[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 32 (Friday, February 17, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 10959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03256]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Parts 51 and 52

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-16-0063]


Revisions to Inspection Application Requirements

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the comment period for the interim 
rule on revisions to inspection application requirements is extended 
until March 23, 2017. The rule invited comments on amendments to the 
inspection requirements for fresh and processed fruits, vegetables, and 
other products that added an option for electronic inspection 
application submissions. The rule also updated terminology in the 
regulations to reflect the use of modern technology in common use by 
the industry.

DATES: Comments received by March 23, 2017, for the interim rule 
published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2016 (81 FR 93571), 
will be considered prior to issuance of a final rule.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments via the 
internet at: http://www.regulations.gov. Comments submitted by mail or 
courier must be sent in duplicate to Francisco Grazette, United States 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), 
Specialty Crops Program (SCP), Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) 
Division, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 1536, Stop 0240, Washington, 
DC 20250 or Facsimile: (202) 720-0393. All comments should reference 
the document number and the dates and page numbers of the December 21, 
2016, issue and this issue of the Federal Register. All comments 
received will be posted online without change, including any personal 
information provided, and will be made available for public inspection 
at the above physical address during regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Francisco Grazette, USDA, AMS, SCP, 
SCI Division, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 1536, Stop 0240, 
Washington, DC 20250-5870; facsimile: (202) 720-0393; or email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An interim rule was published in the Federal 
Register on December 21, 2016 (81 FR 93571), and was made effective on 
December 22, 2016. The rule revised the inspection, certification, and 
standards requirements for domestic and imported fresh and processed 
fruits, vegetables, and other products by adding an option for 
electronic submissions of inspection applications. As well, the rule 
removed outdated terminology referring to the use of the telegraph. The 
changes are administrative in nature and do not impose any new 
requirements on applicants. The interim rule supports the use of 
electronic forms to streamline the export and import process for 
America's businesses, and will allow businesses to electronically 
submit required data to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and its 
Partner Government Agencies.
    The 60-day comment period provided in the interim rule would have 
closed February 21, 2017. The Agricultural Marketing Service is 
extending the public comment period for an additional 30 days to ensure 
that interested persons have sufficient time to review and comment on 
the interim rule.

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

    Dated: February 14, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03256 Filed 2-16-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P