Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?mc=true&node=pt7.3.70&rgn=div5
Timestamp: 2019-12-08 12:08:10
Document Index: 223271121

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', 'art 381', 'art 381', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', 'art 1', '§70', 'art 70', '§381', 'art 381', '§70', '§70', 'art 381', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', '§70', 'art 381', 'art 354']

Title 7 → Subtitle B → Chapter I → Subchapter C → Part 70
§70.1 Definitions.
§70.2 Designation of official certificates, memoranda, marks, other identifications, and devices for purposes of the Agricultural Marketing Act.
§70.3 Administration.
§70.4 Services available.
§70.5 Nondiscrimination.
§70.6 OMB control number.
§70.8 Other applicable regulations.
§70.10 Basis of grading service.
§70.11 [Reserved]
§70.12 Supervision.
§70.13 Ready-to-cook poultry and rabbits and specified poultry food products.
§70.14 Squabs and domesticated game birds; eligibility.
§70.15 Equipment and facilities for graders.
§70.16 Prerequisites to grading.
§70.17 Accessibility of products.
§70.18 Schedule of operation of official plants.
§70.20 Who may be licensed and authorized.
§70.21 Suspension of license; revocation.
§70.22 Surrender of license.
§70.23 Identification.
§70.24 Financial interest of graders.
§70.25 Political activity.
§70.26 Cancellation of license.
§70.29 Who may obtain grading service.
§70.30 How application for service may be made; conditions of service.
§70.31 Filing of application.
§70.32 Authority of applicant.
§70.33 Application for grading service in official plants; approval.
§70.34 Rejection of application.
§70.35 Withdrawal of application.
§70.36 Order of service.
§70.37 Types of Service.
§70.38 Suspension or withdrawal of plant approval for correctable cause.
§70.39 Form of application.
§70.40 Debarment.
§70.41 Misrepresentation, deceptive, or fraudulent act or practice.
§70.42 Use of facsimile forms.
§70.43 Willful violation of the regulations.
§70.44 Interfering with a grader or employee of Service.
§70.45 Misleading labeling.
§70.46 Miscellaneous.
§70.50 Approval of official identification and wording on labels.
§70.51 Form of grademark and information required.
§70.52 Prerequisites to packaging ready-to-cook poultry or rabbits identified with consumer grademarks.
§70.54 Retention authorities.
§70.55 Check grading officially identified product.
§70.56 Grading requirements of poultry and rabbits identified with official identification.
§70.60 Report of grading work.
§70.61 Information to be furnished to graders.
§70.62 Report of violations.
§70.70 Payment of fees and charges.
§70.71 Charges for services on an unscheduled basis.
§70.72 Fees for appeal grading or review of a grader's decision.
§70.75 Travel expenses and other charges.
§70.76 [Reserved]
§70.77 Charges for services on a scheduled basis.
§70.78 Fees or charges for grading service performed under cooperative agreement.
§70.90 Forms.
§70.91 Issuance.
§70.92 Disposition.
§70.93 Advance information.
§70.100 Who may request an appeal grading or review of a grader's decision.
§70.101 Where to file an appeal.
§70.102 How to file an appeal.
§70.103 When an application for an appeal grading may be refused.
§70.104 Who shall perform the appeal.
§70.105 Procedures for appeal gradings.
§70.106 Appeal grading certificates.
§70.110 Requirements for sanitation, facilities, and operating procedures in official plants.
Source: 41 FR 23681, June 11, 1976, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981.
Act means the applicable provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 1087, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) or any other act of Congress conferring like authority.
Administrator means the Administrator of the AMS or any other officer or employee of the Department to whom there has heretofore been delegated or to whom there may hereafter be delegated the authority to act in the Administrator's stead.
Carcass means any poultry or rabbit carcass.
Class means any subdivision of a product based on essential physical characteristics that differentiate between major groups of the same kind or species.
Condition means any condition, including but not being limited to, the state of preservation, cleanliness, or soundness of any product; or any condition, including but not limited to the processing, handling, or packaging which affects such product.
