Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2005/05/27/05-10469/dried-prunes-produced-in-california-suspension-of-handling-and-reporting-requirements-extension-of
Timestamp: 2018-07-23 02:26:55
Document Index: 283184900

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u2009993', '§\u2009993', '§\u2009993', 'art 993', '§\u2009993', '§\u2009993', '§\u2009993', '§\u2009993']

Federal Register :: Dried Prunes Produced in California; Suspension of Handling and Reporting Requirements, Extension of the Suspension of Outgoing Inspection and Volume Control Regulations, and Extension of the Suspension of the Prune Import Regulation
A Rule by the Agricultural Marketing Service on 05/27/2005
Effective August 1, 2005; comments received by July 26, 2005 will be considered prior to issuance of a final rule.
70 FR 30610
30610-30613 (4 pages)
Docket No. FV05-993-2 IFR
05-10469
Marketing Order Authority for Suspension
A Listing of Marketing Order Provisions To Be Suspended
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/05-10469 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/05-10469
This rule suspends indefinitely all remaining handling and most reporting requirements under Marketing Order No. 993, beginning August 1, 2005. The marketing order regulates the handling of dried prunes produced in California and is administered locally by the Prune Marketing Committee (committee). This rule also indefinitely extends the suspensions of the outgoing inspection and prune import regulations, and volume control regulations, currently temporarily suspended until August 1, 2006, and August 1, 2008, respectively.
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments concerning this rule. Comments must be sent to the Docket Clerk, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Fax: (202) 720-8938; or E-mail: moab.docketclerk@usda.gov; or Internet: http://www.regulations.gov. All comments should reference the docket number and the date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made available for public inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular business hours, or can be viewed at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/​fv/​moab.html.
Terry Vawter, Marketing Specialist, California Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102B, Fresno, California 93721; Telephone: (559) 487-5901, Fax: (559) 487-5906; or Kathy Finn, Formal Rulemaking Team Leader, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-8938.
This rule suspends handling and reporting requirements under the marketing order and the prune import regulation, beginning with the 2005-2006 crop year, and continuing Start Printed Page 30611indefinitely. These provisions could either be reactivated or terminated. The 2005-2006 crop year begins on August 1, 2005. This action also extends the current temporary suspensions of the outgoing inspection and the volume control regulations. This rule was unanimously recommended by the committee at a meeting on March 15, 2005.
Section 993.90(a) of the prune marketing order provides, in part, that the Secretary “shall terminate or suspend the operation of any or all of the provisions of this subpart, whenever he finds that such provisions do not tend to effectuate the declared policy of the “Act.” Information from the committee, or other sources, may be used by the Secretary in making that determination.
Being cognizant that some growers and packers believe the marketing order has become overly complex and restrictive in today's more technologically-advanced, global market, the committee has held task force meetings over the last two years to solicit input from the industry on amending the order. However, little progress has resulted from those meetings concerning the best method to streamline the existing order and update it to reflect modern packing methods and marketing strategies. Thus, at its meeting on March 15, 2005, the committee voted unanimously to recommend to USDA that the handling and reporting requirements, including the currently-suspended outgoing inspection and volume-control regulations, be suspended indefinitely.
Because the committee would need to obtain information on the tonnage received by each handler to properly allocate committee member and alternate positions, and to assess handlers for their prorata share of expenses, the committee has arranged with the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Dried Plum Board (CDPB) to receive such information as needed from the CDPB. The committee would enter into an agreement with the CDPB for this purpose.
On April 16, 2004, the committee approved a motion to submit a request to USDA no later than January 15, 2005, to suspend the marketing order for one year, effective August 1, 2005, through July 31, 2006. At that time, the committee believed that the lead time provided by this recommended suspension permits the industry to consider what portions of the suspended Federal marketing order should be added to the California state marketing order for dried plums.
