[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 21, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 93572-93574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30619]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 52

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


United States Standards for Grades of Canned Vegetables

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final notice of U.S. grade standards.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) is revising 18 U.S. grade standards for canned 
vegetables issued on or before August 3, 1998. AMS is replacing the 
two-term grading system (dual nomenclature) with a single term to 
describe each quality level for the grade standards identified in this 
document. Terms using the letter grade will be retained and the 
descriptive term will be eliminated. For example, grade standards using 
the term ``U.S. Grade A'' or ``U.S. Fancy'' will be revised to use only 
the term ``U.S. Grade

[[Page 93573]]

A.'' Likewise, grade standards using the term ``U.S. Grade B'' or 
``U.S. Extra Standard'' will be revised to use the single term ``U.S. 
Grade B.'' These changes will 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 will also be 
made to the grade standards that conform to recent changes made in 
other grade standards.

DATES:  These grade standards go into effect January 20, 2017.

ADDRESSES: 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dana N. White, at the address above, 
by phone (202) 720-5870; fax (202) 690-1527; or email: 
[email protected]. Copies of the revised U.S. standards for 
grades for the 18 canned vegetables covered by this document will be 
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 revised 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'' will be removed and the terms ``U.S. 
Grade A,'' ``U.S. Grade B,'' and ``U.S. Grade C'' will be used 
exclusively. AMS proposed 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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These revisions will provide a format that 
is consistent with those of other grade standards (75 FR 43141). The 
following table summarizes the changes made by AMS.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Change level of quality
  U.S. Standards for grades of canned   Effective date    designation to single       Other revisions proposed
                                                                   term
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
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 Okra        12/24/57  Yes......................  Update address for 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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 93574]]

    These revisions provide a common language for trade and better 
reflect the current marketing of fruits and vegetables.
    On June 17, 2016, AMS published a Proposed Notice in the Federal 
Register (81 FR 39596) soliciting comments on replacing the two-term 
grading system with a single term to describe each quality level for 
the grade standards identified in this document. Two comments were 
received by August 16, 2016, the closing date of the public comment 
period, from one private citizen and one individual associated with a 
tribal government agency.
    The two comments supported the replacement of the two-term grading 
system with a single term as a positive step forward. USDA stands by 
its decision to replace the two-term grading system (dual nomenclature) 
with a single term.
    Based on the information gathered, AMS is removing the two-term 
grading system (dual nomenclature) and making editorial changes to the 
aforementioned U.S. Standards for Grade. The revision brings these 
grade standards in line with other recently amended standards and 
current terminology, and updates the standards to more accurately 
represent today's marketing practices.

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

    Dated: December 15, 2016.
Elanor Starmer,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-30619 Filed 12-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P