Condition and wholesomeness means the condition of any product and its healthfulness and fitness for human food.
Free from protruding feathers or hairs means that a poultry carcass, part, or poultry product with the skin on is free from protruding feathers or hairs which are visible to a grader during an examination at normal operating speeds. However, a poultry carcass, part, or poultry product may be considered as being free from protruding feathers or hairs if it has a generally clean appearance and if not more than an occasional protruding feather or hair is evidenced during a more careful examination.
Giblets means the following poultry organs when properly trimmed and washed: The liver from which the bile sac has been removed, the heart from which the pericardial sac has been removed, and the gizzard from which the lining and contents have been removed. With respect to rabbits “giblets” means the liver from which the bile sac has been removed and the heart from which the pericardial sac has been removed.
Grader means any Federal or State employee or the employee of a local jurisdiction or cooperating agency to whom a license has been issued by the Secretary to investigate and certify in accordance with the regulations in this part the class, quality, quantity, or condition of products.
Grading or grading service means: (a) The act whereby a grader determines, according to the regulations in this part the class, quality, quantity, or condition of any product by examining each unit thereof or each unit of the representative sample thereof drawn by a grader, and issues a grading certificate with respect thereto, except that with respect to grading service performed on a resident basis, the issuance of a grading certificate shall be pursuant to a request therefor by the applicant or the Service; (b) the act whereby the grader identifies, according to the regulations in this part, the graded product; (c) with respect to any official plant, the act whereby a grader determines that the product in such plant was processed, handled, and packaged in accordance with §70.110, or (d) any regrading or any appeal grading of a previously graded product.
Grading certificate means a statement, either written or printed, issued by a grader, pursuant to the Act and the regulations in this part, relative to the class, quality, quantity, or condition of a product.
Lightly shaded discolorations on poultry are generally reddish in color and are usually confined to areas of the skin or the surface of the flesh.
Moderately shaded discolorations on poultry skin or flesh are areas that are generally dark red or bluish, or are areas of flesh bruising. Moderately shaded discolorations are free from blood clots that are visible to a grader during an examination of the carcass, part, or poultry product at normal grading speeds.
Poultry means any kind of domesticated bird, including, but not being limited to, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, pigeons, and guineas.
Poultry food product means any article of human food or any article intended for or capable of being so used, which is prepared or derived in whole or in substantial part, from any edible part or parts of poultry.
Poultry product means any ready-to-cook poultry carcass or part therefrom or any specified poultry food product.
Poultry grading service means the personnel who are actively engaged in the administration, application, and direction of poultry and rabbit grading programs and services pursuant to the regulations in this part.
Rabbit means any domesticated rabbit whether live or dead.
Rabbit product means any ready-to-cook rabbit carcass or part therefrom.
Ready-to-cook poultry means any slaughtered poultry free from protruding feathers, vestigial feathers (hair or down as the case may be) and from which the head, feet, crop, oil gland, trachea, esophagus, entrails, mature reproductive organs, and lungs have been removed, and the kidneys have been removed from certain mature poultry as defined in 9 CFR part 381, and with or without the giblets, and which is suitable for cooking without need of further processing. Ready-to-cook poultry also means any cut-up or disjointed portion of poultry or other parts of poultry as defined in 9 CFR part 381 that are suitable for cooking without need of further processing.
Ready-to-cook rabbit means any rabbit which has been slaughtered for human food, from which the head, blood, skin, feet, and inedible viscera have been removed, that is ready to cook without need of further processing. Ready-to-cook rabbit also means any cut-up or disjointed portion of rabbit or any edible part thereof.
Regional director means any employee of the Department in charge of poultry grading service in a designated geographical area.
Regulations means the provisions of this entire part and such United States classes, standards, and grades for products as may be in effect at the time grading is performed.
Secretary means the Secretary of the Department, or any other officer or employee of the Department to whom there has heretofore been delegated, or to whom there may hereafter be delegated, the authority to act in the Secretary's stead.
