Country of Origin Marking Requirements for Frozen Imported Produce

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

19 CFR Part 134

RIN 1515-AB61

Country of Origin Marking Requirements for Frozen Imported

Produce

AGENCY: Customs Service, Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; additional comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document provides interested members of the public an

additional 60 days to submit written comments on a proposal to amend

the Customs Regulations regarding the country of origin marking of

imported frozen produce. The proposed amendment would revise the

regulations to mandate front panel marking of imported frozen produce.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 17, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments (preferably in triplicate) may be addressed

to the Regulations Branch, Office of Regulations and Rulings, U.S.

Customs Service, Franklin Court, 1301 Constitution Ave., N.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20229. Comments submitted may be inspected at the

Regulations Branch, Office of Regulations and Rulings, U.S. Customs

Service, Franklin Court, 1099 14th Street, N.W., Suite 4000,

Washington, D.C.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Cohen, Special Classification

and Marking Branch, Office of Regulations and Rulings (202-482-6980).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On July 23, 1996, Customs published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

(61 FR 38119) soliciting comments on a proposal to require that the

country of origin of frozen imported produce be marked on the front

panel of their retail packages to comply with the statutory requirement

that the country of origin marking be in a ``conspicuous place.'' On

September 23, 1996, the comment period closed.

Subsequent to the close of the comment period, Customs received a

large number of additional comments and other correspondence concerning

this matter. In order to afford Customs an appropriate opportunity to

consider the points raised in those comments and other correspondence

received outside the prescribed comment period, and in order to provide

an additional opportunity for the general public to submit comments on

this matter which continues to engender significant interest, Customs

has decided to reopen this matter for public comment for 60 more days.

In order to ensure consideration of the most complete record possible,

Customs will, after the close of the new public comment period, give

consideration to all comments and other correspondence already received

during or after the original comment period as well as all comments

received during the new public comment period herein. Accordingly,

there is no need to re-submit copies of any comments previously

submitted to Customs with respect to this proposed rulemaking.

Dated: August 12, 1997.

George J. Weise,

Commissioner of Customs.

[FR Doc. 97-21742 Filed 8-15-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4820-02-P