United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States National Archives and Records Administration Office of the Federal Register author aut Government Organization text government publication eng FR Regulatory Information 2002_register executive 2010-09-23 article Notices D09002ee1c818cdf8 D09002ee1c818ceaf United States Department of Agriculture originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency United States Agricultural Marketing Service originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to issue country of origin labeling guidelines for voluntary use by retailers who wish to notify their customers of the country of origin of beef (including veal), lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts. The guidelines contained within this notice include definitions that can be used by retailers and their suppliers and understood by other market participants, to facilitate the voluntary labeling or identification of commodities covered by this program by their respective country of origin. These voluntary guidelines also outline what the Agency believes represents the framework of a consumer notification, product marking, and recordkeeping program that would be required to carry out this program. AMS is committed to providing the industry and consumers with a workable voluntary program that will carry out the intent of the law. Public Law 107-171 also requires the Secretary to promulgate a regulation for mandatory labeling by September 30, 2004. Development of this mandatory regulation will begin in April 2003 and will likely be based on these voluntary guidelines from the current interim period as well as related input the Agency receives. AMS encourages submissions on the utility of these voluntary guidelines during the next 180 days. The forthcoming mandatory regulation will be developed through the rulemaking process, which will include a proposal and an opportunity for public comment. Although the benefits and costs of the voluntary program are difficult to quantify, the Agency believes that retailers will choose to participate if the benefits outweigh the costs. However, as the Agency moves toward the development of the regulation that will implement the mandatory program as required by Public Law 107-171, information concerning the benefits and the estimated or actual costs of implementing a program in compliance with the voluntary guidelines will be of great benefit to the Agency. 67 FR 63367 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2002-10-11/02-25734 02-25734 fr11oc02-34 3410-02-P Docket Number LS-02-13 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2002-10-11/02-25734 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2002-10-11/html/02-25734.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2002-10-11/pdf/02-25734.pdf 9 p. 63367 63375 67 FR 63367 Establishment of Guidelines for the Interim Voluntary Country of Origin Labeling of Beef, Lamb, Pork, Fish, Perishable Agricultural Commodities, and Peanuts Under the Authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946; Federal Register Vol. 67, Issue NOTICE 02-25734 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service 2002-10-11 Docket Number LS-02-13 3410-02-P 02-25734 Notice.

The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to issue country of origin labeling guidelines for voluntary use by retailers who wish to notify their customers of the country of origin of beef (including veal), lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts. The guidelines contained within this notice include definitions that can be used by retailers and their suppliers and understood by other market participants, to facilitate the voluntary labeling or identification of commodities covered by this program by their respective country of origin. These voluntary guidelines also outline what the Agency believes represents the framework of a consumer notification, product marking, and recordkeeping program that would be required to carry out this program. AMS is committed to providing the industry and consumers with a workable voluntary program that will carry out the intent of the law. Public Law 107-171 also requires the Secretary to promulgate a regulation for mandatory labeling by September 30, 2004. Development of this mandatory regulation will begin in April 2003 and will likely be based on these voluntary guidelines from the current interim period as well as related input the Agency receives. AMS encourages submissions on the utility of these voluntary guidelines during the next 180 days. The forthcoming mandatory regulation will be developed through the rulemaking process, which will include a proposal and an opportunity for public comment. Although the benefits and costs of the voluntary program are difficult to quantify, the Agency believes that retailers will choose to participate if the benefits outweigh the costs. However, as the Agency moves toward the development of the regulation that will implement the mandatory program as required by Public Law 107-171, information concerning the benefits and the estimated or actual costs of implementing a program in compliance with the voluntary guidelines will be of great benefit to the Agency.

These voluntary guidelines are effective October 11, 2002. Submissions must be received by April 9, 2003. Eric Forman, Associate Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, by phone at: (202) 690-0262, or via e-mail at: eric.forman@usda.gov; or William Sessions, Associate Deputy Administrator, Livestock and Seed Program, AMS, USDA, by phone at: (202) 720-5705, or via e-mail at: william.sessions@usda.gov. Additional information may also be obtained over the Agency's website at: www.ams.usda.gov/cool/. Reports and guidance documents; availability, etc.: Beef, lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts; voluntary country of origin labeling guidelines; establishment, cool@usda.gov eric.forman@usda.gov william.sessions@usda.gov www.ams.usda.gov/cool/ Vol. 67, no. 198 Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration 2002-10-11 continuing daily deposited born digital 304 p. Table of Contents: AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: KF70.A2 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2002-10-11 P0b002ee1809bdaa4 0097-6326 0042-1219 0364-1406 769-004-00000-9 000582072 f:fr11oc02 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2002-10-11 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2002-10-11/pdf/FR-2002-10-11.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2002-10-11/xml/FR-2002-10-11.xml fdlp 63237 63528 DGPO 2010-09-23 2024-06-07 FR-2002-10-11 machine generated eng FR FR-2002-10-11 67 198