[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 37 (Monday, February 27, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11854-11855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03825]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1255

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-16-0112]


Organic Research, Promotion, and Information Order

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Agricultural Marketing Service 
(AMS) is extending the comment period for the proposed rule published 
in the Federal Register on January 18, 2017 (82 FR 5746), until April 
19, 2017. The proposed rule invited comments on the proposed 
establishment of an industry-funded research, promotion, and 
information program for certified organic products. The proposed rule 
also announced the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intent to 
request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of new 
information collection requirements to implement the program. This 
document extends the comment period for the proposed rule by 30 days.

DATES: Comments received by April 19, 2017, will be considered prior to 
issuance of a final rule.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this proposal. Comments may be submitted on the Internet at: 
http://www.regulations.gov or to the Promotion and Economics Division, 
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 
1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250-0244; facsimile: (202) 205-
2800. All comments should reference the docket number and the date and 
page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made 
available for public inspection, including name and address, if 
provided, in the above office during regular business hours or it can 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), comments regarding 
the accuracy of the burden estimate, ways to minimize the burden, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology, or any other aspect of this collection of 
information, should be sent to the above address. In addition, comments 
concerning the information collection should also be sent to the Desk 
Office for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
OMB, New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW., Room 725, 
Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Pichelman, Division Director, 
Promotion and Economics Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room

[[Page 11855]]

1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250-0244; facsimile: (202) 205-
2800; or electronic mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule was published in the Federal 
Register on January 18, 2017 (82 FR 5746). This proposed action invited 
comments on a proposed industry-funded research, promotion, and 
information program for certified organic products. Organic products 
are products produced under the authority of the Organic Foods 
Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501-6522) and its implementing 
regulations at 7 CFR part 205. The organic market includes a range of 
agricultural commodities such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, 
poultry, breads, grains, snack foods, condiments, beverages, and 
packaged and prepared foods as well as non-food items such as fiber 
(linen and clothing), personal care products, pet food, and flowers. 
The program would be financed by an assessment on domestic producers, 
handlers and importers of organic products and would be administered by 
a board of industry members nominated by organic stakeholders and 
appointed by the Secretary. The proposed initial assessment rate would 
be one tenth of one percent of net organic sales for producers and 
handlers, and one tenth of one percent of the transaction value of 
organic products imported into the United States for importers. Citing 
domestic supply shortages, challenges with viable pest management, and 
market confusion, program proponents have proposed an organic research 
and promotion program for the purposes of: (1) Developing and financing 
an effective and coordinated program of research, promotion, industry 
information, and consumer education regarding organic commodities; and 
(2) maintaining and expanding existing markets for organic commodities.
    A referendum would be held among eligible domestic producers, 
handlers and importers to determine whether they favor implementation 
of the program prior to it going into effect. The proposal was 
submitted to USDA by the Organic Trade Association (OTA), a membership 
business association, in collaboration with the 7-member GRO Organic 
Core Committee. OTA is a membership-based trade organization 
representing growers, processors, certifiers, farmers associations, 
distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers, and others 
involved in the organic sector. The GRO Organic Core Committee is a 
subset of OTA's larger Organic Research and Promotion Program Steering 
Committee. It included OTA subcommittee chairs and other industry 
leaders who built on the outreach and input from the larger committee 
to guide the development of a proposed Order.
    This proposed rule also announced AMS's intent to request approval 
from OMB of new information collection requirements to implement the 
program.
    The 60-day comment period provided in the proposed rule published 
in the Federal Register on January 18, 2017 (82 FR 5746) was set to end 
on March 20, 2017. AMS has extended the end of comment period by 30 
days to April 19, 2017 to ensure that interested persons have 
sufficient time to review and comment on the proposed rule.

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 7411-7425; 7 U.S.C. 7401.

    Dated: February 22, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03825 Filed 2-24-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P