[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 112 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36598-36601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14694]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 28

[Docket No. CN-00-003]
RIN 0581-AB82


Grade Standards and Classification for American Pima Cotton

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is revising the 
official standards for the grade of American Pima to provide for the 
separation of

[[Page 36599]]

grade into its chief components of color and leaf. This change was 
requested by representatives of the American Pima industry. Each 
component of the composite grade will stand on its own so that its 
effect on end use value or processing capability can be fully and 
separately evaluated. The separation of grade into color and leaf will 
require a change in three of the physical standards for American Pima 
cotton as currently maintained by USDA. This change will enhance the 
Agency's ability to provide useful and cost-effective classification, 
standardization and market news services for American Pima cotton.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 11, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Cliburn, Cotton Program, AMS, 
USDA, 202-720-2145.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule detailing the revisions was 
published in the Federal Register on April 4, 2000 (FR 65 17609). A 30-
day comment period was provided for interested persons to respond to 
the proposed rule. Four comments were received asking for modifications 
to section 28.522, explanatory terms of the proposed rule. Three 
comments, from ginning associations, disagreed that preparation 
describes the roughness or smoothness with which cotton is ginned. They 
argued that the statement insinuates that ``preparation'' is a result 
of the ginning of cotton, and that cotton classification can measure 
the nappiness or neppiness of cotton, but cannot determine the cause of 
that condition. They suggested that cultural practices in the growing 
of cotton as well as harvesting of cotton can also contribute to 
nappiness or neppiness. This suggestion has merit. Accordingly, the 
definition of ``preparation'' has been rewritten in section 28.522 (a) 
to clarify that it describes the degree of smoothness or roughness of 
the ginned lint (cotton) without addressing any possible cause. The 
fourth comment, from a merchant association, suggested that spindle 
twist be included on the classification record. The agency agrees with 
this comment and has rewritten section 28.522 (b), to add spindle twist 
and preparation as explanatory terms to be entered on the 
classification record.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866, therefore, it has not been reviewed 
by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
    This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 
Civil Justice Reform. It is not intended to have retroactive effect. 
This rule would not preempt any state or local laws, regulations, or 
policies unless they present an irreconcilable conflict with this rule. 
There are no administrative procedures which must be exhausted prior to 
any judicial challenge to the provisions of this rule.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) AMS has considered the economic impact 
of this action on small entities and has determined that its 
implementation will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.
    The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory actions to the scale of 
businesses subject to such actions in order that small businesses will 
not be disproportionately burdened. There are an estimated 1,000 
growers of Pima cotton in the U.S. who voluntarily use the AMS cotton 
classing services annually, and the majority of these entities are 
small businesses under the criteria established by the Small Business 
Administration (13 CFR 121.201). The change in procedure will not 
significantly affect small entities as defined in the RFA because:
    (1) Classification will continue to be based upon the Official 
Standards for American Pima Cotton established and maintained by the 
Department;
    (2) The change in official American Pima cotton standards will be 
consistently implemented for all American Pima cotton classed by USDA, 
with each component, color and leaf, standing on its own so that its 
effect on end use value or processing capability can be fully and 
separately evaluated. Therefore, it will not adversely affect 
competition in the marketplace; and
    (3) The use of cotton classification services is voluntary. In 
1999, 645,000 bales of American Pima cotton were produced--the largest 
Pima crop on record, and virtually all of them were submitted by 
growers for USDA classification. Over the last ten years, U.S. 
production of Pima has averaged 440,000 bales annually.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In compliance with OMB regulations (5 CFR part 1320) which 
implement the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), 
the information collection requirements contained in the provisions to 
be amended by this final rule have been previously approved by OMB and 
were assigned OMB control number 0581-0009 under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act.

Background

    Pursuant to the authority contained in the United States Cotton 
Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 51 et seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture 
maintains official cotton standards of the United States for the grades 
of American Pima cotton. These standards are used for the 
classification of American Pima cotton and provide a basis for the 
determination of value for commercial purposes. American Pima cotton is 
extra long staple cotton--1\1/4\ to 1\9/16\ inches--from the botanical 
group Gossypium barbadense, and it accounts for only 3-5 percent of the 
total U.S. cotton crop each year.
    The existing official cotton standards for the grades of American 
Pima cotton are listed and described in the regulation at 7 CFR 28.501-
28.507. There are six physical standards represented by practical 
forms, and one descriptive standard for which practical forms are not 
made. The descriptive standard describes cotton which is lower in grade 
than that represented by the physical standards.
    The first grade standards for American Pima (American Egyptian) 
cotton were promulgated by USDA in 1918. They have been revised several 
times since, mainly because of changing varietal characteristics and 
harvesting and ginning practices. The last complete revision of the 
standards was published in the Federal Register of June 18, 1985 (50 FR 
25198), and became effective in 1986.
    Pursuant to the United States Cotton Standards Act, any standard 
change or replacement to the standards shall become effective not less 
than one year after the date promulgated. It is anticipated that the 
changes proposed in this document, if adopted, would be implemented to 
coincide with the beginning of the 2001 crop year.

