures 
food containers during production.
    Stationary lot sampling is the process of randomly selecting sample 
units from a lot whose production has been completed. This type of lot 
is usually stored in a warehouse or in some other storage facility and 
is offered for inspection.
    Skip lot sampling is a special procedure for inspecting stationary 
lots in which only a fraction of the submitted lots are inspected. Skip 
lot inspection can only be instituted when a certain number of lots of 
essentially the same quality have been consecutively accepted. To be 
acceptable under the examination criteria in the standards, lots may 
contain only a limited number of defects classified as minor, major, 
and critical. Acceptance criteria are based on sampling plans for 
different lot sizes and levels of inspection such as normal, reduced, 
or tightened. Defect tables classify the severity of the defect.
    On-line sampling and inspection is a procedure in which subgroups 
of sample units or individual containers are selected randomly from 
pre-designated portions of production. The acceptability of these 
portions of production is determined by inspecting, at the time of 
sampling, the subgroups which represent these portions. For this type 
of sampling, only portions of a lot, rather than a whole lot, may be 
rejected. This helps to quickly pinpoint trouble spots in a production 
cycle, enabling the producer to make timely corrections, thus reducing 
the monetary value and total amount of product destroyed as a result of 
packaging problems.
    These standards were developed for the use of Government agencies 
when requested to certify that filled primary containers or shipping 
cases, or both, be certified for condition. The standards are 
permissive, and they may be used in their entirety, or in part, by 
private parties as well.
    AMS proposes to revise the Standards to include: (1) separating 
Tables I, I-A, II, II-A, III, III-A, and III-B of sampling plans for 
normal, tightened, and reduced inspection by the type of sampling plan 
used (single or double), as well as updating the Acceptable Quality 
Levels (AQLs); (2) updating Tables IV--Metal Containers, V--Glass 
Containers, VI--Rigid and Semirigid Containers, VII--Flexible 
Containers (Plastic, Cello, Paper, Textile, etc.), and X--Defects of 
Label, Marking, or Code (currently Table VIII) to incorporate new 
defects and revising current defects to reflect the new packaging 
technologies such as aseptic packaging, metal cans with easy open lids, 
and plastic rings that hold several containers together; (3) adding new 
defect tables, Table VIII--Unitizing (Plastic or other type of casing/
unitizing) and Table IX--Interior Can Defects; (4) removing the 
Operating Characteristic (OC) curves; and (5) other minor non-
substantive changes to clarify and to determine non-substantive 
changes.
    These revisions to existing tables, addition of new tables, removal 
of OC curves, and updating language in the container standards would 
enable the standards to be applicable to most types of food containers 
and align the standards to reflect current industry practices.
    OC Curves found in Sec. Sec.  42.140, 42.141, 42.142, and 42.143 
from Subpart E--Miscellaneous, are proposed to be completely removed. 
While these curves show the ability of the various sampling plans to 
distinguish between good and bad lots, it is our experience that the 
inclusion of these curves are not critical to use of the standards. 
Furthermore, they are readily available in literature, on the Internet 
and Standards for sampling plans are also currently available in 7 CFR 
Part 43.
    A sixty-day comment period is provided for all interested persons 
to comment on this proposal. All written comment received will be 
considered before a final determination is made on this matter.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 42

    Food packaging, reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 42 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 42--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 42 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1622, 1624.

    2. Sec.  42.102 is amended by:
    a. Removing the terms Operating Characteristic Curve (OC Curve) and 
Probability of acceptance, which includes (a) For stationary lot 
sampling and (b) For On-line Sampling; and
    b. Revising the terms Administrator, Lot or inspection lot, Sample 
size (n), and Stationary lot sampling to read as follows:


Sec.  42.102  Definitions, general.

