The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published a final rule that revises 7 CFR 870 which provides guidance for domestic manufacturers that consume Upland Cotton and voluntarily participate in the Economic Adjustment Assistance for Textile Mills (EAATM) Program. The revisions add definitions, codify the participant responsibilities outlined in an existing user agreement, and clarify current management practices.
The final rule is intended to strengthen management controls added to the agreement to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. The final rule was developed based on industry comments received from program participants.
The final rule announcing the revisions was published on Oct. 31, 2023, in the Federal Register. AMS invites public comment on the revisions through Jan. 2, 2024. Comments should be submitted online at www.regulations.gov. AMS will consider the comments received and may conduct additional rulemaking based on the comments.
More information about the EAATM program is available on the AMS Warehouse Services Cotton Program webpage, by email at EAATM.ELS@usda.gov, or by phone at 202-690-2434.