Department of Agriculture January 2, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS)
Document Number: 2012-31554
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-01-02
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service
The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), is sponsoring a public meeting on January 24, 2013. The objective of the public meeting is to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States (U.S.) positions that will be discussed at the 20th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), which will be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, February 18-22, 2013. The Under Secretary for Food Safety recognizes the importance of providing interested parties the opportunity to obtain background information on the 20th Session of the CCFICS and to address items on the agenda.
Pears Grown in Oregon and Washington; Modification of the Assessment Rate for Fresh Pears
Document Number: 2012-31516
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2013-01-02
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule would increase the assessment rate established for the Fresh Pear Committee (Committee) for the 2012-2013 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.366 to $0.449 per standard box or equivalent of summer/fall pears handled, and would decrease the assessment rate from $0.471 to $0.449 per standard box or equivalent of fresh winter pears handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of fresh pears grown in Oregon and Washington. Assessments upon Oregon-Washington fresh pear handlers are used by the Committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The fiscal period begins July 1 and ends June 30. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.
Irish Potatoes Grown in Colorado; Modification of the Handling Regulation for Area No. 2
Document Number: 2012-31513
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-01-02
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This rule modifies the grade requirements for potatoes handled under the Colorado potato marketing order, Area No. 2 (order). The order regulates the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Colorado and is administered locally by the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, Area No. 2 (Committee). This rule relaxes the minimum grade requirement for size B and 1-inch to 1\3/4\-inch diameter round, red-skinned potatoes handled under the Colorado potato marketing order from U.S. No. 1 to U.S. Commercial. This change is expected to facilitate the handling and marketing of the Area No. 2 potato crop, provide producers and handlers with increased returns, and supply consumers with increased potato purchasing options.
Soybean Promotion and Research: Amend the Order To Adjust Representation on the United Soybean Board
Document Number: 2012-31511
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-01-02
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This final rule adjusts the number of members on the United Soybean Board (Board) to reflect changes in production levels that have occurred since the Board was reapportioned in 2009. As required by the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act (Act), membership is reviewed every 3 years and adjustments are made accordingly. This change results in an increase in Board membership for Mississippi, increasing the total number of Board members from 69 to 70. The change will be effective for the 2013 nomination and appointment process.
Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research and Information Order
Document Number: 2012-30923
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2013-01-02
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule invites comments on a proposed Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order). The purpose of the program would be to maintain and expand markets for paper and paper-based packaging. A referendum would be held among eligible manufacturers and importers to determine whether they favor implementation of the program prior to it going into effect. The program would be financed by an assessment on paper and paper-based packaging manufacturers (domestic producers) and importers and would be administered by a board of industry members appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary). The assessment rate would initially be $0.35 per short ton. This proposed rule also announces 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.
Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research and Information Order; Referendum Procedures
Document Number: 2012-30915
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2013-01-02
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This proposed rule invites comments on procedures for conducting a referendum to determine whether issuance of a proposed Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order) is favored by manufacturers (domestic producers) and importers of paper and paper-based packaging. The procedures would also be used for any subsequent referendum under the Order. The proposed Order is being published separately in this issue of the Federal Register. This proposed rule also announces 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.
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