In accordance with the committee's April 16, 2004, resolution, on December 8, 2004, it recommended to USDA that the marketing order be suspended for one crop year, beginning August 1, 2005, and requested that the current committee members be appointed as trustees during the suspension period.
On February 23, 2005, the Executive Committee reconsidered their recommendation to suspend the entire order and have the current members named as trustees. The Executive Committee made a subsequent recommendation to the committee to rescind the December 8, 2004, recommendation. The Executive Committee then recommended that the handling and reporting requirements be suspended indefinitely, and forwarded that revised recommendation to the full committee, as well. The revised recommendation also included extending the temporary suspensions of outgoing inspection and volume control regulations, which would have ended on August 1 of 2006 and 2008, respectively. As stated earlier, on March 15, 2005, the committee revised its recommendation accordingly.
Section 8e of the Act provides that when certain domestically-produced commodities, including prunes, are regulated under a Federal marketing order, imports of that commodity must meet the same or comparable grade, size, quality, and maturity requirements. Since this rule indefinitely suspends the handling regulations, including grade, size, and quality requirements, these requirements will continue to be suspended in the import regulations. Currently, the prune import regulations are suspended through July 31, 2006.
U.S. imports of dried prunes are insignificant compared to U.S. production. In 2002, while the U.S. produced 158,000 tons of dried prunes, only 616 tons were imported. In that year, the domestically-produced tonnage was over 250 times larger than the imported tonnage.
In recent years, as volumes of domestically-produced prunes have fluctuated imports have also fluctuated, but imported prunes continue to represent a very small portion of the available prune products in the U.S. market.
Argentina, Chile, France, Mexico, Iran, and Turkey export prunes to the United States, with Argentina accounting for approximately 90 percent of all U.S. imports.
Under the order, §§ 993.48 through 993.59, and § 993.62 authorize requirements upon handlers to meet grade and size requirements, obtain both incoming and outgoing inspection, label prunes appropriately, and hold a portion of the crop in reserve. The order's rules and regulations establish similar requirements.
Currently, the provisions for outgoing inspection and reserve disposition are suspended in both the order and the order's rules and regulations until August 1, 2006, and August 1, 2008, respectively. This rule suspends indefinitely all the remaining handling requirements.
Under §§ 993.71 through 993.75, the order also includes authority to require that handlers file reports with the committee on acquisitions, accountings, holdings, uses, sales, and shipments of prunes. The order's rules and regulations include similar requirements, except that some of these provisions are currently suspended, as they relate to volume control requirements.
This action suspends indefinitely those requirements, along with other handling requirements and the reporting requirements.
As stated previously, the committee would enter into an agreement with the CDPB to collect information necessary for allocating committee member and alternate member positions and for continuing assessments on a limited basis.
As noted, handling and reporting requirements will be suspended indefinitely. Included are provisions in the order regarding outgoing inspection and volume control regulations, which are currently temporarily suspended until August 1, 2006, and August 1, 2008, respectively.
In a conforming action, the provisions related to marketing policy are suspended, as well. Under the order, the committee is required to establish a marketing policy annually if handling requirements are recommended. If no handling regulations are recommended due to suspension, no marketing policy statement is required.
Certain provisions and parts of certain provisions are currently suspended until a specified time. This rule will indefinitely suspend those provisions or parts of certain provisions, as well as additional provisions. The following list Start Printed Page 30612of provisions or parts of provisions being suspended are listed below chronologically and notations are made to clarify which provisions or parts of provisions are currently suspended.
Section 993.21d Reserve prunes (currently suspended through 2008).
Section 993.33 Voting procedure (partially suspended through 2008).
Section 993.36(i) Duties (currently suspended through 2008).
Section 993.41 Marketing policy.
Section 993.48 Regulation.
Section 993.49 Incoming regulation.
Section 993.50 Outgoing regulation (partially suspended through 2006).
Section 993.51 Inspection and certification (partially suspended through 2006).
Section 993.52 Modification.
Section 993.53 Above parity situations.
