# Exemptions From Import Regulations for Specified Commodities; Reopening of Comment Period on Interim Final Rules > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A94-5643 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Uncategorized Document - **Published:** March 11, 1994 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service 7 CFR Parts 944, 980 and 999 [Docket Nos. FV93-944-3IFR, FV93-980-1IFR and FV93-999-1IFR] Exemptions From Import Regulations for Specified Commodities; Reopening of Comment Period on Interim Final Rules AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Reopening of comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This rule reopens the periods for filing written comments on two interim final rules. The rules established exemptions from import requirements for various fruit, vegetable and specialty crop commodities. The rules added exemptions from grade, size, quality and maturity requirements for the commodities imported for use in certain specified outlets such as processing, livestock feed and donation to charity. The rules also implemented safeguard provisions to assure that such imports are utilized in a specified exempt outlet. The interim final rules were published in the Federal Register on December 30, 1993. A correction to the interim final rule on fruit exemptions was published on January 31, 1994. DATES: Comments must be received by April 11, 1994. ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments concerning the interim final rules. Comments must be sent in triplicate to the Docket Clerk, Marketing Order Administration Branch, F&V, AMS, USDA, room 2523-S, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456, FAX Number (202) 720-5698. Comments should reference the docket numbers, 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. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Tichenor, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, room 2536-S, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456; telephone: (202) 720-1509, or FAX (202) 720-6862. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The interim final rules were implemented in accordance with Annex 703.2(23) of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The provision states that when a domestic agricultural commodity has to meet quality requirements, and processed forms of the commodity are exempt from those requirements, the same treatment is to be provided to imports of the commodity destined for processing as provided for the domestic commodity destined for processing. The interim final rules also were issued under section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601- 674) (Act). Section 8e provides that whenever certain specified commodities are regulated under a Federal marketing order, imports of those commodities must meet the same or comparable grade, size, quality, and maturity requirements as those in effect for the domestically produced commodities. The domestic marketing agreements and orders are authorized by the Act. The interim final rules were issued on December 23, 1993, and published in the December 30, 1993, issue of the Federal Register (58 FR 69182 for fruit crops and 58 FR 69186 for vegetable and specialty crops). One interim final rule amended the following fruit crop import requirements: Sec. 944.28 for avocados, Sec. 944.106 for grapefruit, Sec. 944.209 for limes, Sec. 944.312 for oranges, Sec. 944.401 for olives, Sec. 944.503 for table grapes, Sec. 944.550 for kiwifruit, and Sec. 944.605 for Tokay grapes, and added Sec. 944.350 safeguard procedures for exempt imports of these fruit commodities. The second interim final rule amended the following vegetable crop import requirements: Sec. 980.1 for Irish potatoes, Sec. 980.117 for onions, Sec. 980.212 for tomatoes, and added Sec. 980.501 safeguard procedures for exempt imports of those vegetable crops. The second rule also amended the following specialty crop import requirements: Sec. 999.1 for dates, Sec. 999.100 for walnuts, and added Sec. 999.500 safeguard procedures for exempt imports of those specialty crops. A correction to the fruit crop exemption rule was published on January 31, 1994 (59 FR 4245). The import requirements for these commodities were amended to provide exemptions from grade, size, quality, and maturity requirements that are the same as, or similar to, the exemptions provided to handlers of the domestic commodities under the respective marketing orders. Because of the impact the rules have on affected persons and entities, the Department has determined that it is in the public interest to reopen the comment periods for the two interim final rules. Accordingly, the comment periods are reopened to April 11, 1994. List of Subjects 7 CFR Part 944 Avocados, Food grades and standards, Grapefruit, Grapes, Imports, Kiwifruit, Limes, Olives, Oranges. 7 CFR Part 980 Import regulations, Onions, Potatoes, Tomatoes. 7 CFR Part 999 Import regulations, Dates, Filberts, Prunes, Raisins, Walnuts. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674. Dated: March 7, 1994. Martha B. Ransom, Acting Deputy Director Fruit and Vegetable Division. [FR Doc. 94-5643 Filed 3-10-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-02-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A94-5643. Public record. Not legal advice.