Slight discolorations on poultry skin or flesh are areas of discoloration that are generally pinkish in color and do not detract from the appearance of the carcass, part, or poultry product.
Soundness means freedom from external evidence of any disease or condition which may render a carcass or product unfit for food.
State supervisor or Federal-State supervisor means any authorized and designated individual who is in charge of the poultry grading service in a State.
[41 FR 23681, June 11, 1976; 41 FR 24693, June 18, 1976. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, as amended at 43 FR 60138, Dec. 26, 1978. Redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981, as amended at 47 FR 46071, Oct. 15, 1982; 47 FR 54421, Dec. 3, 1982; 51 FR 17280, May 9, 1986; 60 FR 6639, Feb. 2, 1995; 63 FR 40628, July 30, 1998; 71 FR 42011, July 24, 2006; 72 FR 11775, Mar. 14, 2007; 84 FR 49643, Sept. 23, 2019]
Subsection 203(h) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended by Pub. L. 272, 84th Congress, provides criminal penalties for various specified offenses relating to official certificates, memoranda, marks, or other identification and devices for making such marks or identifications, issued or authorized under section 203 of said Act, and certain misrepresentations concerning the grading of agricultural products under said section. For the purposes of said subsection and the provisions in this part, the terms listed in this section shall have the respective meaning specified:
(c) Official mark means the grade-mark and any other mark, or any variations in such marks, approved by the Administrator and authorized to be affixed to any product or affixed to or printed on the packaging material of any product, stating that the product was graded or indicating the appropriate U.S. grade or condition of the product, or for maintaining the identity of products graded under this part, including but not limited to, those marks set forth in §70.51.
(d) Official identification means any United States (U.S.) standard designation of class, grade, quality, size, quantity, or condition specified in this part or any symbol, stamp, label, or seal indicating that the product has been officially graded and/or indicating the class, grade, quality, size, quantity, or condition of the product approved by the Administrator and authorized to be affixed to any product, or affixed to or printed on the packaging material of any product.
(e) Official device means a stamping 0, branding device, stencil, printed label, or any other mechanically or manually operated tool that is approved by the Administrator for the purpose of applying any official mark or other identification to any product or the packaging material thereof.
[41 FR 23681, June 11, 1976. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981, as amended at 71 FR 42011, July 24, 2006]
The Administrator shall perform, for and under the supervision of the Secretary, such duties as the Secretary may require in the enforcement or administration of the provisions of the Act and the regulations in this part. The Administrator is authorized to waive for limited periods any particular provisions of the regulations in this part to permit experimentation so that new procedures, equipment, grading, and processing techniques may be tested to facilitate definite improvements and at the same time to determine full compliance with the spirit and intent of the regulations in this part. The AMS and its officers and employees shall not be liable in damages through acts of commission or omission in the administration of this part.
The regulations in this part provide for the following kinds of service; and any one or more of the different services applicable to official plants may be rendered in an official plant:
(a) Grading of ready-to-cook poultry and rabbits in an official plant or at other locations with adequate facilities.
(b) Grading of specified poultry food products in official plants.
[41 FR 23681, June 11, 1976. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981, as amended at 72 FR 11775, Mar. 14, 2007]
[71 FR 42012, July 24, 2006]
1-4 All.
5-50 4.
51-100 5.
101-200 6.
201-400 7.
401-600 8.
For each additional 100 containers, or fraction thereof, in excess of 600 containers Include one additional container.
All grading service shall be subject to supervision at all times by the responsible State supervisor, regional director, and national supervisor. Such service shall be rendered in accordance with instructions issued by the Administrator where the facilities and conditions are satisfactory for the conduct of the service and the requisite graders are available. Whenever the supervisor of a grader has evidence that such grader incorrectly graded a product, such supervisor shall take such action as is necessary to correct the grading and to cause any improper grademarks which appear on the product or containers thereof to be corrected prior to shipment of the product from the place of initial grading.
