G/TBT/N/USA/971  
 
5 March 2015  
(15-1262)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):    
2. Agency responsible: Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) [989] 
Name and address (including telephon e and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above : 
Please submit comments to: 
USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point Email: ncsci@nist.gov   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10 .1 [ ], 5.6.2 [ ], 5.7.1 [ ], other:  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applic able, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable): Grapes. Fruits. 
Vegetables (ICS: 67.080) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Grapes Grown in a 
Designated Area of Southeastern California and Imported Table Grapes; Relaxation of Handling Requirements (4 pages, in English) 
6. Description of content: This proposed rule invites comments on partially relaxing the 
handling requirements currently prescribed under the California table grape marketing 
order (order) and the table grape import regu lation. The order regulates the handling of 
table grapes grown in a designated area of southeastern California and is administered 
locally by the California Desert Grape Administrative Committee (committee). The import regulation is authorized under section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 
1937 and regulates the importation of table grapes into the United States. This action 
would partially relax the one-quarter pound minimum bunch size requirement in the order's regulations and the import regulation for U.S. No. 1 Table grade grapes packed in 
consumer packages known as clamshells weighing 5 pounds or less. Under the proposal, 
up to 20 percent of the weight of such containers may consist of single grape clusters weighing less than one- quarter pound, but consisting of at least five berries each. This 
rule would provide California desert grape handlers and importers with the flexibility to 
respond to an ongoing marketing opportunity to meet consumer needs.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: 
Prevention of deceptive practices and co nsumer protection; Quality requirements 
8. Relevant documents:  80 Federal Register (FR) 11346, 3 March 2015; Title 7 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 925 and 944. Will appear in the Federal Register when 
adopted. G/TBT/N/USA/971 
 
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  9. Proposed date of adoption: To be determined 
Proposed date of entry into force: To be determined   
10. Final date for comments: 2 April 2015 
11. Texts available from: Nati onal enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:   
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2015-03-03/html /2015-04087.htm   
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2015-03-03/pd f/2015-04087.pdf