Section 993.54 Establishment of salable and reserve percentages (currently suspended through 2008).
Section 993.55 Application of salable and reserve percentages after end of crop year (currently suspended through 2008).
Section 993.56 Reserve obligation (currently suspended through 2008).
Section 993.57 Holding requirement and delivery (currently suspended through 2008).
Section 993.58 Deferment of time for withholding (currently suspended through 2008).
Section 993.59 Payment to handlers for services (currently suspended through 2008).
Section 993.62 Diversion privileges (currently suspended through 2008).
Section 993.65 Disposition of reserve prunes (currently suspended through 2008).
Section 993.72 Reports of acquisitions, sales, uses, and shipments.
Section 993.73 Other reports.
Section 993.74 Records.
Section 993.75 Verification of reports.
Section 993.97 Exhibit A; minimum standards (partially suspended through 2006).
Section 993.104 Lot.
Section 993.105 Size count.
Section 993.106 In-line inspection.
Section 993.107 Floor inspection.
Section 993.108 Non-human consumption outlet.
Section 993.149 Receiving of prunes by handlers.
Section 993.150 Disposition of prunes by handlers (partially suspended through 2006).
Section 993.156 Application of reserve percentage (currently suspended through 2008).
Section 993.157 Holding and delivery of reserve prunes (currently suspended through 2008).
Section 993.158 Deferment of reserve withholding (currently suspended through 2008).
Section 993.159 Payments for services performed with respect to reserve tonnage prunes (currently suspended through 2008).
Section 993.162 Voluntary prune plum diversion (currently suspended through 2008).
Section 993.165 Disposition of reserve prunes (currently suspended through 2008).
Section 993.172 Reports of holdings, receipts, uses, and shipments (partially suspended through 2008).
Section 993.173 Reports of accounting (partially suspended through 2008).
Section 993.174 Records.
Section 993.400 Modifications.
Section 993.409 Undersized prune regulation for the 2002-03 crop year.
Section 993.501 Consumer package of prunes.
Section 993.503 Size category.
Section 993.504 In-line inspection.
Section 993.505 Floor inspection.
Section 993.506 Lot.
Section 993.515 Size categories (currently suspended through 2006).
Section 993.516 Tolerance and limitations (currently suspended through 2006).
Section 993.517 Identification (currently suspended through 2006).
Section 993.518 Compliance (currently suspended through 2006).
Section 993.601 More restrictive grade regulation (partially suspended through 2006).
Section 993.602 Maximum tolerances.
There are approximately 1,100 producers of dried prunes in the production area and approximately 22 handlers subject to regulation under the marketing order. Small agricultural producers are defined by the Small Business Administration (13 CFR 121.201) as those having annual receipts of less than $750,000, and small agricultural service firms are defined as those whose annual receipts are less than $6,000,000.
An industry profile shows that 8 out of 21 handlers (38 percent) shipped over $6,000,000 worth of dried prunes in 2003 and could be considered large handlers by the Small Business Administration. Thirteen of the 21 handlers (62 percent) shipped under $6,000,000 worth of prunes and could be considered small handlers. An estimated 32 producers, or less than 3 percent of the 1,100 total producers, would be considered large growers with annual incomes over $750,000. The majority of handlers and producers of California dried prunes may be classified as small entities.
In addition, there are an estimated 30 importers, and one third-party entity that performs inspections under the order. USDA does not have precise information on these entities, but believes that the majority of the importers and the third-party inspection agency are small entities.
As recommended by the Committee, this rule indefinitely suspends handling and reporting requirements under the marketing order, including extending the temporary suspensions of outgoing inspection requirements and reporting regulations and the import regulations.
This action reduces the reporting and recordkeeping requirements for California prune handlers and importers; and reduces the committee's, prune handlers”, and prune importers' associated administrative costs. This action also reduces the number of inspections performed by the inspection agency for both handlers and importers.
