Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Fish and Shellfish, 33851 [07-3028]

Download as PDF 33851 Rules and Regulations Federal Register Vol. 72, No. 118 Wednesday, June 20, 2007 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510. The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of new books are listed in the first FEDERAL REGISTER issue of each week. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service 7 CFR Part 60 [Docket No. AMS–LS–06–0166; LS–03–04] RIN 0581–AC26 Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Fish and Shellfish Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Interim final rule; reopening of comment period. jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is reopening the comment period for 60 days for the interim final rule for mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) for fish and shellfish covered commodities that was published in the Federal Register on October 5, 2004 (69 FR 59708). The interim final rule requires certain retailers and their suppliers to notify their customers of the country of origin and the method of production (wild and/or farm-raised) of specified fish and shellfish products. The interim final rule also specifies recordkeeping responsibilities for affected retailers and their suppliers. AMS requests general comments on the interim final rule. All affected persons are hereby given notice of the opportunity to submit written data and views concerning the interim final rule. AMS will review the submitted comments and information as it promulgates a final rule for mandatory COOL for fish and shellfish. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 20, 2007, to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov. Send written comments to: Country of Origin Labeling Program, Room 2607–S; Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:14 Jun 19, 2007 Jkt 211001 USDA; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–0254, or by facsimile to (202) 720–1112. Comments received will be posted on the Web site https://www.regulations.gov. Comments sent to the above location that specifically pertain to the information collection and recordkeeping requirements should also be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street, NW., Room 725, Washington, DC 20503. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin O’Connor; Chief, Standards, Analysis, and Technology Branch; Livestock and Seed Program, AMS, USDA, by telephone on (202) 720–4486, or via e-mail to: COOL@usda.gov. Information can also be found at https://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) (7 U.S.C. 7901) and the 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act (Appropriations Act) (Pub. L. 107–206) amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) by adding 7 U.S.C. 1638–1638d to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate regulations by September 30, 2004, requiring retailers to notify their customers of the country of origin of covered commodities. On October 30, 2003, AMS published a proposed rule for mandatory COOL for all covered commodities—beef, lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts (68 FR 61944). Subsequently, the FY 2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 108–199) delayed the applicability of mandatory COOL for all covered commodities except wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish until September 30, 2006. The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109–97) further delayed the applicability of mandatory COOL for all covered commodities except wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish until September 30, 2008. On October 5, 2004, AMS published an interim final rule (69 FR 59708) for the mandatory COOL program for fish and shellfish. The interim final rule can be found at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/ index.htm. The interim final rule became effective on April 4, 2005. PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 AMS reopened the interim final rule’s comment period for 90 days on November 27, 2006 (71 FR 68431). The reopened comment period was limited to comments concerning the economic impacts of the interim final rule, including implementation costs, maintenance costs, the burden of the information collection and recordkeeping requirements, benefits and net economic impacts. Comments and information received as a result of the reopened interim final rule’s comment period, to the extent relevant, would be reviewed in connection with any final regulatory action for fish and shellfish and any of the other covered commodities. In preparation for promulating a final rule for mandatory COOL for fish and shellfish, AMS now seeks comments on general aspects of the interim final rule’s provisions. Given that the interim final rule has been in effect for more than 2 years, affected retailers and their suppliers now have considerable experience in complying with the requirements, and have perspective relating to the information that is provided under the program and the program’s costs and benefits. AMS invites interested parties to submit comments, data, or other relevant information on the mandatory COOL program set forth in teh interim final rule. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq. Dated: June 14, 2007. Lloyd C. Day, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. 07–3028 Filed 6–15–07; 8:53 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–M DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service 7 CFR Part 989 [Docket No. AMS–FV–07–0076; FV04–989– 3 C] Raisins Produced From Grapes Grown in California; Change to Reporting Requirements Regarding Other Seedless Raisins; Correction Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Correcting amendment. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\20JNR1.SGM 20JNR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 20, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 33851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3028]



