[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 117 (Friday, June 17, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 39596-39597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14332]


 ========================================================================
 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. 81, No. 117 / Friday, June 17, 2016 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 39596]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR 52

[Document Number AMS-FV-15-0049, FV-16-332]


United States Standards for Grades of Canned Vegetables

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) proposes to revise 18 U.S. grade standards for 
canned vegetables issued on or before August 3, 1998. AMS is proposing 
to replace the two-term grading system (dual nomenclature) with a 
single term to describe each quality level for the grade standards 
identified in this notice. Terms using the letter grade would be 
retained and the descriptive term would be eliminated. For example, 
grade standards using the term ``U.S. Grade A'' or ``U.S. Fancy'' would 
be revised to use the term ``U.S. Grade A.'' Likewise, grade standards 
using the term ``U.S. Grade B'' or ``U.S. Extra Standard'' would be 
revised to use the single term ``U.S. Grade B.'' These changes would 
bring the grade standards in line with the present quality levels being 
marketed today and provide guidance in the effective use of these 
products. Editorial changes would also be made to the grade standards 
that conform to recent changes made in other grade standards.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 16, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted via the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or by mail to Dana N. White, Standardization 
Branch, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, Specialty Crops Program, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 0709-South Building; STOP 0247, 
Washington, DC 20250; or fax (202) 690-1527. Copies of the proposed 
revised U.S. Standards for Grades are available at the Web site address 
cited above. All comments should reference the document number, date, 
and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All comments 
will be posted without change, including any personal information 
provided. All comments submitted in response to this notice will be 
included in the public record and made available to the public on the 
Internet via http://www.regulations.gov and at the above address during 
regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Dana N. White, at the address 
above, by phone (202) 720-5870; fax (202) 690-1527; or email: 
[email protected]. Copies of the current U.S. standards for 
grades for the 18 canned vegetables covered by this Notice are 
available on the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/vegetables.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946, 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 and makes copies 
of official standards available upon request. The U.S. 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, Specialty Crops 
Program and are available on the internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/vegetables. AMS is proposing revisions to these U.S. 
Standards for Grades using the procedures that appear in part 36 of 
Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).
    Background: AMS periodically reviews the grade standards for 
usefulness in serving the industry. AMS has determined that changes to 
18 grade standards covering various canned vegetables are required. 
More recently developed grade standards use a single term, such as 
``U.S. Grade A'' or ``U.S. Grade B,'' to describe each level of quality 
within a grade standard. Older grade standards used dual nomenclature, 
such as ``U.S. Grade A'' and ``U.S. Fancy,'' ``U.S. Grade B'' and 
``U.S. Extra Standard,'' and ``U.S. Grade C'' and ``U.S. Standard,'' to 
describe the same level of quality. The terms ``U.S. Fancy,'' ``U.S. 
Extra Standard,'' and ``U.S. Standard'' would be removed and the terms 
``U.S. Grade A,'' U.S. Grade B,'' and ``U.S. Grade C'' would be used 
exclusively. AMS is also proposing editorial changes to these grade 
standards, i.e., updating addresses to obtain copies of the grade 
standards, removing specific addresses for licensed suppliers of color 
standards and inspection aids, and updating Code of Federal Regulations 
references where applicable. Contact information for current licensed 
suppliers is available in the Fresh and Processed Equipment Catalog on 
the AMS Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/how-purchase-equipment-and-visual-aids. These revisions will provide a 
format that is consistent with those of other grade standards (75 FR 
43141). The following table summarizes the changes currently under 
consideration by AMS.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Effective      Change level  of quality
 U.S. Standards for grades of canned       date        designation  to single term    Other revisions proposed
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asparagus...........................        06/20/73  Yes.........................  Update address for
                                                                                     standards.
                                                                                    Correct Standard of Identity
                                                                                     citation.
Beets...............................        08/03/98  Yes.........................  Update address for
                                                                                     standards.
Carrots.............................        08/03/98  Yes.........................  Update address for
                                                                                     standards.

[[Page 39597]]

 
Chili Sauce.........................        10/20/53  Yes.........................  Update address for
                                                                                     standards.
Corn, Cream Style...................        07/01/57  Yes.........................  Update address for
                                                                                     standards.
                                                                                    Add Standard of Identity
                                                                                     citation.
                                                                                    Add Latin name.
Hominy..............................        03/10/58  Yes.........................  Update address for
                                                                                     standards.
Leafy Greens........................        09/01/73  Yes.........................  Update address for
                                                                                     standards.
                                                                                    Add titles to Tables IV and
                                                                                     V.
                                                                                    Correct Standard of Identity
                                                                                     citation.
Okra................................        07/08/57  Yes.........................  Update address for
                                                                                     standards.
Okra and Tomatoes or Tomatoes and           12/24/57  Yes.........................  Update address for
 Okra.                                                                               standards.
Onions..............................        11/02/57  Yes.........................  Update address for
                                                                                     standards.
                                                                                    Add titles for Tables II and
                                                                                     III.
                                                                                    Add Standard of Identity
                                                                                     citation.
Peas and Carrots....................        07/20/70  Yes.........................  Update address for
                                                                                     standards.
Peas, Field and Black-eye Peas......        07/01/57  Yes.........................  Update address for
                                                                                     standards.
                                                                                    Replace ``U.S. Grade D''
                                                                                     with ``Substandard.''
Pimientos...........................        10/23/67  Yes.........................  Update address for
                                                                                     standards.
Pumpkin (Squash)....................        07/01/57  Yes.........................  Update address for
                                                                                     standards.
Sauerkraut..........................        05/13/63  Yes.........................  Update address for
                                                                                     standards.
Spinach.............................        05/08/71  Yes.........................  Update address for
                                                                                     standards.
                                                                                    Correct Standard of Identity
                                                                                     citation.
Squash (Summer Type)................        05/25/59  Yes.........................  Update address for
                                                                                     standards.
Succotash...........................        05/24/67  Yes.........................  Update address for
                                                                                     standards.
                                                                                    Replace ``U.S. Grade D''
                                                                                     with ``Substandard.''
                                                                                    Put ``proportion of
                                                                                     ingredients'' in outline
                                                                                     form.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed revisions to these grade standards would provide a 
common language for trade and better reflect the current marketing of 
fruits and vegetables.
    A 60-day period is provided for interested persons to submit 
comments on the proposed grade standards. Copies of the proposed 
revised standards are available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

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

    Dated: June 13, 2016.
Dana Coale,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-14332 Filed 6-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P