* * * * *
    Administrator. The Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing 
Service (AMS) of the Department or any other officer or employee of the 
Agency who is delegated, or who may be delegated the authority to act 
in his stead.
* * * * *
    Lot or inspection lot. A collection of filled food containers of 
the same size, type, and style. The term shall mean ``inspection lot,'' 
i.e., a collection of units of product from which a sample is to be 
drawn and inspected to determine conformance with the applicable 
acceptance criteria. An inspection lot may differ from a collection of 
units designated as a lot for other purposes (e.g., production lot, 
shipping lot, etc.).
* * * * *
    Sample size (n). The number of sample units included in the sample.
* * * * *
    Stationary lot sampling. The process of randomly selecting sample 
units from a lot whose production has been completed. This type of lot 
is usually stored in a warehouse or in some other storage facility and 
is offered in its entirety for inspection.
* * * * *


Sec.  42.106  [Amended]

    3. In Sec.  42.106, paragraph (a)(1) the word ``atributed'' is 
revised to read ``attributed''.
    4. Revise Sec.  42.109 to read as follows:


Sec.  42.109  Sampling plans for normal condition of container 
inspection, Tables I and I-A.

[[Page 59922]]



                                                           Table I--Single Sampling Plans for Normal Condition of Container Inspection
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                     Acceptable quality levels
                                                                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                    Origin Inspection                         Other than origin inspection
                  Code                     Lot size ranges--number of         Type of plan        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               containers in lot                                                  0.25           1.5           6.5          0.25           2.5          10.0
                                                                                                     Sample  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Size      Ac     Re     Ac     Re     Ac     Re     Ac     Re     Ac     Re     Ac     Re
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA......................................  6,000 or less..............  Single....................         84      0      1      3      4      9     10      0      1      4      5     13     14
CB......................................  6,001-12,000...............  Single....................        168      1      2      5      6     16     17      1      2      7      8     23     24
CC......................................  12,001-36,000..............  Single....................        315      2      3      8      9     28     29      2      3     13     14     41     42
CD......................................  Over 36,000................  Single....................        500      3      4     12     13     42     43      3      4     18     19     62     63
CE......................................  ...........................  Single....................        800      4      5     18     19     64     65      4      5     27     28     95     96
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ac = Acceptance number.
Re = Rejection number.

BILLING CODE 3410-02-P

[[Page 59923]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR19NO09.003

    5. Revise Sec.  42.110 to read as follows:


Sec.  42.110  Sampling plans for tightened condition of container 
inspection; Tables II and II-A.

[[Page 59924]]



                                                         Table II--Single Sampling Plans for Tightened Condition of Container Inspection
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                     Acceptable quality levels
                                                                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                    Origin inspection                         Other than origin inspection
                  Code                     Lot size ranges--number of         Type of plan        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               containers in lot                                                  0.25           1.5           6.5          0.25           2.5          10.0
                                                                                                     Sample  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      size      Ac     Re     Ac     Re     Ac     Re     Ac     Re     Ac     Re     Ac     Re
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CB......................................  6,000 or less..............  Single....................        168      0      1      4      5     11     12      0      1      5      6     16     17
CC......................................  6,001-12,000...............  Single....................        315      1      2      6      7     19     20      1      2      8      9     28     29
CD......................................  12,001-36,000..............  Single....................        500      2      3      9     10     28     29      2      3     12     13     42     43
CE......................................  Over 36,000................  Single....................        800      3      4     13     14     42     43      3      4     18     19     64     65
CF......................................  ...........................  Single....................      1,250      4      5     19     20     63     64      4      5     26     27     96     97
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 59925]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR19NO09.004

    6. Revise Sec.  42.111 to read as follow:


Sec.  42.111  Sampling plans for reduced condition of container 
inspection, Tables III and III-A; and limit number for reduced 
inspection, Table III-B.