Need for Revisions

    The current classification system for American Pima combines color 
and leaf and some extraneous matter into a composite grade, 
complicating the individual evaluation of the two primary components of 
color and leaf. Separation of the composite grade into its chief 
components of color and leaf and removal of any extraneous matter from 
the component standards will permit each quality factor to be 
recognized clearly on its own, and its effect on end use value or 
processing capability will be fully and separately evaluated. 
Manufacturers will be able to determine the utility value of each 
component and any premiums and discounts. American Upland cotton has 
been classified by separate color and

[[Page 36600]]

leaf grades since 1993. The success of this separation for American 
Upland cotton prompted the representatives of the American Pima 
industry to request this change in the standards for American Pima. The 
USDA's ability to provide useful and cost-effective cotton 
classification, standardization, and market news services will be 
enhanced by this change.

Revisions to Standards

    The existing official cotton standards for the grades of American 
Pima cotton listed and described in the regulations at (7 CFR 28.501-
28.507) will be revised.
    There will be established seven official cotton standards for color 
grades of American Pima cotton. Of these seven standards, six will be 
physical standards represented by practical forms and one will be 
descriptive for the lowest quality color for which practical forms are 
not made. The six practical forms will have the same color ranges as 
currently maintained in the corresponding physical standards for the 
grades of American Pima cotton for Grade No. 1, Grade No. 2, Grade 
No.3, Grade No. 4, Grade No. 5, and Grade No. 6 described at 7 CFR 
28.501, 28.502, 28.503, 28.504, 28.505, and 28.506. The descriptive 
color standard for which practical forms will not be made will have the 
same color as currently described in the standards for the grade of 
American Pima cotton for Grade No. 7 at 7 CFR 28.507, which is any 
color inferior to Grade No. 6.
    There will be established seven official cotton standards for leaf 
grade of American Pima cotton. Of these, six will be physical standards 
represented by practical forms and one will be a descriptive standard 
to describe the lowest quality cotton for which practical forms will 
not be made. The physical standards for leaf grades will each have the 
same leaf content ranges as currently maintained in the corresponding 
physical standards for the grades of American Pima cotton for Grade No. 
1, Grade No. 2, Grade No.3, Grade No. 4, Grade No. 5, and Grade No. 6 
described at 7 CFR 28.501, 28.502, 28.503, 28.504, 28.505, and 28.506. 
Grade No. 7 is described at Sec. 28.507, and no physical standard will 
be made for it because it will continue to include all ranges of leaf 
content inferior to Grade No. 6. The standards for Grade No. 4, Grade 
No. 5, Grade No. 6, and Grade No. 7 will also be changed to remove the 
bark now present in those standards. After removal of bark from the 
standards, the presence of bark, which is extraneous matter, will be 
noted on classification records without regard to the grades assigned 
as any other extraneous matter is listed under the current standard. 
American Pima cotton will not be reduced in grade due to the presence 
of any extraneous matter when it is present in any grade.
    For practical considerations the color standards and the leaf 
standards will be represented by the same set of physical samples. 
There will be one container for Grade No. 1 Color and Grade No. 1 Leaf, 
one container for Grade No. 2 Color and Grade No. 2 Leaf, one container 
for Grade No. 3 Color and Grade No. 3 Leaf, one container for Grade No. 
4 Color and Grade No. 4 Leaf, one container for Grade No. 5 color and 
Grade No. 5 Leaf, and one container for Grade No. 6 Color and Grade No. 
6 Leaf.
    The definition of official standards in Sec. 28.2 (p) will be 
changed to reflect the separation of color and leaf grades for American 
Upland and American Pima cotton.
    A new section, Sec. 28.521, will be added to state that Color Grade 
designation shall be made independently of the leaf content, and Leaf 
Grade designation shall be made independently of the color content. 
Section 28.522 will be added for explanatory terms that include 
preparation and extraneous matter.
    The table of symbols and code numbers used in lieu of cotton grade 
names in 7 CFR 28.525 will be revised to reflect these changes.
    The changes in this document will be implemented to coincide with 
the beginning of the 2001 crop year.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 28

    Administrative practice and procedure, Cotton, Cotton samples, 
Grades, Market news, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Standards, Staples, Testing, Warehouses.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, title 7 CFR Part 28, 
subpart A and C, is amended as follows:

PART 28--COTTON CLASSING, TESTING, AND STANDARDS

    1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 28, Subpart A continues to 
read as follows:

    Authority: Sec. 5, 50 Stat. 62, as amended (7 U.S.C. 55); sec. 
10, 42 Stat. 1519 (7 U.S.C. 61).

