[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 50527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21843]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 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.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 9, 2018 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 50527]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Parts 56, 62, and 70

[Docket No. AMS-LPS-15-0057]


Amendments to Quality Systems Verification Programs and 
Conforming Changes; Withdrawal

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: This action informs the public that the Agricultural Marketing 
Service (AMS) is withdrawing a proposed rule published in the Federal 
Register on November 7, 2016, that proposed to amend Quality Systems 
Verification Program (QSVP) regulations. Upon further review, the 
agency has decided to clarify that all voluntary, user-fee services 
under this part are applicable to all commodities covered by the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (Act), as amended. Accordingly, a 
proposed rule covering all audit-based services is forthcoming from the 
agency.

DATES: The proposed rule published November 7, 2016, at 81 FR 78057, is 
withdrawn as of October 9, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Waite, Branch Chief, Auditing 
Services Branch, Quality Assessment Division; Livestock and Poultry 
Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture; Room 3932-S, STOP 0258, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20250-0258; telephone (202) 720-4411; or email to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Act directs and authorizes the Secretary 
of Agriculture to facilitate the competitive and efficient marketing of 
agricultural products and provides that rulemaking be undertaken as 
necessary to effectuate its purpose. Under the authority of the Act, 
AMS programs support a strategic marketing perspective that adapts 
product and marketing decisions to consumer demands, changing domestic 
and international marketing practices, and new technology. To assist in 
marketing, AMS developed the QSVP, a suite of audit-based programs that 
can provide confidence that process points meet specified requirements.
    This action informs the public of the withdrawal of the proposed 
rule published in the Federal Register (81 FR 78057) on November 7, 
2016. The proposed rule would have amended 7 CFR part 62, QSVP to 
expand the commodities under QSVP to include those authorized under the 
Act; would have amended the title of the regulation to remove the 
reference to ``Livestock, Meat, and Other Commodities''; would have 
defined the types of programs and services offered under QSVP; and 
would have updated administrative items to reflect current terminology 
and organizational structure. Additionally, the proposed rule would 
have amended 7 CFR parts 56 and 70, which provide for services to the 
shell egg and poultry industries, respectively, to remove any 
references to audit and verification activities and update 
administrative items to reflect current organizational structure. The 
proposed rule provided a 60-day public comment period during which no 
comments were received.
    Upon further review, AMS decided to clarify that all voluntary, 
user-fee services under 7 CFR part 62 are applicable to all commodities 
covered by the Act. AMS also plans to harmonize administrative 
procedures governing these services. A new proposed rule to amend 7 CFR 
part 62 to that effect is forthcoming from the agency. Therefore, for 
the reasons set forth above, AMS announces that it is withdrawing the 
proposed rule published in the Federal Register (81 FR 78057) on 
November 7, 2016.

    Dated: October 3, 2018.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-21843 Filed 10-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P