[[Page 59926]]



                                                         Table III--Single Sampling Plans for Reduced Condition of Container Inspection
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                     Acceptable quality levels
                                                                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                    Origin inspection                         Other than origin inspection
                  Code                     Lot size ranges--number of         Type of plan        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               containers in lot                                                  0.25           1.5           6.5          0.25           2.5          10.0
                                                                                                     Sample  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      size      Ac     Re     Ac     Re     Ac     Re     Ac     Re     Ac     Re     Ac     Re
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAA.....................................  6,000 or less..............  Single....................         29      1      2      1      2      4      5      1      2      2      3      5      6
CA......................................  6,001-36,000...............  Single....................         84      1      2      3      4      9     10      1      2      4      5     13     14
CB......................................  Over 36,000................  Single....................        168      1      2      5      6     16     17      1      2      7      8     23     24
CC......................................  ...........................  Single....................        315      2      3      8      9     28     29      2      3     13     14     41     42
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 59927]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR19NO09.005

BILLING CODE 3410-02-C

[[Page 59928]]



            Table III-B--Limit Numbers for Reduced Inspection
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of sample units from last         Acceptable quality level
   10 lots inspected within 6    ---------------------------------------
             months                0.25     1.5     2.5     6.5    10.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
320-499.........................       *       1       4      14      24
500-799.........................       *       3       7      25      40
800-1,249.......................       0       7      14      42      68
1,250-1,999.....................       0      13      24      69     110
2,000-3,149.....................       2      22      40     115     181
3,150-4,999.....................       4      38      67     186     293
5,000-7,999.....................       7      63     110     302     472
8,000-12,499....................      14     105     181     491     765
12,500-19,999...................      24     169     290     777    1207
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Denotes that the number of sample units from the last 10 inspection
  lots is not sufficient for reduced inspection for this AQL. In this
  instance more than 10 inspection lots may be used for the calculations
  if the inspection lots used are the most recent ones in sequence
  within the last 6 months, they have all been on normal inspection, and
  none has been rejected on original inspection.

    7. Revise Sec.  42.112 to read as follows:


Sec.  42.112  Defects of containers: Tables IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and 
IX.

                       Table IV--Metal Containers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Categories
             Defects              --------------------------------------
                                     Critical      Major        Minor
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type or size of container or
 component parts not as specified             None permitted.
                                  --------------------------------------
Closure incomplete, not located              1  ...........  ...........
 correctly or not sealed,
 crimped, or fitted properly.....
Dirty, stained or smeared          ...........  ...........          201
 container.......................
Key opening metal containers
 (when required):
    (a) Key missing..............  ...........          101  ...........
    (b) Key does not fit tab.....  ...........          102  ...........
    (c) Tab of opening band        ...........          103  ...........
     insufficient to provide
     accessibility to key........
    (d) Improper scoring (band     ...........          104  ...........
     would not be removed in one
     continuous strip)...........
Metal pop-top:
    (a) Missing or broken pull     ...........          105  ...........
     tab.........................
    (b) Missing or incomplete      ...........          106  ...........
     score line..................
Flexible pop-top:
    (a) Poor seal (wrinkle,        ...........          107  ...........
     entrapped matter, etc.).....
    (b) Short pull tab...........  ...........  ...........          202
    (c) Missing pull tab.........  ...........          108  ...........
    (d) Torn pull tab............  ...........  ...........          203
Open top with plastic overcap
 (when required):
    (a) Plastic overcap missing..  ...........          109  ...........
    (b) Plastic overcap warped     ...........          110  ...........
     (making opening or
     reapplication difficult)....
Outside tinplate or coating (when
 required):
    (a) Missing or incomplete....  ...........  ...........          204
    (b) Blistered, flaked,         ...........  ...........          205
     sagged, or wrinkled.........
    (c) Scratched or scored......  ...........  ...........          206
    (d) Fine cracks..............  ...........  ...........          207
Rust (rust stain confined to the
 top or bottom double seam or
 rust that can be removed with a
 soft cloth is not scored a
 defect):
    (a) Rust stain...............  ...........  ...........          208
    (b) Pitted rust..............  ...........          111  ...........
    Wet cans (excluding            ...........  ...........          209
     refrigerated containers)....
Dent:
    (a) Materially affecting       ...........  ...........          210
     appearance but not usability
    (b) Materially affecting       ...........          112  ...........
     usability...................
Buckle:
    (a) Not involving end seam...  ...........  ...........          211
    (b) Extending into the end     ...........          113  ...........
     seam........................
Collapsed container..............  ...........          114  ...........
Paneled side materially affecting  ...........  ...........          212
 appearance but not usability....
Solder missing when required.....  ...........          115  ...........
Cable cut exposing seam..........  ...........          116  ...........
Improper side seam...............  ...........          117  ...........
    Swell, springer, or flipper              2  ...........  ...........
     (not applicable to gas or
     pressure packed product nor
     frozen products)............
Leaker or blown container........            3  ...........  ...........
Frozen products only:
    (a) Bulging ends \3/16\'' to   ...........  ...........          213
     \1/4\'' beyond lip..........
    (b) Bulging ends more than \1/ ...........          118  ...........
     4\'' beyond lip.............
Metal drums: leaking filling seal  ...........          119  ...........
 (bung) swell....................

