[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 29, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60955-60956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21434]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 189 / Tuesday, September 29, 2020 / 
Notices  

[[Page 60955]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc No. AMS-FGIS-20-0067]


United States Standards for Split Peas

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA

ACTION: Notice and request for comments

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) 
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing a revision to the 
method of interpretation for determining ``whole peas,'' in the Pea and 
Lentil Inspection Handbook, as it pertains to the class ``Split Peas,'' 
in the U.S. Standards for Split Peas under the United States 
Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA). Stakeholders in the pea processing/
handling industry requested AMS to amend the interpretation of whole 
peas in the Split Pea inspection instructions by increasing the percent 
requirement for the factor whole peas. To ensure that the Split Pea 
class standard remains relevant, AMS invites interested parties to 
comment on whether revising the inspection instruction facilitates the 
marketing of Split Peas. This action does not revise or amend the Grade 
and Grade Requirements for the class Split Peas in the U.S. Standard 
for Split Peas.

DATES: We will consider comments we receive by October 29, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments or notice of intent to submit comments by 
any of the following methods:
    To submit Comments: Go to Regulations.gov (http://www.regulations.gov). Instructions for submitting and reading comments 
are detailed on the site. Interested persons are invited to submit 
written comments concerning this notice. All comments must be submitted 
through the Federal e-rulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov 
and should reference the document number and the date and page number 
of this issue of the Federal Register. All comments submitted in 
response to this notice will be included in the record and will be made 
available to the public. Please be advised that the identity of the 
individuals or entities submitting comments will be made public on the 
internet at the address provided above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Loren Almond, USDA AMS; Telephone: 
(816) 891-0422; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of the AMA (7 U.S.C. 
1621-1627), as amended, AMS establishes and maintains a variety of 
quality and grade standards for agricultural commodities that serve as 
a fundamental starting point to define commodity quality in the 
domestic and global marketplace. Standards developed under the AMA 
include those for rice, whole dry peas, split peas, feed peas, lentils, 
and beans. The U.S. standards for whole dry peas, split peas, feed 
peas, lentils and beans no longer appear in the Code of Federal 
Regulations but are now maintained by USDA-AMS-Federal Grain Inspection 
Service. The U.S. standards for split peas are voluntary and widely 
used in private contracts, government procurement, marketing 
communication, and for some commodities, consumer information.
    The split pea standards facilitate pea marketing and define U.S. 
pea quality in the domestic and global marketplace. The standards 
define commonly used industry terms; contain basic principles governing 
the application of standards such as the type of sample used for a 
particular quality analysis; the basis of determination; and specify 
grades and grade requirements. Official procedures for determining 
grading factors are provided in the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook. 
Together, the grading standards and testing procedures allow buyers and 
sellers to communicate quality requirements, compare pea quality using 
equivalent forms of measurement, and assist in price discovery.
    AMS engages in outreach with stakeholders to ensure commodity 
standards maintain relevance to the modern market. Stakeholders, 
including the U.S. Dry Pea and Lentil Council (USDPLC), requested AMS 
to revise the split pea criteria for whole peas in the class Split 
Peas. Whole Peas are dry peas which are not split. The current 
definition of a ``whole pea'' is any pea which is 55 percent or more of 
a whole pea. The current tolerances for whole peas in split peas are 
determined on approximately 250 grams. AMS-FGIS proposes to revise the 
split pea inspection criteria in the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook 
by amending the definition for whole peas in the Split Pea class from 
55 percent or more, to 60 percent or more.

Split Pea Tolerances for Whole Peas

    Representatives of pea industry stakeholders contacted AMS-FGIS to 
discuss ongoing issues with Split Peas, which grow predominately in 
Montana and North Dakota. Stakeholders told AMS that customers are 
looking for improved grading tools to measure the quality of products. 
Further, pea stakeholders told AMS that in 2019 shipments of split peas 
grading Number 1 at the processor subsequently graded less than Number 
1, after packaging for Section 32/Food Distribution Programs. 
Stakeholders stated the current whole pea factor tolerance makes 
meeting contract specifications difficult due to the interpretation of 
a whole pea. During meetings and discussions, pea stakeholders 
communicated the need to revise the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook 
by revising the whole pea definition.
    The current tolerances for whole peas in split peas are determined 
on a percent basis of 55 percent or more of a whole pea in 250 grams. 
Pea industry stakeholders recommended the tolerance be increased to 60 
percent or more of a whole pea. This would assist in moving the U.S. 
Split Pea market towards fewer quality complaints and serve to ensure 
consistent grading results across the nation. AMS views this action as 
noncontroversial and anticipates no adverse public comment.
    AMS grading and inspection services, provided through a network of 
federal, state, and private laboratories, conduct tests to determine 
the quality and condition of Split Peas. These tests are conducted in 
accordance with applicable standards using approved methodologies and 
can be applied at any point in the marketing chain. Furthermore, the 
tests yield rapid, reliable, and consistent results. The U.S.

[[Page 60956]]

Standards for Split Peas and the affiliated grading and testing 
services offered by AMS verify that a seller's Split Peas meet 
specified requirements and ensure that customers receive the quality 
purchased.
    In order for U.S. standards and grading procedures for split peas 
to remain relevant, AMS is issuing this request for information to 
invite interested parties to submit comments on the proposal to amend 
the whole pea interpretation for the class Split Peas. These changes do 
not revise or amend the Grade and Grade Requirements for the class 
Split Peas in the U.S. Standard for Split Peas.

Proposed AMS Action

    Based on input from stakeholder organizations in the pea industry, 
AMS proposes to amend the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook to revise 
the definition of whole peas, by increasing the percent needed to 
consider a split pea to be a whole pea from 55 percent or more to 60 
percent or more.
    AMS will solicit comments for 30 days. All comments received within 
the comment period will be made part of the public record maintained by 
AMS, will be available to the public for review, and will be considered 
by AMS before a final action is taken on this proposal.

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

Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-21434 Filed 9-28-20; 8:45 am]
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