U.S. Standards for Grades of Catfish and Catfish Products, 7783-7784 [2017-01413]

Download as PDF 7783 Notices Federal Register Vol. 82, No. 13 Monday, January 23, 2017 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. UNITED STATES AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION Public Quarterly Meeting of the Board of Directors United States African Development Foundation. ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: The U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) will hold its quarterly meeting of the Board of Directors to discuss the agency’s programs and administration. DATES: The meeting date is Tuesday, January 31, 2017, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting location is 1400 I St. NW., Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: June Brown, 202–233–8882. SUMMARY: Authority: Public Law 96–533 (22 U.S.C. 290h). Dated: January 13, 2017. June Brown, Interim General Counsel. [FR Doc. 2017–01312 Filed 1–19–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6117–01–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [Docket No. AMS–LPS–16–0114] U.S. Standards for Grades of Catfish and Catfish Products Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: This Notice informs the public that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will not proceed with the development of voluntary U.S. Standards for Grades of Catfish and Catfish Products at this time. DATES: January 23, 2017. SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:02 Jan 19, 2017 Jkt 241001 USDA, AMS, Quality Assessment Division (QAD); 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0258, Room 3932–S, Washington, DC 20250. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Bowden, Chief, Standardization Branch; USDA, AMS, QAD; 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0258, Room 3932–S, Washington, DC 20250; phone (202) 690–3148; or via email at David.Bowden@ams.usda.gov. Alternately, Bucky Gwartney, Marketing Specialist, Standardization Branch; USDA, AMS, QAD; 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0258, Room 3932–S, Washington, DC 20250; phone (202) 720–1424; or via email at Bucky.Gwartney@ams.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621– 1627), the Secretary of Agriculture is directed to ‘‘develop and improve standards of quality, condition, quantity, grade, and packaging, and recommend and demonstrate such standards in order to encourage uniformity and consistency in commercial practices.’’ USDA is committed to carrying out this authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing of agricultural products. One method of achieving this objective is through the development and maintenance of standards by AMS. Currently, AMS maintains standards for a wide variety of commodities and in many cases applies those standards to commodities on a fee-for-service basis. The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) and the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill) directed the Secretary of Agriculture to establish within USDA a voluntary, fee-based grading program for catfish. Since passage of the 2008 and 2014 Farm Bills, and particularly since the publication of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) final rule, ‘‘Mandatory Inspection of Fish of the Order Siluriformes and Products Derived From Such Fish,’’ which defined catfish (80 FR 75589), AMS has engaged the U.S. catfish industry and other stakeholders to seek input on requirements for voluntary U.S. standards for grades of catfish. This culminated in a Notice published in the Federal Register (81 FR 45449) on July 14, 2016, inviting the public to submit information, background, comments, and data to assist in the development of ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 voluntary U.S. Standards for Grades of Catfish and Catfish Products. During the 60-day comment period, four responses were submitted—two from catfish importers, one from an industry institution, and one from a U.S. catfish producer/processor. One importer stated support for a USDA grading program if it included all Siluriformes species (currently, imported products of many varieties of Siluriformes are not eligible to be graded under the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Standard). Two additional responses did not support USDA’s development of voluntary U.S. standards or a grading program. One pointed out the duplicity of creating these under AMS when they already exist under NFMS, noting the unnecessary use of resources to develop a program ‘‘and market to a consuming [public] that is not demanding a new U.S. Grade Standard;’’ the other recommended the use of the NMFS standards and grading program, as these are already familiar to the industry and their customers. The final response was outside the scope of the Notice, as it objected to the mandatory inspection of fish of the order Siluriformes by FSIS but did not address development by USDA of voluntary U.S. standards or a grading program. These comments are available at the following Web site: https://www.regulations.gov/ document?D=AMS-LPS-16-0006. Based on the responses received from the Notice as well as additional feedback from stakeholders through other avenues, including two industry workshops coordinated by AMS and academia and an industry-wide conference call held by AMS in May 2016, AMS has concluded that there is not sufficient interest in USDA–AMS standards for catfish or an AMSadministered grading program at this time. It is important to note that a standard for catfish, and associated voluntary grading services, are currently available to the industry through NMFS. NMFS maintains the ‘‘United States Standards for Grades of North American Freshwater Catfish and Products Made Therefrom’’ and provides grading and certification services on a fee-for-service basis. Graded catfish and catfish products may bear official marks, including ‘U.S. Grade A,’ ‘Processed E:\FR\FM\23JAN1.SGM 23JAN1 7784 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 13 / Monday, January 23, 2017 / Notices Under Federal Inspection,’ and ‘Lot Inspection.’ Additional services provided by NMFS include system and process audits, product inspection, and export certification. In light of the response from industry stakeholders indicating there is no current need for USDA–AMS standards nor a subsequent AMS-administered grading program for catfish, AMS will discontinue the initiative to establish either at this time. AMS stands ready to assist agricultural industries in establishing voluntary standards and grading programs for commodities for which it has authority to do so; the catfish industry retains this option should the need arise. Dated: January 17, 2017. Elanor Starmer, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. 2017–01413 Filed 1–19–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2016–0114] Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Plum Pox Compensation Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment request. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with the regulations that provide for the payment of compensation to owners of commercial stone fruit orchards and fruit tree nurseries whose trees or nursery stock were destroyed to eradicate plum pox virus. DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 24, 2017. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0114. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS–2016–0114, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:02 Jan 19, 2017 Jkt 241001 Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at https:// www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0114 or in our reading room, which is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 799–7039 before coming. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the regulations for plum pox compensation, contact Dr. Robert Baca, Assistant Director, Permitting and Compliance Coordination, Compliance and Environmental Coordination Branch, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 150, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851–2292. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Ms. Kimberly Hardy, APHIS’ Information Collection Coordinator, at (301) 851–2483. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Plum Pox Compensation. OMB Control Number: 0579–0159. Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information collection. Abstract: The Plant Protection Act (PPA, 7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, either independently or in cooperation with the States, to carry out operations or measures to detect, eradicate, suppress, control, prevent, or retard the spread of plant pests, such as plum pox virus (PPV), that are new to or not widely distributed within the United States. Plum pox is an extremely serious viral disease of plants that can affect many Prunus (stone fruit) species, including plum, peach, apricot, almond, nectarine, and sweet and tart cherry. A number of wild and ornamental Prunus species may also be susceptible to this disease. Infection eventually results in severely reduced fruit production, and the fruit that is produced is often misshapen and blemished. PPV is transmitted under natural conditions by several species of aphids. The long distance spread of PPV occurs by budding and grafting with infected plant material and by farm tools/equipment, and through movement of infected budwood, nursery stock, and other plant parts. There are no known effective methods for treating trees or other plant material infected with PPV, nor are there any known effective preventive treatments. Without effective treatments, the only option for preventing the spread of the disease is the destruction of infected and exposed trees and other infected plant material. PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The regulations in ‘‘Subpart–Plum Pox’’ (7 CFR 301.74–301.74–5) quarantine areas of the United States where PPV has been detected, restrict the interstate movement of host material from quarantined areas, and when the Secretary of Agriculture declares an extraordinary emergency, provides for compensation to owners of commercial stone fruit orchards and fruit tree nurseries whose trees or nursery stock were destroyed to eradicate PPV. The regulations require applicants for the payment of compensation to complete required documentation. We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve our use of this information collection activity for an additional 3 years. The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public (as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. These comments will help us: (1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies; e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.04 hours per response. Respondents: Owners and affiliates of stone fruit orchards and fruit tree nurseries. Estimated annual number of respondents: 2,524. Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1. Estimated annual number of responses: 2,548. Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 107 hours. (Due to averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per response.) All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record. E:\FR\FM\23JAN1.SGM 23JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 13 (Monday, January 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7783-7784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-01413]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. AMS-LPS-16-0114]


