. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/USA/121 
15 June 2005 
 (05-2515) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   UNITED STATES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:   Department of Agriculture (USDA) (126) 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be  indicated if different from above:         
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 applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable):   Grapes   
(HS:  Chapter 8;  ICS:  67) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Grapes Grown in a 
Designated Area of Southeastern California a nd Imported Table Grapes;  Proposed Change 
in Regulatory Periods, (9 pages in English). 
6. Description of content:   This proposed rule would revise the regulatory periods when 
minimum grade, size, quality, and maturity re quirements apply to southeastern California 
grapes under Marketing Order No. 925 (order), and to imported grapes under the table grape 
import regulation.  The current regulatory pe riods for both domestic and imported grapes 
are April 20 through August 15 of each year.  The California Desert Grape Administrative Committee (Committee), which locally administers the order, unanimously recommended 
changing the date when these requirements expi re for grapes grown in California to July 10 
because few grapes are normally shipped afte r that date.  A corresponding change for 
imported table grapes is required under section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement 
Act of 1937.  The Desert Grape Growers League of California (the "League") requested that 
the beginning date of the regulatory period fo r imported table grapes be changed from April 
20 to April 1.  The League requested this cha nge to prevent the marketing of grape imports 
that do not meet the California grape order's grade, size, quality, and maturity requirements. The Act provides authority for such change.  If implemented, the regulatory period for 
domestic grapes would be April 1-July 10 so both sets of requirements apply during the same time period.  This proposed rule also  would clarify the maturity (soluble solids) 
requirements for southeastern California and imported Flame Seedless variety grapes .  
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
Prevent deceptive practices to protect consumers. G/TBT/N/USA/121 
Page 2  
 
 8. Relevant documents:   70 Federal Register (FR) 30001 25 May 2005;  Title 7 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part s 925 and 944.  Will appear in the Federal Register when 
adopted. 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:   }To be determined 
10. Final date for comments:  25 July 2005 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:   
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/24 22/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-
10440.htm 
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/24 22/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/
05-10440.pdf