(b) Only when ready-to-cook poultry carcasses, parts, poultry food products, including those used in preparing raw poultry food products, have been graded on an individual basis by a grader or by an authorized person pursuant to §70.20(c) and thereafter checkgraded by a grader, and when poultry food products have been prepared under the supervision of a grader, when necessary the individual container, carcass, part, or poultry food product be identified with the appropriate official letter grademark. Checkgrading shall be accomplished in accordance with a statistical sampling plan prescribed by the Administrator. Grading with respect to quality factors for freezing defects and appearance of the finished products, when necessary, shall be done on a sample basis in accordance with a plan prescribed by the Administrator.
(c) Only when ready-to-cook rabbit carcasses or parts have been graded on an individual basis by a grader or by an authorized person pursuant to §70.20(c) and thereafter checkgraded by a grader, may the container or the individual carcass or part be identified with the appropriate official letter grademark. Checkgrading shall be accomplished in accordance with a statistical sampling plan prescribed by the Administrator. Grading with respect to quality factors for freezing defects and appearance of the finished products may be done on a sample basis in accordance with a plan prescribed by the Administrator.
Squabs and domesticated game birds (including, but not being limited to, quail, pheasants, and wild species of ducks and geese raised in captivity) may be graded under the regulations in this part, only if they have been inspected and passed by the poultry inspection service of the Department or have been inspected by any other official inspection system acceptable to the Department.
[41 FR 23681, June 11, 1976. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981, as amended at 71 FR 42012, July 24, 2006]
Each product for which grading service is requested shall be so placed as to disclose fully its class, quality, quantity, and condition as the circumstances may warrant.
Grading operation schedules for services performed pursuant to §§70.76 and 70.77 shall be requested in writing and be approved by the Administrator. Normal operating schedules for a full week consist of a continuous 8-hour period per day (excluding not to exceed 1 hour for lunch), 5 consecutive days per week, within the administrative workweek, Sunday through Saturday, for each shift required. Less than 8-hour schedules may be requested and will be approved if a grader is available. Clock hours of daily operations need not be specified in the request, although as a condition of continued approval, the hours of operation shall be reasonably uniform from day to day. Graders are to be notified by management 1 day in advance of any change in the hours grading service is requested.
(a) Any person who is a Federal or State employee, the employee of a local jurisdiction, or the employee of a cooperating agency possessing proper qualifications as determined by an examination for competency and who is to perform grading service under this part may be licensed by the Secretary as a grader.
(b) All licenses issued by the Secretary shall be countersigned by the officer in charge of the poultry grading service of the AMS or any other designated officer of such Service.
(c) Any person who is employed by any official plant and possesses proper qualifications as determined by the Administrator may be authorized to grade poultry and/or rabbits on the basis of the U.S. classes, standards, and grades under the supervision of a grader. No person to whom such authorization is granted shall have authority to issue any grading certificates, grading memoranda, or other official documents; and all products graded by any such person shall thereafter be check graded by a grader.
Pending final action by the Secretary, any person authorized to countersign a license to perform grading service may, whenever such action is deemed necessary to assure that any grading services are properly performed, suspend any license to perform grading service issued pursuant to this part, by giving notice of such suspension to the respective licensee, accompanied by a statement of the reasons therefor. Within 7 days after the receipt of the aforesaid notice and statement of reasons, the licensee may file an appeal in writing, with the Secretary, supported by any argument or evidence that the licensee may wish to offer as to why the license should not be further suspended or revoked. After the expiration of the aforesaid 7-day period and consideration of such argument and evidence, the Secretary will take such action as deemed appropriate with respect to such suspension or revocation. When no appeal is filed within the prescribed 7 days, the license to perform grading service is revoked.
[71 FR 42013, July 24, 2006]
An application for grading service may be made by any interested person, including, but not being limited to any authorized agent of the United States, 3any State, county, municipality, or common carrier.
