Corn, canned whole kernel (whole grain); grade standards,

[Federal Register: November 8, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 215)]

[Notices]

[Page 60763-60764]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr08no99-37]

Notices Federal Register

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section.

[[Page 60763]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[FV-00-327N]

United States Standards for Grades of Canned Whole Kernel (Whole Grain) Corn

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is revising the United States Standards for Grades of Canned Whole Kernel (Whole Grain) Corn. Specifically, AMS is providing for the ``individual attributes'' procedure for product grading with sample sizes, acceptable quality levels (AQL's), tolerances and acceptance numbers (number of allowable defects); including varietal types of supersweet varieties in the grade standards; replacing dual grade nomenclature with single letter grade designations; removing the recommended minimum drained weight criteria from the grade standards and providing the criteria in the grading manual; removing the score sheet for canned whole kernel corn; and making minor editorial changes. These changes will improve the use of the standard.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 8, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen L. Kaufman, Processed Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 0247, P.O. Box 96456; Washington, D.C. 20090-6456; fax (202) 690-1087; or e-mail Karen.Kaufman@usda.gov. The current United States Standards for Grades of Canned Whole Kernel (Whole Grain) Corn, along with the changes, are available either through the address cited above or by accessing AMS's Home Page on the Internet at: www.ams.usda.gov/standards/vegcan.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, directs and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture ``to develop and improve standards of quality, condition, quantity, grade and packaging and recommend and demonstrate such standards in order to encourage uniformity and consistency in commercial practices * * * .'' The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is committed to carrying out this authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing of agricultural commodities and makes copies of official standards available upon request. The United States Standards for Grades of Canned Whole Kernel Corn do not appear in the Code of Federal Regulations but are maintained by USDA.

AMS received a petition from the National Food Processors Association (NFPA), requesting that the U.S. grade standards for canned whole kernel corn be revised. NFPA represents over 550 food industry companies ‹SUP›1‹/SUP›.

\1\ Source--USDA, NASS, ASB.

NFPA specifically requested that the U.S. grade standards for canned whole kernel corn, which are currently based on cumulative score points, be modified by converting the U.S. grade standards to statistically-based individual attributes grade standards, similar to the U.S. grade standards for canned green and wax beans (58 FR 4295, January 14, 1993).

In addition, NFPA requested the grade standards include other varietal types i.e., supersweet corn. These newer varieties possess flavor, tenderness, and maturity characteristics that vary somewhat from conventional corn. The proposed revision of the grade standards would include the quality characteristics for these varietal types, for example, appearance, cut, flavor and odor, tenderness and maturity, extraneous vegetable material, specified defects, seriously damaged kernels, damaged kernels and pulled kernels.

NFPA also proposed removing the recommended minimum drained weight criteria from the grade standards and relocating it in the Grading Manual for Canned Whole Kernel Corn since drained weight, as such, is not a factor of quality for the purpose of these grades.

AMS also proposed to change the standard by replacing dual grade nomenclature with single letter grade designations; removing the recommended minimum drained weight criteria from the grade standards and providing the criteria in the grading manual; removing the score sheet for canned whole kernel corn; and making minor editorial changes.

A notice proposing changes to the United States Standards for Grades of Canned Whole Kernel (Whole Grain) Corn was published in the March 4, 1999, Federal Register (63 FR 2357). AMS received three comments on the Notice, two (NFPA and Midwest Food Processors Association) in favor of their recommended changes and one (a private industry canner) against the proposed changes to the standards. NFPA and the Midwest Food Processors Association submitted very similar proposals and are in agreement with the proposed changes. The commentor that opposed believed that the proposed change, from cumulative score points, to individual attributes, would create an unfair business environment and ``that the energy and time that it would take to change the Industry to the new standards is unnecessary and does not outweigh the benefits that would be gained''.

AMS believes that revisions to the standard are needed to meet the needs of the industry and that these changes will allow for a more equitable marketing environment for all canned whole kernel corn processors.

Accordingly, based on all the information we have reviewed, AMS is changing the U.S. Standards for Grades of Canned Whole Kernel Corn by providing for the ``individual attributes'' procedure for product grading with sample sizes, acceptable quality levels (AQL's), tolerances and acceptance numbers (number of allowable defects); including varietal types of supersweet varieties in the grade standards; replacing dual grade nomenclature with single letter grade designations; removing the recommended minimum drained weight criteria from the grade standards and provide the criteria in the grading manual; removing the score sheet for canned whole kernel corn; and making minor editorial changes.

This revision becomes effective 30 days after date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register.

[[Page 60764]]

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

Dated: November 2, 1999. Robert C. Keeney, Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs.

[FR Doc. 99-29211Filed11-5-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-02-P

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