The benefits of this interim final rule are expected to accrue to all prune handlers and importers regardless of their size.
The deliberations about suspension of the marketing order for one year began at meetings held on April 3 and May 1, 2003, and continued to the present. In April 2004, the committee believed that such a suspension provides the industry with an opportunity to operate without regulation. For some members, a suspension was preferable to termination.
At the December 8, 2004, meeting, the committee discussed the impact of and alternatives to suspending the entire marketing order, and at the February 23, Start Printed Page 306132005, Executive Committee meeting, the members and industry representatives discussed the impact of and alternatives to suspending handling and reporting requirements, including extending the current suspensions of outgoing inspection requirements and reporting regulations.
At the March 15, 2005, committee meeting, the members received the recommendations of the Executive Committee and, being in unanimous accord, voted to rescind their previous recommendation to suspend the entire order in favor of recommending that the handling and reporting requirements be suspended indefinitely, including the currently-suspended outgoing inspection and volume control regulations.
The suspension permits the industry to operate for an indefinite period of time without most order requirements. This will allow growers and handlers time to consider which provisions in the marketing order might continue to meet their future needs.
This rule will not impose any additional reporting or recordkeeping requirements on either small or large California dried prune handlers. On the contrary, this action will remove reporting requirements on all prune handlers indefinitely. As with all Federal marketing order programs, reports and forms are periodically reviewed to reduce information requirements and duplication by industry and public sector agencies.
The Department has not identified any relevant Federal rules that duplicate, overlap or conflict with this interim final rule.
In addition, the committee's meetings were widely publicized throughout the prune industry and all interested persons were invited to attend the meeting and participate in committee deliberations on all issues at any meeting in the last two years, including task force meetings. Like all committee meetings, the April 16 and December 8, 2004, meetings; and the February 23 and March 15, 2005, meetings were public meetings; and all entities, both large and small, were encouraged to express views on this issue. The committee itself is composed of twenty-two members. Seven are handlers, fourteen are producers, and one is a public member. Moreover, the committee, its Executive Committee, and the marketing order task force, provide broad industry representation. Thus, this rule reflects their considerable deliberations and determinations. Finally, interested persons are invited to submit information on the regulatory and informational impacts of this action on small businesses.
This rule invites comments on changes to the handling and reporting requirements prescribed under the marketing order and the import regulation. Any comments timely received will be considered prior to finalization of this rule.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, it is also found and determined upon good cause that it is impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public interest to give preliminary notice prior to putting this rule into effect and that good cause exists for not postponing the effective date of this rule until 30 days after publication in the Federal Register because: (1) The committee unanimously recommended these changes at a public meeting and interested parties had an opportunity to provide input; (2) these changes relax requirements on handlers and importers; and (3) this rule provides a 60-day comment period and any comments timely received will be considered prior to finalization of this rule.
2. In Part 993, §§ 993.21d, 993.41, 993.48, 993.49, 993.50, 993.51, 993.52, 993.53, 993.54, 993.55, 993.56, 993.57, 993.58, 993.59, 993.62, 993.65, 993.72, 993.73, 993.74, 993.75, 993.97, 993.104, 993.105, 993.106, 993.107, 993.108, 993.149, 993.150, 993.156, 993.157, 993.158, 993.159, 993.162, 993.165, 993.172, 993.173, 993.174, 993.400 993.409, 993.501, 993.503, 993.504, 993.505, 993.506, 993.515, 993.516, 993.517, 993.518, 993.601, and 993.602 are suspended indefinitely.
3. In § 993.33, the words “salable and reserve percentages, and on any matters pertaining to the control or disposition of reserve prunes or to prune plum diversion pursuant to § 993.62” are suspended indefinitely.
4. Paragraph (i) of § 993.36 is suspended indefinitely.
5. Section 999.200 is suspended indefinitely.
Acting Administrator, Agriculture Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-10469 Filed 5-26-05; 8:45 am]