========================================================================
Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published 
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. 
Prices of new books are listed in the first FEDERAL REGISTER issue of each 
week.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 118 / Wednesday, June 20, 2007 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 33851]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 60

[Docket No. AMS-LS-06-0166; LS-03-04]
RIN 0581-AC26


Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling of Fish and Shellfish

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Interim final rule; reopening of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is reopening the 
comment period for 60 days for the interim final rule for mandatory 
country of origin labeling (COOL) for fish and shellfish covered 
commodities that was published in the Federal Register on October 5, 
2004 (69 FR 59708). The interim final rule requires certain retailers 
and their suppliers to notify their customers of the country of origin 
and the method of production (wild and/or farm-raised) of specified 
fish and shellfish products. The interim final rule also specifies 
recordkeeping responsibilities for affected retailers and their 
suppliers. AMS requests general comments on the interim final rule. All 
affected persons are hereby given notice of the opportunity to submit 
written data and views concerning the interim final rule. AMS will 
review the submitted comments and information as it promulgates a final 
rule for mandatory COOL for fish and shellfish.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 20, 2007, to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted through the internet at https://
www.regulations.gov. Send written comments to: Country of Origin 
Labeling Program, Room 2607-S; Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), 
USDA; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0254, or by 
facsimile to (202) 720-1112. Comments received will be posted on the 
Web site https://www.regulations.gov. Comments sent to the above 
location that specifically pertain to the information collection and 
recordkeeping requirements should also be sent to the Desk Officer for 
Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 725 17th 
Street, NW., Room 725, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin O'Connor; Chief, Standards, 
Analysis, and Technology Branch; Livestock and Seed Program, AMS, USDA, 
by telephone on (202) 720-4486, or via e-mail to: COOL@usda.gov. 
Information can also be found at https://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
of 2002 (Farm Bill) (7 U.S.C. 7901) and the 2002 Supplemental 
Appropriations Act (Appropriations Act) (Pub. L. 107-206) amended the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) by adding 7 
U.S.C. 1638-1638d to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate 
regulations by September 30, 2004, requiring retailers to notify their 
customers of the country of origin of covered commodities. On October 
30, 2003, AMS published a proposed rule for mandatory COOL for all 
covered commodities--beef, lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural 
commodities, and peanuts (68 FR 61944). Subsequently, the FY 2004 
Consolidated Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 108-199) delayed the 
applicability of mandatory COOL for all covered commodities except wild 
and farm-raised fish and shellfish until September 30, 2006. The 
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-97) further 
delayed the applicability of mandatory COOL for all covered commodities 
except wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish until September 30, 
2008. On October 5, 2004, AMS published an interim final rule (69 FR 
59708) for the mandatory COOL program for fish and shellfish. The 
interim final rule can be found at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/
index.htm. The interim final rule became effective on April 4, 2005.
    AMS reopened the interim final rule's comment period for 90 days on 
November 27, 2006 (71 FR 68431). The reopened comment period was 
limited to comments concerning the economic impacts of the interim 
final rule, including implementation costs, maintenance costs, the 
burden of the information collection and recordkeeping requirements, 
benefits and net economic impacts. Comments and information received as 
a result of the reopened interim final rule's comment period, to the 
extent relevant, would be reviewed in connection with any final 
regulatory action for fish and shellfish and any of the other covered 
commodities.
    In preparation for promulating a final rule for mandatory COOL for 
fish and shellfish, AMS now seeks comments on general aspects of the 
interim final rule's provisions. Given that the interim final rule has 
been in effect for more than 2 years, affected retailers and their 
suppliers now have considerable experience in complying with the 
requirements, and have perspective relating to the information that is 
provided under the program and the program's costs and benefits. AMS 
invites interested parties to submit comments, data, or other relevant 
information on the mandatory COOL program set forth in teh interim 
final rule.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.

    Dated: June 14, 2007.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 07-3028 Filed 6-15-07; 8:53 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-M
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