Organic Research, Promotion, and Information Order, 11854-11855 [2017-03825]
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11854
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
Vol. 82, No. 37
Monday, February 27, 2017
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.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
7 CFR Part 250
RIN 0584–AE38
Revisions and Clarifications in
Requirements for the Processing of
Donated Foods; Extension of
Comment Period
Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of
comment period.
AGENCY:
The Food and Nutrition
Service (FNS) is extending the comment
period for this proposed rule. This rule
proposes to revise and clarify
requirements for the processing of
donated foods in order to: Incorporate
successful processing options tested in
demonstration projects, ensure
accountability for donated foods
provided for processing, and increase
program efficiency. The rule would
require multi-State processors to enter
into National Processing Agreements to
process donated foods into end
products, permit processors to
substitute commercially purchased beef
and pork of U.S. origin and of equal or
better quality for donated beef and pork,
and would increase oversight of
inventories of donated foods at
processors. The rule also revises
regulatory provisions in plain language,
to make them easier to read and
understand.
DATES: The comment period for the
proposed rule published in the Federal
Register of January 5, 2017 (82 FR
1231), has been extended from March 6,
2017, to April 5, 2017. To be assured of
consideration, comments must be
received on or before April 5, 2017.
ADDRESSES: The Food and Nutrition
Service invites interested persons to
submit comments on this proposed rule.
You may submit comments, identified
by RIN number 0584–AE38, by any of
the following methods:
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
SUMMARY:
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15:04 Feb 24, 2017
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Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
online instructions for submitting
comments.
Email: Send comments to
ProcessingRuleComments@fns.usda.gov.
Include RIN number 0584–AE38 in the
subject line of the message.
Mail: Send comments to Kiley Larson,
Program Analyst, Policy Branch, Food
Distribution Division, Food and
Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Room 500, 3101 Park
Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia
22302–1594.
Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver
comments to the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kiley Larson or Erica Antonson at the
above address or telephone (703) 305–
2680.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Food
and Nutrition Service is extending by 30
days the public comment period for this
proposed rule, which was published on
January 5, 2017.
To the extent that 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A)
applies to this action, it is exempt from
notice and comment rulemaking for
good cause and for reasons cited above,
the Food and Nutrition Service finds
that notice and solicitation of comment
regarding the brief extension of the
comment period of the rule is
impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary
to the public interest pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B).
The Food and Nutrition Service
believes that affected parties need to be
informed as soon as possible of the
extension and its length.
Dated: February 16, 2017.
Jessica Shahin,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–03560 Filed 2–24–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 1255
[Doc. No. AMS–SC–16–0112]
Organic Research, Promotion, and
Information Order
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Extension of comment period.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Notice is hereby given that
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is
extending the comment period for the
proposed rule published in the Federal
Register on January 18, 2017 (82 FR
5746), until April 19, 2017. The
proposed rule invited comments on the
proposed establishment of an industryfunded research, promotion, and
information program for certified
organic products. The proposed rule
also announced the Agricultural
Marketing Service’s (AMS) intent to
request approval from the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) of new
information collection requirements to
implement the program. This document
extends the comment period for the
proposed rule by 30 days.
DATES: Comments received by April 19,
2017, will be considered prior to
issuance of a final rule.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to submit written comments
concerning this proposal. Comments
may be submitted on the Internet at:
https://www.regulations.gov or to the
Promotion and Economics Division,
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA,
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room
1406–S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC
20250–0244; facsimile: (202) 205–2800.
All comments should reference the
docket number and the date and page
number of this issue of the Federal
Register and will be made available for
public inspection, including name and
address, if provided, in the above office
during regular business hours or it can
be viewed at https://
www.regulations.gov.
Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA), comments regarding the
accuracy of the burden estimate, ways to
minimize the burden, including the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology,
or any other aspect of this collection of
information, should be sent to the above
address. In addition, comments
concerning the information collection
should also be sent to the Desk Office
for Agriculture, Office of Information
and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, New
Executive Office Building, 725 17th
Street NW., Room 725, Washington, DC
20503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Heather Pichelman, Division Director,
Promotion and Economics Division,
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA,
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\27FEP1.SGM
27FEP1
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 37 / Monday, February 27, 2017 / Proposed Rules
1406–S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC
20250–0244; facsimile: (202) 205–2800;
or electronic mail: Heather.Pichelman@
ams.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A
proposed rule was published in the
Federal Register on January 18, 2017
(82 FR 5746). This proposed action
invited comments on a proposed
industry-funded research, promotion,
and information program for certified
organic products. Organic products are
products produced under the authority
of the Organic Foods Production Act of
1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501–6522) and its
implementing regulations at 7 CFR part
205. The organic market includes a
range of agricultural commodities such
as fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat,
poultry, breads, grains, snack foods,
condiments, beverages, and packaged
and prepared foods as well as non-food
items such as fiber (linen and clothing),
personal care products, pet food, and
flowers. The program would be financed
by an assessment on domestic
producers, handlers and importers of
organic products and would be
administered by a board of industry
members nominated by organic
stakeholders and appointed by the
Secretary. The proposed initial
assessment rate would be one tenth of
one percent of net organic sales for
producers and handlers, and one tenth
of one percent of the transaction value
of organic products imported into the
United States for importers. Citing
domestic supply shortages, challenges
with viable pest management, and
market confusion, program proponents
have proposed an organic research and
promotion program for the purposes of:
(1) Developing and financing an
effective and coordinated program of
research, promotion, industry
information, and consumer education
regarding organic commodities; and (2)
maintaining and expanding existing
markets for organic commodities.
A referendum would be held among
eligible domestic producers, handlers
and importers to determine whether
they favor implementation of the
program prior to it going into effect. The
proposal was submitted to USDA by the
Organic Trade Association (OTA), a
membership business association, in
collaboration with the 7-member GRO
Organic Core Committee. OTA is a
membership-based trade organization
representing growers, processors,
certifiers, farmers associations,
distributors, importers, exporters,
consultants, retailers, and others
involved in the organic sector. The GRO
Organic Core Committee is a subset of
OTA’s larger Organic Research and
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:04 Feb 24, 2017
Jkt 241001
Promotion Program Steering Committee.
It included OTA subcommittee chairs
and other industry leaders who built on
the outreach and input from the larger
committee to guide the development of
a proposed Order.
This proposed rule also announced
AMS’s intent to request approval from
OMB of new information collection
requirements to implement the program.
The 60-day comment period provided
in the proposed rule published in the
Federal Register on January 18, 2017
(82 FR 5746) was set to end on March
20, 2017. AMS has extended the end of
comment period by 30 days to April 19,
2017 to ensure that interested persons
have sufficient time to review and
comment on the proposed rule.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411–7425; 7 U.S.C.
7401.
Dated: February 22, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–03825 Filed 2–24–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 1255
[Doc. No. AMS–SC–16–0112]
Organic Research, Promotion, and
Information Order; Referendum
Procedures
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Extension of comment period.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is
extending the comment period for the
proposed rule published in the Federal
Register on January 18, 2017 (82 FR
5438), until April 19, 2017. The
proposed rule invited comments on the
proposed procedures for conducting a
referendum to determine whether the
issuance of a proposed Organic
Research, Promotion, and Information
Order (proposed Order) is favored by
certified organic producers, certified
organic handlers, and importers of
certified organic products. The
procedures would also be used for any
subsequent referendum under the
proposed Order. This proposed rule also
announced the Agricultural Marketing
Service’s (AMS) intent to request
approval by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) of new information
collection requirements to implement
the program. The proposed Order was
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
11855
published separately in the Federal
Register on January 18, 2017 (82 FR
5746).
DATES: Comments received by April 19,
2017, will be considered prior to
issuance of a final rule.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to submit written comments
concerning this proposal. Comments
may be submitted on the Internet at:
https://www.regulations.gov or to the
Promotion and Economics Division,
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA,
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room
1406–S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC
20250–0244; facsimile: (202) 205–2800.
All comments should reference the
docket number and the date and page
number of this issue of the Federal
Register and will be made available for
public inspection, including name and
address, if provided, in the above office
during regular business hours or it can
be viewed at https://
www.regulations.gov.
Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA), comments regarding the
accuracy of the burden estimate, ways to
minimize the burden, including the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology,
or any other aspect of this collection of
information, should be sent to the above
address. In addition, comments
concerning the information collection
should also be sent to the Desk Office
for Agriculture, Office of Information
and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, New
Executive Office Building, 725 17th
Street NW., Room 725, Washington, DC
20503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Heather Pichelman, Division Director,
Promotion and Economics Division,
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA,
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room
1406–S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC
20250–0244; facsimile: (202) 205–2800;
or electronic mail: Heather.Pichelman@
ams.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A
proposed rule was published in the
Federal Register on January 18, 2017
(82 FR 5438). This proposed action
invited comments on a proposed
procedures for conducting a referendum
to determine whether covered domestic
certified organic producers, certified
organic handlers and importers of
organic products favor issuance of a
proposed Order. Accordingly, this
proposed rule would add subpart B to
part 1255 that would establish
procedures for conducting the
referendum. The procedures would
cover definitions, voting instructions,
use of subagents, ballots, the
referendum report, and confidentiality
E:\FR\FM\27FEP1.SGM
27FEP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 37 (Monday, February 27, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11854-11855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03825]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 1255
[Doc. No. AMS-SC-16-0112]
Organic Research, Promotion, and Information Order
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Extension of comment period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Agricultural Marketing Service
(AMS) is extending the comment period for the proposed rule published
in the Federal Register on January 18, 2017 (82 FR 5746), until April
19, 2017. The proposed rule invited comments on the proposed
establishment of an industry-funded research, promotion, and
information program for certified organic products. The proposed rule
also announced the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intent to
request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of new
information collection requirements to implement the program. This
document extends the comment period for the proposed rule by 30 days.
DATES: Comments received by April 19, 2017, will be considered prior to
issuance of a final rule.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments
concerning this proposal. Comments may be submitted on the Internet at:
https://www.regulations.gov or to the Promotion and Economics Division,
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room
1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250-0244; facsimile: (202) 205-
2800. All comments should reference the docket number and the date and
page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made
available for public inspection, including name and address, if
provided, in the above office during regular business hours or it can
be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov.
Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), comments regarding
the accuracy of the burden estimate, ways to minimize the burden,
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of
information technology, or any other aspect of this collection of
information, should be sent to the above address. In addition, comments
concerning the information collection should also be sent to the Desk
Office for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
OMB, New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW., Room 725,
Washington, DC 20503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Pichelman, Division Director,
Promotion and Economics Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA,
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room
[[Page 11855]]
1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250-0244; facsimile: (202) 205-
2800; or electronic mail: Heather.Pichelman@ams.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule was published in the Federal
Register on January 18, 2017 (82 FR 5746). This proposed action invited
comments on a proposed industry-funded research, promotion, and
information program for certified organic products. Organic products
are products produced under the authority of the Organic Foods
Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501-6522) and its implementing
regulations at 7 CFR part 205. The organic market includes a range of
agricultural commodities such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat,
poultry, breads, grains, snack foods, condiments, beverages, and
packaged and prepared foods as well as non-food items such as fiber
(linen and clothing), personal care products, pet food, and flowers.
The program would be financed by an assessment on domestic producers,
handlers and importers of organic products and would be administered by
a board of industry members nominated by organic stakeholders and
appointed by the Secretary. The proposed initial assessment rate would
be one tenth of one percent of net organic sales for producers and
handlers, and one tenth of one percent of the transaction value of
organic products imported into the United States for importers. Citing
domestic supply shortages, challenges with viable pest management, and
market confusion, program proponents have proposed an organic research
and promotion program for the purposes of: (1) Developing and financing
an effective and coordinated program of research, promotion, industry
information, and consumer education regarding organic commodities; and
(2) maintaining and expanding existing markets for organic commodities.
A referendum would be held among eligible domestic producers,
handlers and importers to determine whether they favor implementation
of the program prior to it going into effect. The proposal was
submitted to USDA by the Organic Trade Association (OTA), a membership
business association, in collaboration with the 7-member GRO Organic
Core Committee. OTA is a membership-based trade organization
representing growers, processors, certifiers, farmers associations,
distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers, and others
involved in the organic sector. The GRO Organic Core Committee is a
subset of OTA's larger Organic Research and Promotion Program Steering
Committee. It included OTA subcommittee chairs and other industry
leaders who built on the outreach and input from the larger committee
to guide the development of a proposed Order.
This proposed rule also announced AMS's intent to request approval
from OMB of new information collection requirements to implement the
program.
The 60-day comment period provided in the proposed rule published
in the Federal Register on January 18, 2017 (82 FR 5746) was set to end
on March 20, 2017. AMS has extended the end of comment period by 30
days to April 19, 2017 to ensure that interested persons have
sufficient time to review and comment on the proposed rule.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425; 7 U.S.C. 7401.
Dated: February 22, 2017.
Bruce Summers,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03825 Filed 2-24-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
