Department of Agriculture March 30, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is changing the hourly fee rates for Science and Technology (S&T) Laboratory Services. The agency is raising these rates to reflect, among other factors, national and locality pay increases for Federal employees and inflation, operating costs, instrumentation and training, and program and agency administrative overhead costs. In the past, AMS has amended its regulations on an as needed basis in order to recover laboratory program costs. With this regulation, AMS is providing for three annual standard hourly fee rate increases for fiscal years 2007-2009. This will provide the agricultural commodity industries and other stakeholders with more timely and relevant information regarding user fees for voluntary laboratory testing services. The agency is also removing tables and schedules with listings of individual tests and services. Three annual hourly fee rate adjustments are established by this action for appeals, holiday, and overtime services to reflect the anticipated increase cost of providing these laboratory services each fiscal year. The regulations also are updated to identify current facility addresses. Part 92 is obsolete and therefore has been removed.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces the availability of $2.5 million in funding for the 2008 Quality Samples Program (QSP). The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications for participation in the FY 2008 QSP. QSP is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). This notice supercedes any prior notices concerning QSP.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announces that it is inviting proposals for the 2008 Foreign Market Development Cooperator (Cooperator) Program. The intended effect of this notice is to solicit applications from eligible applicants and award funds in October 2007. The Cooperator Program is administered by personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

This rule adds outgoing quality control requirements under the administrative rules and regulations of the California almond marketing order (order). The order regulates the handling of almonds grown in California and is administered locally by the Almond Board of California (Board). This rule provides for a mandatory program under the order to reduce the potential for Salmonella bacteria in almonds. This action will help ensure that quality almonds are available for human consumption.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing new dollar limitations on the amount of meat and meat food products and poultry products that a retail store can sell to hotels, restaurants, and similar institutions without disqualifying itself for exemption from Federal inspection requirements. By reason of FSIS' regulations, for calendar year 2007 the dollar limitation for meat and meat food products remains at $55,100 and for poultry products is being reduced from $45,200 to $44,400. FSIS is maintaining or changing the dollar limitations from calendar year 2006 based on price changes for these products evidenced by the Consumer Price Index.