United States Standards for Split Peas, 60955-60956 [2020-21434]

Download as PDF 60955 Notices Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 189 Tuesday, September 29, 2020 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. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [Doc No. AMS–FGIS–20–0067] United States Standards for Split Peas AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA Notice and request for comments ACTION: 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 (https:// 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 https:// www.regulations.gov and should jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:14 Sep 28, 2020 Jkt 250001 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: Loren.L.Almond@ams.usda.gov. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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. E:\FR\FM\29SEN1.SGM 29SEN1 60956 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 189 / Tuesday, September 29, 2020 / Notices 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] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [Doc No. AMS–FGIS–20–0066] United States Standards for Lentils Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing a revision to the method of interpretation for the determining the special grade ‘‘Green,’’ in the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook, as it pertains to the class ‘‘Lentils,’’ in the U.S. Standards for Lentils under the United States Agricultural Marketing Act (AMA). Stakeholders in the lentil processing/handling industry requested AMS to amend the definition of the jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:14 Sep 28, 2020 Jkt 250001 special grade ‘‘Green’’ to allow for the inclusion of mottled lentils. To ensure that the Lentil standards remain relevant, AMS invites interested parties to comment on whether revising the inspection instructions facilitate the marketing of Lentils. This action will revise or amend the Grade and Grade Requirements for Lentils in the U.S. Standard for Lentils. 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 (https:// 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 https:// 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: Loren.L.Almond@ams.usda.gov. 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 lentils are voluntary and widely used in private contracts, government procurement, marketing communication, and for some commodities, consumer information. The lentil standards were last revised in 2017 (82 FR 31550). The lentil standards facilitate lentil marketing and define U.S. lentil quality in the domestic and global marketplace. The standards define commonly used PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 lentil 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 lentil criteria for the special grade ‘‘Green’’ in the class Lentils. Currently, Green Lentils are clear seeded (NonMottled) lentils possessing a natural, uniformly green color. This criteria for ‘‘Green’’ Lentils is determined on the sample as a whole, after the removal of dockage, but before the removal of defects and must be equal to or better than the depiction on the Interpretive Line Print (ILP) to quality for the special grade ‘‘Green Lentils’’. AMS–FGIS proposes to revise the lentil inspection criteria in the U.S. Standards for Lentils and the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook by amending the definition and criteria requirements for ‘‘Green’’ in lentils. Special Grade ‘‘Green’’ Criteria in Lentils When special grade ‘‘Green’’ was added to the lentil standard in 2017, stakeholders did not intend the interpretation of the definition to exclude all mottled lentils. Representatives of lentil industry stakeholders contacted AMS–FGIS to discuss ongoing issues with Lentils, which are predominately grown in Montana and North Dakota. Stakeholders stated in 2019 that most shipments of lentils did not achieve the special grade ‘‘Green’’ as the current definition and interpretation make it difficult to meet the special grade criteria. During meetings and discussions, lentil stakeholders communicated the need to revise the standard by changing definition of special grade ‘‘Green’’ and changing the inspection criteria in the Pea and Lentil Inspection Handbook to include a percentage of allowable mottled lentils. Stakeholders recommended the definition of ‘‘Green’’ be revised in the lentil standard to read ‘‘Clear seeded (green) lentils possessing a natural, E:\FR\FM\29SEN1.SGM 29SEN1

Agencies

[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]


========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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.

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


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

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

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 (https://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 https://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]
BILLING CODE P

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