[71 FR 42013, July 24, 2006. Redesignated at 84 FR 49643, Sept. 23, 2019]
(a) Application. (1) Any person may apply for service with respect to products in which he or she has a financial interest by completing the required application for service. In any case in which the service is intended to be furnished at an establishment not operated by the applicant, the application must be approved by the operator of such establishment and such approval constitutes an authorization for any employee of the Department to enter the establishment for the purpose of performing his or her functions under the regulations in this part. The application shall include:
[84 FR 49643, Sept. 23, 2019]
[41 FR 23681, June 11, 1976, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981, and further redesignated at 84 FR 49643, Sept. 23, 2019]
Proof of the authority of any person applying for grading service may be required at the discretion of the Administrator.
Any person desiring to process and pack products in a plant under grading service must receive approval of such plant and facilities as an official plant prior to the rendition of such service. An application for grading service to be rendered in an official plant shall be approved according to the following procedure: Survey. When application has been filed for grading service, as aforesaid, the State supervisor or the supervisor's assistant shall examine the grading office, facilities, and equipment and specify any additional facilities or equipment needed for the service. When the plant survey for poultry or rabbit grading has been completed and approved in accordance with the regulations in this part, service may be installed.
[41 FR 23681, June 11, 1976. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981, as amended at 71 FR 42013, July 24, 2006. Further redesignated at 84 FR 49643, Sept. 23, 2019]
(5) Whenever the applicant, after an initial survey has been made in accordance with §70.34, fails to bring the grading facilities and equipment into compliance with the regulations within a reasonable period of time; or
[71 FR 42013, July 24, 2006. Redesignated as 84 FR 49643, Sept. 23, 2019]
Grading service shall be performed, insofar as practicable and subject to the availability of qualified graders, in the order in which applications therefor are made, except that precedence may be given to any application for an appeal grading.
(a) Noncontinuous grading service. Service is performed on an unscheduled basis, with no scheduled tour of duty, and when an applicant requests grading of a particular lot of poultry or rabbit product. Charges or fees are based on the time, travel, and expenses needed to perform the work. This service may be referred to as unscheduled grading service. Poultry and rabbit products graded under unscheduled grading service are not eligible to be identified with the official grademarks shown in §70.51.
(b) Continuous grading service on a scheduled basis. Service on a scheduled basis has a scheduled tour of duty and is performed when an applicant requests that a USDA licensed grader be stationed in the applicant's plant or warehouse and grade poultry and rabbit products in accordance with U.S. Standards. The applicant agrees to comply with the facility, operating, and sanitary requirements of scheduled service. Minimum fees for service performed under a scheduled agreement shall be based on the hours of the regular tour of duty. Poultry and rabbit products graded under scheduled grading service are eligible to be identified with the official grademarks shown in §70.51 only when processed and graded under the supervision of a grader.
(a) Any plant approval given pursuant to the regulations in this part may be suspended by the Administrator for (1) failure to maintain grading facilities and equipment in a satisfactory state of repair, sanitation, or cleanliness; (2) the use of operating procedures which are not in accordance with the regulations in this part; or (3) alterations of grading facilities or equipment which have not been approved in accordance with the regulations in this part.
(b) Whenever it is feasible to do so, written notice in advance of a suspension shall be given to the person concerned and shall specify a reasonable period of time in which corrective action must be taken. If advance written notice is not given, the suspension action shall be promptly confirmed in writing and the reasons therefor shall be stated, except in instances where the person has already corrected the deficiency. Such service, after appropriate corrective action is taken, will be restored immediately, or as soon thereafter as a grader can be made available. During such period of suspension, grading service shall not be rendered. However, the other provisions of the regulations pertaining to providing service on a resident basis will remain in effect unless such service is terminated in accordance with the provisions of this part.
(d) In any case where grading service is withdrawn under this §70.38, the person concerned may thereafter apply for grading service as provided in §§70.30 through 70.37 of these regulations.
[41 FR 23681, June 11, 1976. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, as amended at 43 FR 60139, Dec. 26, 1978. Redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981, as amended at 71 FR 42013, July 24, 2006]
The acts or practices set forth in §§70.41 through 70.46, or the causing thereof, may be deemed sufficient cause for the debarment by the Administrator of any person, including any agents, officers, subsidiaries, or affiliates of such person, from all benefits of the act for a specified period. The Rules of Practice Governing Formal Adjudicatory Proceedings (7 CFR part 1, subpart H) shall be applicable to such debarment action.
