The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the final rule revising the Minimum Quality and Handling Standards for Domestic and Imported Peanuts Marketed in the United States.
The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 requires USDA to ensure mandatory inspection of all peanuts marketed in the United States. USDA accomplishes this by implementing peanut quality and handling requirements in consultation with the Peanut Standards Board. The Board consists of 18 peanut growers and industry representatives appointed by the Secretary and advises USDA on recommended changes to the quality and handling requirements. The Board unanimously recommended the changes to the standards to keep pace with modern industry practices. USDA published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on Jan. 19, 2016 and asked for public input on the recommendation.
The Board believes these changes would make additional peanuts available for sale, increase handling and marketing efficiency, and reduce costs to the industry. The changes include: eliminating the maximum amount of foreign material incoming peanuts may contain; relaxing the amount of damage allowed under outgoing quality requirements; modifying positive lot identification requirements, record-keeping procedures and reporting requirements; and, updating language throughout the standards to reflect current industry practices.
The revision published in the Aug. 1, 2016, Federal Register, and will be effective Aug. 31, 2016.
For more information, contact Steven Kauffman, Marketing Specialist, or Christian Nissen, Regional Director, Southeast Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA; Telephone: (863) 324-3375, Fax: (863) 291-8614, or E-mail: Steven.Kauffman@ams.usda.gov or Christian.Nissen@ams.usda.gov.