    2. In Sec. 28.2, paragraph (p) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 28.2  Terms defined.

* * * * *
    (p) Official Cotton Standards. Official Cotton Standards of the 
United States for the color grade and the leaf grade of American upland 
cotton, the color grade and the leaf grade of American Pima cotton, the 
length of staple, and fiber property measurements, adopted or 
established pursuant to the Act, or any change or replacement thereof.
* * * * *

    3. The authority citation for Part 28, Subpart C--Standards, 
Official Cotton Standards of the United States for the Grade of 
American Pima Cotton, will continue to read as follows:

    Authority: Sections 28.501 to 28.507 and 28.511 to 28.517 issued 
under Sec. 10, 42 Stat. 1519 (7 U.S.C. 61). Interpret or apply sec. 
6, 42 Stat. 1518, as amended, sec. 4854, 68A Stat. 580;7 U.S.C. 56, 
26 U.S.C. 4854.


    4. The undesignated centerheading following Sec. 28.482 and 
Secs. 28.501 through 28.507 will be revised to read as follows 
[Secs. 28.508 through 28.510 continue to be reserved]:

Official Cotton Standards of the United States for the Color Grade 
of American Pima Cotton

28.501  Color Grade No. 1.
28.502  Color Grade No. 2.
28.503  Color Grade No. 3.
28.504  Color Grade No. 4.
28.505  Color Grade No. 5.
28.506  Color Grade No. 6.
28.507  Color Grade No. 7.
28.508-28.510  [Reserved]

Official Cotton Standards of the United States for the Color Grade 
of American Pima Cotton


Sec. 28.501  Color Grade No. 1.

    Color grade No. 1 shall be American Pima cotton which in color is 
within the range represented by a set of samples in the custody of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture in a container marked ``Original 
Official Cotton Standards of the United States, American Pima, Color 
Grade No. 1, effective July 1, 1986.''


Sec. 28.502  Color Grade No. 2.

    Color grade No. 2 shall be American Pima cotton which in color is 
within the range represented by a set of samples in the custody of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture in a container marked ``Original 
Official Cotton Standards of the United States, American Pima, Color 
Grade No. 2, effective July 1, 1986.''


Sec. 28.503  Color Grade No. 3.

    Color grade No. 3 shall be American Pima cotton which in color is 
within the range represented by a set of samples in the custody of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture in a container marked ``Original 
Official Cotton Standards of the United States, American Pima, Color 
Grade No. 3, effective July 1, 1986.''


Sec. 28.504  Color Grade No. 4.

    Color grade No. 4 shall be American Pima cotton which in color is 
within the range represented by a set of samples in

[[Page 36601]]

the custody of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in a container marked 
``Original Official Cotton Standards of the United States, American 
Pima, Color Grade No. 4, effective July 1, 1986.''


Sec. 28.505  Color Grade No. 5.

    Color grade No. 5 shall be American Pima cotton which in color is 
within the range represented by a set of samples in the custody of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture in a container marked ``Original 
Official Cotton Standards of the United States, American Pima, Color 
Grade No. 5, effective July 1, 1986.''


Sec. 28.506  Color Grade No. 6.

    Color grade No. 6 shall be American Pima cotton which in color is 
within the range represented by a set of samples in the custody of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture in a container marked ``Original 
Official Cotton Standards of the United States, American Pima, Color 
Grade No. 6, effective July 1, 1986.''


Sec. 28.507  Color Grade No. 7.

    American Pima cotton which in color is inferior to Color Grade No. 
6 shall be designated as ``Color Grade No. 7.''

    5. An undesignated centerheading following Secs. 28.508--28.510 
[Reserved] and Secs. 28.511 through 28.517 would be added to read as 
follows:

Official Cotton Standards of the United States for the Leaf Grade of 
American Pima Cotton

28.511  Leaf Grade No. 1.
28.512  Leaf Grade No. 2.
28.513  Leaf Grade No. 3.
28.514  Leaf Grade No. 4.
28.515  Leaf Grade No. 5.
28.516  Leaf Grade No. 6.
28.517  Leaf Grade No. 7.

Official Cotton Standards of the United States for the Leaf Grade 
of American Pima Cotton


Sec. 28.511  Leaf Grade No. 1.

