[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 50527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21843]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 9, 2018 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 50527]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Parts 56, 62, and 70
[Docket No. AMS-LPS-15-0057]
Amendments to Quality Systems Verification Programs and
Conforming Changes; Withdrawal
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of withdrawal.
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SUMMARY: This action informs the public that the Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) is withdrawing a proposed rule published in the Federal
Register on November 7, 2016, that proposed to amend Quality Systems
Verification Program (QSVP) regulations. Upon further review, the
agency has decided to clarify that all voluntary, user-fee services
under this part are applicable to all commodities covered by the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (Act), as amended. Accordingly, a
proposed rule covering all audit-based services is forthcoming from the
agency.
DATES: The proposed rule published November 7, 2016, at 81 FR 78057, is
withdrawn as of October 9, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Waite, Branch Chief, Auditing
Services Branch, Quality Assessment Division; Livestock and Poultry
Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture; Room 3932-S, STOP 0258, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20250-0258; telephone (202) 720-4411; or email to
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Act directs and authorizes the Secretary
of Agriculture to facilitate the competitive and efficient marketing of
agricultural products and provides that rulemaking be undertaken as
necessary to effectuate its purpose. Under the authority of the Act,
AMS programs support a strategic marketing perspective that adapts
product and marketing decisions to consumer demands, changing domestic
and international marketing practices, and new technology. To assist in
marketing, AMS developed the QSVP, a suite of audit-based programs that
can provide confidence that process points meet specified requirements.
This action informs the public of the withdrawal of the proposed
rule published in the Federal Register (81 FR 78057) on November 7,
2016. The proposed rule would have amended 7 CFR part 62, QSVP to
expand the commodities under QSVP to include those authorized under the
Act; would have amended the title of the regulation to remove the
reference to ``Livestock, Meat, and Other Commodities''; would have
defined the types of programs and services offered under QSVP; and
would have updated administrative items to reflect current terminology
and organizational structure. Additionally, the proposed rule would
have amended 7 CFR parts 56 and 70, which provide for services to the
shell egg and poultry industries, respectively, to remove any
references to audit and verification activities and update
administrative items to reflect current organizational structure. The
proposed rule provided a 60-day public comment period during which no
comments were received.
Upon further review, AMS decided to clarify that all voluntary,
user-fee services under 7 CFR part 62 are applicable to all commodities
covered by the Act. AMS also plans to harmonize administrative
procedures governing these services. A new proposed rule to amend 7 CFR
part 62 to that effect is forthcoming from the agency. Therefore, for
the reasons set forth above, AMS announces that it is withdrawing the
proposed rule published in the Federal Register (81 FR 78057) on
November 7, 2016.
Dated: October 3, 2018.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-21843 Filed 10-5-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P