[[Page 59929]]

 
Composite can (fiberboard body
 with metal lids):
    (a) Torn:
        (1) Materially affecting   ...........  ...........          214
         appearance but not
         usability...............
        (2) Materially affecting   ...........          120  ...........
         usability...............
    (b) Crushed:
        (1) Materially affecting   ...........  ...........          215
         appearance but not
         usability...............
        (2) Materially affecting   ...........          121  ...........
         usability...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                        Table V--Glass Containers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Categories
             Defects              --------------------------------------
                                     Critical      Major        Minor
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type or size of container or
 component parts not as specified             None permitted.
                                  --------------------------------------
Closure not sealed, crimped, or              1  ...........  ...........
 fitted properly.................
Dirty, stained, or smeared         ...........  ...........          201
 container.......................
Chip in glass....................  ...........  ...........          202
Stone (unmelted material) in       ...........  ...........          203
 glass...........................
Pits in surface of glass.........  ...........  ...........          204
Sagging surface..................  ...........  ...........          205
Bead (bubble within glass):
    (a) \1/8\'' to \1/16\'' in     ...........  ...........          206
     diameter....................
    (b) Exceeding \1/8\'' in       ...........          101  ...........
     diameter....................
Checked..........................  ...........          102  ...........
Thin spot in glass...............  ...........          103  ...........
Blister (structural defect)......  ...........          104  ...........
Bird swing (glass appendage                  2  ...........  ...........
 inside container)...............
Broken or leaking container......            3  ...........  ...........
Cap (nonheat processed):
    (a) Cross-threaded...........  ...........  ...........          207
    (b) Loose but not leaking....  ...........  ...........          208
    (c) Pitted rust..............  ...........          105  ...........
Cap (heat processed):
    (a) Cross-threaded or loose..            4  ...........  ...........
    (b) Pitted rust..............  ...........          106  ...........
Sealing tape or cello band (when
 required):
    (a) Improperly placed........  ...........  ...........          209
    (b) Not covering juncture of   ...........          107  ...........
     cap and glass...............
    (c) Ends overlap by less than  ...........          108  ...........
     \1/2\''.....................
    (d) Loose or deteriorating...  ...........          109  ...........
Missing or torn outer safety seal  ...........          110  ...........
Inner safety seal--missing, torn,  ...........          111  ...........
 poor seal.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------


      Table VI--Rigid and Semirigid Containers--Corrugated or Solid
                    Fiberboard, Chipboard, Wood, etc.
                       [Excluding glass and metal]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Categories
             Defects              --------------------------------------
                                     Critical      Major        Minor
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type or size of container or
 component parts not as specified             None permitted.
                                  --------------------------------------
Component part missing...........  ...........          101  ...........
Closure not sealed, crimped, or
 fitted properly:
    (a) Primary container........            1  ...........  ...........
    (b) Other than primary         ...........  ...........          201
     container...................
Dirty, stained, or smeared         ...........  ...........          202
 container.......................
Wet or damp (excluding ice
 packs):
    (a) Materially affecting       ...........  ...........          203
     appearance but not usability
    (b) Materially affecting       ...........          102  ...........
     usability...................
Moldy area.......................            2  ...........  ...........
Crushed or torn area:
    (a) Materially affecting       ...........  ...........          204
     appearance but not usability
    (b) Materially affecting       ...........          103  ...........
     usability...................
Separation of lamination
 (corrugated fiberboard):
    (a) Materially affecting       ...........  ...........          205
     appearance but not usability
    (b) Materially affecting       ...........          104  ...........
     usability...................