(a) The making or filing of any application for any grading service, appeal or regrading service;
(c) The making, issuing, or using, or attempting to issue or use any grading certificate, symbol, stamp, label, seal, or identification, authorized pursuant to the regulations in this part;
[41 FR 23681, June 11, 1976; 41 FR 24693, June 18, 1976. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981, as amended at 71 FR 42014, July 24, 2006]
Using or attempting to use a form which simulates in whole or in part any certificate, symbol, stamp, label, seal, or identification authorized to be issued or used under the regulations in this part.
Any interference with or obstruction or any attempted interference or obstruction of, or assault upon any grader, licensee, or employee of the Service in the performance of such employee's duties. The giving or offering, directly or indirectly, of any money, loan, gift, or anything of value to an employee of the Service, or the making or offering of any contribution to or in any way supplementing the salary, compensation, or expenses of an employee of the Service, or the offering or entering into a private contract or agreement with an employee of the Service for any services to be rendered while employed by the Service.
The use of the terms “Government Graded” and “Federal-State Graded” or terms of similar import in the labeling or advertising of any product without stating in the labeling or advertisement the U.S. grade of the product as determined by an authorized grader.
The existence of any of the conditions set forth in §70.35 constituting a basis for the rejection of an application for grading service.
Any label or packaging material which bears any official grade identification shall be used only in such a manner as the Administrator may prescribe, and such labeling or packaging materials, including the wording used on such materials, shall be approved in accordance with and conform with the provisions of this part 70 and the applicable provisions of §§381.115 through 381.141 of 9 CFR part 381. Poultry Products Inspection Regulations. Labeling requirements for ready-to-cook rabbits, except for the product name, shall be the same as for ready-to-cook poultry. For ready-to-cook rabbits the class name shall be shown on the label. The appropriate designation, “young,” “mature,” or “old,” may be used as a prefix to the word “rabbit” in lieu of the class name.
[41 FR 23681, June 11, 1976; 41 FR 24694, June 18, 1976. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981]
(a) Form of official identification symbol and grademark. (1) The shield set forth in Figure 1 of this section shall be the official identification symbol for purposes of this part and when used, imitated, or simulated in any manner in connection with poultry or rabbits, shall be deemed prima facia to constitute a representation that the product has been officially graded for the purposes of §70.2.
(2) Except as otherwise authorized, the grademark permitted to be used to officially identify USDA consumer-graded poultry and rabbit products shall be of the form and design indicated in Figures 2 through 4 of this section. The shield shall be of sufficient size so that the printing and other information contained therein is legible and in approximately the same proportion as shown in these figures.
(3) The “Prepared From” grademark in Figure 5 of this section may be used to identify specialized poultry products for which there are no official U.S. grade standards, provided that these products are approved by the Agency and are prepared from U.S. Consumer Grade A poultry carcasses, parts, or other products that comply with the requirements of AMS §70.220. All poultry products shall be processed and labeled in accordance with 9 CFR part 381.
(2) Except as otherwise authorized, the bands of the shield in Figure 4 of this section shall be displayed in three colors, with the color of the top, middle, and bottom bands being blue, white, and red, respectively.
(3) The “Prepared From” grademark in Figure 5 of this section may be any one of the designs shown in Figures 2 through 4 of this section. The text outside the shield shall be conspicuous, legible, and in approximately the same proportion and close proximity to the shield as shown in Figure 5 of this section.
(c) Products that may be individually grademarked. The grademarks set forth in Figures 2 through 4 of this section may be applied individually to ready-to-cook poultry, rabbits, and specified poultry food products for which consumer grades are provided in the U.S. Classes, Standards, and Grades for Poultry and Rabbits, AMS 70.200 and 70.300 et seq., respectively, or to the containers in which such products are enclosed for the purpose of display and sale to household consumers, only when such products qualify for the particular grade indicated in accordance with the consumer grades.
