Nov 28, 2022Update to the pecan federal register and voluntary standards
USDA has published a notice for public comment regarding the extension and revision of a currently approved reporting form. In the notice, it refers to 14 forms in the OMB package. This includes two ballot forms for committee nominations, two grower and sheller nomination forms, as well as two background and acceptance statements forms for growers and shellers and public members, and a grower referendum ballot. Two Marketing Agreements are also included.
The other 5 forms included in the OMB package are the handler reporting forms; 3 monthly, 2 annual. All forms remain the same apart from a slight adjustment on the handler reporting form labeled “Pecans Received For Your Own Account – Form 1”. The change includes the removal of the line item “Inter-Handler Transfers – Received” from the shipment portion of the form. The receipts portion on part 1 of the reporting form now separates inshell first handler receipts from inter-handler transfer receipt and imports. The purpose of the update is to remove the net shipment figure and provide a true receipts and shipments out total.
Updates regarding this change have been presented at the American Pecan Council meetings as well as included in the 2022 Handler Reporting Packet. All other reporting forms will remain the same. The forms and reporting packet the American Pecan Council uses to track shipments and inventory was provided to handlers and is as follows:
- Form 1: The Summary Report/U.S. Pecans Received for Your Account (Revision as described above)
- Form 2: Pecans Purchased Outside of the United States (No changes)
- Form 3: Exports by Country of Destination (No changes)
- Form 4: Annual Agreement of Inter-Handler Transfer (No changes)
- Form 5: Year-End Inventory Report (No changes)
If you have any questions regarding the update to the Handler reporting Form 1 or any other previously approved form, please contact the Council office at (817) 916-0020.
USDA is requesting all written public comments regarding this notice by January 17, 2023. Comments must be sent to the Docket Clerk, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250–0237; Fax: (202) 720–8938; or internet: https://www.regulations.gov. Comments should reference the docket number ([Doc. No. AMS–SC–22–0047]) and the date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be available for public inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular business hours, or can be viewed at: https://www.regulations.gov. All comments submitted in response to this notice will be included in the record and will be made available to the public. Please be advised that the identity of the individuals or entities submitting the comments will be made available to the public on the internet at the address provided above.
If you have any questions regarding this update, please contact the American Pecan Council office at industry@americanpecan.com or (817) 916-0020.
Grades & Standards
As previously updated, USDA extended the public comment period for the newly proposed voluntary pecan standards for in-shell and shelled pecan through to September 7, 2022. The Federal Register notice and copies of the proposed U.S. Standards for Grades for Pecans in the Shell and U.S. Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans are posted on Regulations.gov. Copies of the current standards can be viewed on the AMS Grades and Standards Nuts webpage.
The American Pecan Council office will notify industry when there is an update regarding the pecans standards from USDA.
Please contact the Council office if you have any questions regarding the voluntary inshell and shelled pecan standards.