[[Page 59930]]

 
Product sifting or leaking.......  ...........          105  ...........
Nails or staples (when required):
    (a) Not as required,           ...........  ...........          206
     insufficient number or
     improperly positioned.......
    (b) Nails or staples           ...........          106  ...........
     protruding..................
Glue or adhesive (when required);
 not holding properly not
 covering area specified, or not
 covering sufficient area to hold
 properly:
    (a) Primary container........  ...........          107  ...........
(b) Other than primary container.  ...........  ...........          207
Flap:
    (a) Projects beyond edge of    ...........  ...........          208
     container more than \1/4\-
     inch........................
    (b) Does not meet properly,    ...........  ...........          209
     allowing space of more than
     \1/4\-inch..................
Sealing tape or strapping (when
 required):
    (a) Missing..................  ...........          108  ...........
    (b) Improperly placed or       ...........  ...........          210
     applied.....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------


  Table VII--Flexible Containers (Plastic, Cello, Paper, Textile, etc.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Categories
             Defects              --------------------------------------
                                     Critical      Major        Minor
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type or size of container or
 component parts not as specified             None permitted.
                                  --------------------------------------
Closure not sealed, crimped,
 stitched, or fitted properly:
     (a) Primary container.......            1  ...........  ...........
     (b) Other than primary        ...........  ...........          201
     container...................
Dirty, stained, or smeared         ...........  ...........          202
 container.......................
Unmelted gels in plastic.........  ...........  ...........          203
Torn or cut container or Abrasion
 (non-leaker):
     (a) Materially affecting      ...........  ...........          204
     appearance but not usability
     (b) Materially affecting      ...........          101  ...........
     usability...................
Moldy area.......................            2  ...........  ...........
Individual packages sticking       ...........          102  ...........
 together or to shipping case
 (tear when separated)...........
Not fully covering product.......  ...........          103  ...........
Wet or damp (excluding ice
 packs):
     (a) Materially affecting      ...........  ...........          205
     appearance but not usability
     (b) Materially affecting      ...........          104  ...........
     usability...................
Over wrap (when required):
     (a) Missing.................  ...........          105  ...........
     (b) Loose, not sealed or      ...........  ...........          206
     closed......................
     (c) Improperly applied......  ...........  ...........          207
Sealing tape, strapping or
 adhesives (when required):
     (a) Missing.................  ...........          106  ...........
     (b) Improperly placed,        ...........  ...........          208
     applied, torn, or wrinkled..
Tape over bottom and top closures
 (when required):
     (a) Not covering stitching..  ...........          107  ...........
     (b) Torn (exposing            ...........          108  ...........
     stitching)..................
     (c) Wrinkled (exposing        ...........          109  ...........
     stitching)..................
     (d) Not adhering to bag:
        1. Exposing stitching....  ...........          110  ...........
        2. Not exposing stitching  ...........  ...........          209
     (e) Improper placement......  ...........  ...........          210
Product sifting or leaking.......  ...........  ...........  ...........
     (a) Non-heat processed......  ...........          111  ...........
     (b) Heat processed..........            3  ...........  ...........
Fold or wrinkle in seal area       ...........  ...........  ...........
 (thermo stabilized pouches).....
     (a) Extends through all                 4  ...........  ...........
     plies across seal area or
     reduces seal to less than \1/
     16\-inch....................
     (b) Does not extend through   ...........  ...........          211
     all plies and effective seal
     to is 1/16-inch or greater..
Incomplete seal (thermo                      5  ...........  ...........
 stabilized pouches).............
Non-bonding seal (thermo                     6  ...........  ...........
 stabilized pouches).............
Laminate separation..............            7  ...........  ...........
Flex cracks (cracks in foil layer  ...........  ...........          212
 only)...........................
Swollen container................            8  ...........  ...........
Blister (in seal)................  ...........  ...........  ...........
     (a) Intact seal reduced to              9  ...........  ...........
     less than \1/16\-inch.......
     (b) Intact seal \1/16\-inch   ...........  ...........          213
     or greater..................

