Country of Origin Marking for Packaged Frozen Produce; Suspension of Date for Compliance

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

19 CFR Part 175

[T.D. 94-5]

Country of Origin Marking for Packaged Frozen Produce; Suspension

of Date for Compliance

AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of suspension of compliance date.

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SUMMARY: This document gives notice that Customs is suspending the

compliance date for T.D. 94-5, which was published in the Federal

Register (58 FR 68743) on December 29, 1993. T.D. 94-5 was a final

interpretive rule concerning the country of origin marking requirements

for retail packages containing imported frozen produce. As numerous

companies and trade organizations have objected that the compliance

date set forth in that document is impracticable, Customs is suspending

the compliance date, pending a determination based on comments received

in response to another document published in today's Federal Register.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This suspension of the May 8, 1994 compliance date for

T.D. 94-5 is effective March 29, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Cascardo, Value and Marking

Branch, Office of Regulations and Rulings, U.S. Customs Service, (202)

482-7010.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On December 29, 1993, pursuant to section 516 of the Tariff Act of

1930, as amended, Customs issued T.D. 94-5, a Decision and Final

Interpretive Rule concerning the country of origin marking requirements

for retail packages containing imported frozen produce. 58 FR 68743

(December 29, 1993). In T.D. 94-5, Customs reversed a previous

determination and ruled that country of origin marking must appear on

the front panel of such packages in specified type face and size. The

legally effective date of the determination was February 11, 1994.

However, parties adversely affected by the final interpretive rule were

allowed until May 8, 1994, to bring their imported frozen packaging

into compliance.

Numerous individual companies and several trade organizations

objected that even this extended date for compliance is impracticable,

and have requested suspension of the May 8, 1994, compliance date.

In accordance with these requests, Customs is suspending the May 8,

1994, effective date for parties adversely affected by compliance

obligations under T.D. 94-5. In a companion document to be published

today in the Federal Register, Customs is giving public notice of its

intention to adopt a new compliance date of January 1, 1995. Public

comment is being requested on both the date for compliance with the

requirement to place country of origin marking on the front panels of

produce packaging, and on the specifications regarding type size and

style set forth in T.D. 94-5.

Authority

This notice is published in accordance with 19 U.S.C. 1516 and

parts 134 and 175, Customs Regulations (19 CFR part 134; 19 CFR part

175).

Drafting Information

The principal drafter of this document was Robert Cascardo, Value

and Marking Branch, U.S. Customs Service. Personnel from other Customs

offices participated in its development.

Samuel H. Banks,

Acting Commissioner of Customs.

Approved: March 21, 1994.

John P. Simpson.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.

[FR Doc. 94-7396 Filed 3-24-94; 4:33 pm]

BILLING CODE 4820-02-P