U.S. Standards for Grades of Catfish and Catfish Products

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: This Notice informs the public that the Agricultural Marketing 
Service (AMS) will not proceed with the development of voluntary U.S. 
Standards for Grades of Catfish and Catfish Products at this time.

DATES: January 23, 2017.

ADDRESSES: USDA, AMS, Quality Assessment Division (QAD); 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0258, Room 3932-S, Washington, DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Bowden, Chief, Standardization 
Branch; USDA, AMS, QAD; 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0258, Room 
3932-S, Washington, DC 20250; phone (202) 690-3148; or via email at 
David.Bowden@ams.usda.gov. Alternately, Bucky Gwartney, Marketing 
Specialist, Standardization Branch; USDA, AMS, QAD; 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., Stop 0258, Room 3932-S, Washington, DC 20250; phone (202) 
720-1424; or via email at Bucky.Gwartney@ams.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under section 203(c) of the Agricultural 
Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), the Secretary of 
Agriculture is directed to ``develop and improve standards of quality, 
condition, quantity, grade, and packaging, and recommend and 
demonstrate such standards in order to encourage uniformity and 
consistency in commercial practices.'' USDA is committed to carrying 
out this authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing of 
agricultural products. One method of achieving this objective is 
through the development and maintenance of standards by AMS. Currently, 
AMS maintains standards for a wide variety of commodities and in many 
cases applies those standards to commodities on a fee-for-service 
basis.
    The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) and 
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill) directed the Secretary of 
Agriculture to establish within USDA a voluntary, fee-based grading 
program for catfish. Since passage of the 2008 and 2014 Farm Bills, and 
particularly since the publication of the Food Safety and Inspection 
Service (FSIS) final rule, ``Mandatory Inspection of Fish of the Order 
Siluriformes and Products Derived From Such Fish,'' which defined 
catfish (80 FR 75589), AMS has engaged the U.S. catfish industry and 
other stakeholders to seek input on requirements for voluntary U.S. 
standards for grades of catfish. This culminated in a Notice published 
in the Federal Register (81 FR 45449) on July 14, 2016, inviting the 
public to submit information, background, comments, and data to assist 
in the development of voluntary U.S. Standards for Grades of Catfish 
and Catfish Products.
    During the 60-day comment period, four responses were submitted--
two from catfish importers, one from an industry institution, and one 
from a U.S. catfish producer/processor. One importer stated support for 
a USDA grading program if it included all Siluriformes species 
(currently, imported products of many varieties of Siluriformes are not 
eligible to be graded under the U.S. Department of Commerce's National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Standard). Two additional responses did 
not support USDA's development of voluntary U.S. standards or a grading 
program. One pointed out the duplicity of creating these under AMS when 
they already exist under NFMS, noting the unnecessary use of resources 
to develop a program ``and market to a consuming [public] that is not 
demanding a new U.S. Grade Standard;'' the other recommended the use of 
the NMFS standards and grading program, as these are already familiar 
to the industry and their customers. The final response was outside the 
scope of the Notice, as it objected to the mandatory inspection of fish 
of the order Siluriformes by FSIS but did not address development by 
USDA of voluntary U.S. standards or a grading program. These comments 
are available at the following Web site: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=AMS-LPS-16-0006.
    Based on the responses received from the Notice as well as 
additional feedback from stakeholders through other avenues, including 
two industry workshops coordinated by AMS and academia and an industry-
wide conference call held by AMS in May 2016, AMS has concluded that 
there is not sufficient interest in USDA-AMS standards for catfish or 
an AMS-administered grading program at this time.
    It is important to note that a standard for catfish, and associated 
voluntary grading services, are currently available to the industry 
through NMFS. NMFS maintains the ``United States Standards for Grades 
of North American Freshwater Catfish and Products Made Therefrom'' and 
provides grading and certification services on a fee-for-service basis. 
Graded catfish and catfish products may bear official marks, including 
`U.S. Grade A,' `Processed

[[Page 7784]]

Under Federal Inspection,' and `Lot Inspection.' Additional services 
provided by NMFS include system and process audits, product inspection, 
and export certification.
    In light of the response from industry stakeholders indicating 
there is no current need for USDA-AMS standards nor a subsequent AMS-
administered grading program for catfish, AMS will discontinue the 
initiative to establish either at this time. AMS stands ready to assist 
agricultural industries in establishing voluntary standards and grading 
programs for commodities for which it has authority to do so; the 
catfish industry retains this option should the need arise.

    Dated: January 17, 2017.
Elanor Starmer,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-01413 Filed 1-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.