    Leaf grade No. 1 shall be American Pima cotton which in leaf is 
within the range represented by a set of samples in the custody of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture in a container marked ``Original 
Official Cotton Standards of the United States, American Pima, Leaf 
Grade No. 1, effective July 1, 1986.''


Sec. 28.512  Leaf Grade No. 2.

    Leaf grade No. 2 shall be American Pima cotton which in leaf is 
within the range represented by a set of samples in the custody of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture in a container marked ``Original 
Official Cotton Standards of the United States, American Pima, Leaf 
Grade No. 2, effective July 1, 1986.''


Sec. 28.513  Leaf Grade No. 3.

    Leaf grade No. 3 shall be American Pima cotton which in leaf is 
within the range represented by a set of samples in the custody of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture in a container marked ``Original 
Official Cotton Standards of the United States, American Pima, Leaf 
Grade No. 3, effective July 1, 1986.''


Sec. 28.514  Leaf Grade No. 4.

    Leaf grade No. 4 shall be American Pima cotton which in leaf is 
within the range represented by a set of samples in the custody of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture in a container marked ``Original 
Official Cotton Standards of the United States, American Pima, Leaf 
Grade No. 4, effective July 1, 2001.''


Sec. 28.515  Leaf Grade No. 5.

    Leaf grade No. 5 shall be American Pima cotton which in leaf is 
within the range represented by a set of samples in the custody of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture in a container marked ``Original 
Official Cotton Standards of the United States, American Pima, Leaf 
Grade No. 5, effective July 1, 2001.''


Sec. 28.516  Leaf Grade No. 6.

    Leaf grade No. 6 shall be American Pima cotton which in leaf is 
within the range represented by a set of samples in the custody of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture in a container marked ``Original 
Official Cotton Standards of the United States, American Pima, Leaf 
Grade No. 6, effective July 1, 2001.''


Sec. 28.517  Leaf Grade No. 7.

    American Pima cotton which in leaf is inferior to Leaf Grade No. 6 
shall be designated as ``Leaf Grade No. 7.''

    6. An undesignated centerheading following Sec. 28.517 and 
Secs. 28.521 and 28.522 would be added to read as follows:

Application of Standards and Explanatory Terms


Sec. 28.521  Application of color and leaf grade standards.

    American Pima cotton which in color is within the range of the 
color standards established in this part shall be designated according 
to the color standard irrespective of the leaf content. American Pima 
cotton which in leaf is within the range of the leaf standards 
established in this part shall be designated according to the leaf 
standard irrespective of the color content.


Sec. 28.522  Explanatory terms.

    (a) The term preparation is used to describe the degree of 
smoothness or roughness of the ginned lint. Normal preparation for any 
color grade of American Pima cotton for which there is a physical color 
standard shall be that found in the physical color standard. If the 
preparation is other than normal, it shall be entered on the 
classification record.
    (b) Explanatory terms considered necessary to adequately describe 
the presence of preparation, spindle twist, and extraneous matter such 
as bark, grass, seed coat fragments, oil, etc. in the sample, shall be 
part of the classification record.

    7. The authority citation for Sec. 28.525, would continue to read 
as follows:

    Authority: Sec. 28.525 issued under Sec. 10, 42 Stat. 1519 
(U.S.C. 61). Interpret or apply Sec. 6, 42 Stat. 1518, as amended (7 
U.S.C. 56).


    8. In Sec. 28.525, paragraph (d) would be redesignated as paragraph 
(e), paragraph (c) would be revised, and a new paragraph (d) would be 
added to read as follows:


Sec. 28.525  Symbols and code numbers.

* * * * *
    (c) Symbols and Code Numbers for Color Grades of American Pima 
Cotton.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Full grade name                   Symbol Code         No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Color Grade No. 1.......................  AP C1                       01
Color Grade No. 2.......................  AP C2                       02
Color Grade No. 3.......................  AP C3                       03
Color Grade No. 4.......................  AP C4                       04
Color Grade No. 5.......................  AP C5                       05
Color Grade No. 6.......................  AP C6                       06
Color Grade No. 7.......................  AP C7                       07
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (d) Symbols and Code Numbers for Leaf Grades of American Pima 
Cotton.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Full grade name                   Symbol Code         No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leaf Grade No. 1........................  AP L1                        1
Leaf Grade No. 2........................  AP L2                        2
Leaf Grade No. 3........................  AP L3                        3
Leaf Grade No. 4........................  AP L4                        4
Leaf Grade No. 5........................  AP L5                        5
Leaf Grade No. 6........................  AP L6                        6
Leaf Grade No. 7........................  AP L7                        7
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

    Dated: June 6, 2000.
Kathleen A. Merrigan,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 00-14694 Filed 6-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P