Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 11/29/10

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service announced its intent to establish a Wholesale Pork Reporting Negotiated Rulemaking Committee.

The Committee will be charged with developing proposed language to amend the Livestock Mandatory Reporting regulations to implement mandatory pork price reporting. The proposed language developed by the committee will be published as a proposed rule in the Federal Register.

On Sept. 28, 2010, the Mandatory Price Reporting Act of 2010 reauthorized Livestock Mandatory Reporting for five years and added a provision for mandatory reporting of wholesale pork cuts. The act directs the Secretary of Agriculture to engage in negotiated rulemaking to make required regulatory changes for mandatory wholesale pork reporting.

As directed by law, the committee will be composed of representatives from organizations representing swine producers; organizations representing packers of pork, processors of pork, retailers of pork and buyers of wholesale pork; USDA; and interested parties that participate in swine or pork production.
AMS has identified organizations that it believes represent the interests of those affected by mandatory price reporting. However, if an organization believes that its interests will not be adequately represented by the proposed members, it may submit a nomination for consideration.

The announcement was published in the Nov. 24 Federal Register. Written comments and requests for membership must be received on or before Dec. 27. Comments may be submitted electronically at www.regulations.gov. Comments should reference docket number AMS-LS-10-0080 and note the date and page number of this issue of the Federal Register.

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