[[Page 59931]]

 
Compressed seal (overheated to              10  ...........  ...........
 bubble or expose inner layer)
 reducing intact seal to less
 than \1/16\-inch................
Stringy seal (excessive plastic    ...........  ...........          214
 threads showing at edge of seal
 area)...........................
Contaminated seal (entrapped                11  ...........  ...........
 matter) reducing intact seal to
 less than \1/16\-inch...........
Seal creep (product in pouch
 ``creeping'' into seal).........
     (a) Intact seal reduced to             12  ...........  ...........
     less than \1/16\-inch.......
     (b) Intact seal \1/16\-inch   ...........  ...........          215
     or greater..................
Misaligned or crooked seal                  13  ...........  ...........
 reducing intact seal to less
 than \1/16\-inch................
Seal formed greater than 1-inch    ...........  ...........          216
 from edge of pouch (unclosed
 edge flaps).....................
Waffling (embossing on surface     ...........  ...........          217
 from retort racks)..............
Poor or missing tear notch.......  ...........  ...........          218
Missing ``zip lock'' (re-sealable  ...........  ...........          219
 containers).....................
Loss of vacuum (vac pack)........  ...........          112  ...........
Pre-formed containers:
     (a) Dented or crushed area..  ...........  ...........          220
     (b) Deformed container......  ...........  ...........          221
Missing resealable cap...........  ...........          113  ...........
Inner or outer safety seal--                14  ...........  ...........
 missing, torn, poor seal........
Air bubble in plastic............  ...........          114  ...........
Flexible pop-top:
     (a) Poor seal (wrinkle,
     entrapped matter, etc.):
         (1) Intact seal reduced            15  ...........  ...........
         to less than \1/16\-inch
         (2) Intact seal \1/16\-   ...........  ...........          222
         inch or greater.........
     (b) Short pull tab            ...........  ...........          223
     (materially affecting
     usability)..................
     (c) Missing pull tab........  ...........          115  ...........
     (d) Torn pull tab             ...........  ...........          224
     (materially affecting
     usability)..................
Missing component (straw, etc.)..  ...........  ...........          225
Two part container (poly lined
 box or bag in box):
     (a) Outer case torn.........  ...........  ...........          226
     (b) Poly liner:
        1. Missing...............           16  ...........  ...........
        2. Improper closure......  ...........          116  ...........
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Table VIII--Unitizing (Plastic or Other Type of Casing/Unitizing)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Categories
                    Defects                    -------------------------
                                                   Major        Minor
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not specified method..........................          101  ...........
Missing tray (when required)..................          102  ...........
Missing shrink wrap (when required)...........          103  ...........
Loose or improperly applied wrap..............  ...........          201
Torn or mutilated.............................  ...........          202
Off-center wrap (does not overlap both ends)..  ...........          203
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                     Table IX--Interior Can Defects
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Categories
                    Defects                    -------------------------
                                                   Major        Minor
------------------------------------------------------------------------
De-tinning....................................          101          201
Black spots...................................  ...........          202
Enamel missing (when required)................          102  ...........
Enamel breakdown..............................          103          203
Enamel cracked................................          104          204
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    8. Section 42.113 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  42.113  Defects of label, marking, or code: Table X.

[[Page 59932]]



                    Table X--Label, Marking, or Code
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Categories
                    Defects                    -------------------------
                                                   Major        Minor
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not specified method..........................          101  ...........
Missing (when required).......................          102  ...........
Loose or improperly applied...................  ...........          201
Torn or mutilated.............................  ...........          202
Torn or scratched, obliterating any markings            103  ...........
 on the label.................................
Text illegible or incomplete..................  ...........          203
Incorrect.....................................          104  ...........
In wrong location.............................  ...........          204
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subpart E--[Removed]

    9. In part 42, Subpart E--Miscellaneous, consisting of Sec. Sec.  
42.140, 42.141, 42.142, and 42.143, is removed.

    Dated: November 9, 2009.
Rayne Pegg,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E9-27430 Filed 11-18-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P