[63 FR 40628, July 30, 1998]
The official identification of any graded product as provided in §§70.50 and 70.51 shall be done only under the supervision of a grader. The grader shall have supervision over the use and handling of all material bearing any official identification.
A grader may use retention tags or other devices and methods as approved by the Administrator for the identification and control of poultry or rabbit products which are not in compliance with the regulations or are held for further examination. Any such item shall not be released until in compliance with the regulations and retention identification shall not be removed by anyone other than a grader.
Officially identified poultry or rabbit products may be subject to final check grading prior to their shipment. Such product found not to be in compliance with the assigned official grade shall be placed under a retention tag until it is regraded to comply with the grade assigned or until the official identification is removed.
(a) Poultry and rabbit products to be identified with the grademarks illustrated in §70.51 must be individually graded by a grader or by authorized personnel pursuant to §70.20 and thereafter checkgraded by a grader.
[71 FR 42014, July 24, 2006]
[47 FR 46071, Oct. 15, 1982; 47 FR 54421, Dec. 3, 1982]
(a) Fees and charges for any grading service shall be paid by the interested party making the application for such grading service, in accordance with the applicable provisions of this section and §§70.71 through 70.78, inclusive.
(c) Fees and charges for any grading under a cooperative agreement with any State or person shall be paid in accordance with the terms of such cooperative agreement.
[41 FR 23681, June 11, 1976; 41 FR 24693, June 18, 1976. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981, as amended at 71 FR 42014, July 24, 2006; 84 FR 49644, Sept. 23, 2019]
[79 FR 67324, Nov. 13, 2014, as amended at 84 FR 49644, Sept. 23, 2019]
The costs of an appeal grading or review of a grader's decision, shall be borne by the appellant on an unscheduled basis at rates set forth in §70.71, plus any travel and additional expenses. If the appeal grading or review of a grader's decision discloses that a material error was made in the original determination, no fee or expenses will be charged.
[84 FR 49644, Sept. 23, 2019]
[42 FR 2971, Jan. 14, 1977. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, as amended at 46 FR 9, Jan. 2, 1981. Redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981, as amended at 71 FR 42014, July 24, 2006]
Fees to be charged and collected for any grading service, other than for an appeal grading, on a scheduled grading basis, will be determined based on the formulas in this part. The fees to be charged for any appeal grading will be as provided in §70.71.
(1) When a signed application for service has been received, the State supervisor or his designee will complete a plant survey pursuant to §70.34. The costs for completing the plant survey will be borne by the applicant on an unscheduled basis as described in §70.71. No charges will be assessed when the application is required because of a change in name or ownership. If service is not installed within 6 months from the date the application is filed, or if service is inactive due to an approved request for removal of a grader or graders for a period of 6 months, the application will be considered terminated. A new application may be filed at any time. In addition, there will be a charge of $300 if the application is terminated at the request of the applicant for reasons other than for a change in location within 12 months from the date of the inauguration of service.
(2) Charges for the cost of each grader assigned to a plant will be calculated as described in §70.71. Minimum fees for service performed under a scheduled agreement will be based on the hours of the regular tour of duty. The Agency reserves the right to use any grader assigned to the plant under a scheduled agreement to perform service for other applicants and no charge will be assessed to the scheduled applicant for the number of hours charged to the other applicant. Charges to plants are as follows:
(vi) For all hours of work performed in a plant without an approved tour of duty, the charge will be one of the applicable hourly rates in §70.71 plus actual travel expenses incurred by AMS.
(3) A charge at the hourly rates specified in §70.71, plus actual travel expenses incurred by AMS for intermediate surveys to firms without grading service in effect.
(ii) Thirty (30) days' written notice by either the applicant or AMS specifying the date of suspension, withdrawal, or termination;
(iv) Action taken by AMS pursuant to the provisions of §70.38 through §70.40.
[41 FR 23681, June 11, 1976]
Editorial Note: For Federal Register citations affecting §70.77, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.
Fees or charges to be made to an applicant for any grading service which differ from those listed in §§70.70 through 70.77, shall be provided for by a cooperative agreement.
The original and a copy of each grading certificate, issued pursuant to §§70.90 through 70.93, and not to exceed two additional copies thereof if requested by the applicant prior to issuance shall, immediately upon issuance, be delivered or mailed to the applicant or the applicant's designee. Other copies shall be filed and retained in accordance with the disposition schedule for grading program records.
An appeal grading may be requested by any interested party who is dissatisfied with the determination by a grader of the class, quality, quantity, or condition of any product as evidenced by the USDA grademark and accompanying label, or as stated on a grading certificate, and a review may be requested by the operator of an official plant with respect to a grader's decision on any other matter relating to grading in an official plant.
(a) Appeal from resident grader's grading or decision in an official plant. Any interested party who is not satisfied with the determination of the class, quality, quantity, or condition of product which was graded by a grader in an official plant and has not left such plant, and the operator of any official plant who is not satisfied with a decision made by a grader or any other matter relating to grading in such plant, may request an appeal grading or review of the decision by filing such request with the grader's immediate supervisor.
(b) All other appeal requests. Any interested party who is not satisfied with the determination of the class, quality, quantity, or condition of product which has left the official plant where it was graded, or which was graded other than in an official plant, may request an appeal grading by filing such request with the regional director in the area where the product is located or with the Chief of the Grading Branch.
Any request for an appeal grading or review of a grader's decision may be made orally or in writing. If made orally, written confirmation may be required. The applicant shall clearly state the reasons for requesting the appeal service, and a description of the product or the decision which is questioned. If such appeal request is based on the results stated on an official certificate, the original and all available copies of the certificate shall be returned to the appeal grader assigned to make the appeal grading.
When it appears to the official with whom an appeal request is filed that the reasons given in the request for an appeal grading are frivolous or not substantial, or that the quality or condition of the product has undergone a material change since the original grading, or that the original lot has changed in some manner, or the Act or the regulations in this part have not been complied with, the applicant's request for the appeal grading may be refused. In such case, the applicant shall be promptly notified of the reason(s) for such refusal.
(a) An appeal grading or review of a decision requested under §70.101(a) shall be made by the grader's immediate supervisor or by one or more licensed graders assigned by the immediate supervisor.
(b) Appeal gradings requested under §70.101(b) shall be performed by a grader other than the grader who originally graded the product.
(c) Whenever practical, an appeal grading shall be conducted jointly by two graders. The assignment of the grader(s) who will make the appeal grading requested under §70.101(b) shall be made by the regional director or the Chief of the Grading Branch.
(b) When the original samples are not available or have been altered, such as the removal of undergrades, the appeal sample size for the lot shall consist of double the samples required in §70.80.
(c) Poultry or rabbits in an unfrozen state must be adequately protected and kept in good condition until the appeal grading is performed.
(d) Overwraps on frozen poultry or rabbits shall be removed from all birds or rabbits in the sample prior to appeal grading for quality or to determine the class.
(e) When the appeal is based on grading or class determination factors, each frozen carcass shall be defrosted prior to conducting the appeal grading. Whether defrosting poultry or rabbit carcasses for other types of appeals will be required by the appeal grader, will depend upon the reason for the appeal.
(a) The requirements for sanitation, facilities, and operating procedures in official plants shall be the applicable provisions stated in 9 CFR part 381 for poultry, and for rabbits the requirements shall be the applicable provisions stated in 9 CFR part 354.
(b) With respect to grading services, there shall be a minimum of 100-foot candles of light intensity at grading stations; and acceptable means, when necessary, of maintaining control and identity of products segregated for quality, class, condition, weight, lot, or any other factor which may be used to distinguish one type of product from another.
[41 FR 23681, June 11, 1976. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981, as amended at 51 FR 17281, May 9, 1986; 63 FR 40630, July 30, 1998]