Source: Michael Fielding, MEATINGPLACE, 9/1/16

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has issued a proposed rule that would amend the Beef Promotion and Research Order established under the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985.

The rule would add six Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) numbers and categories that identify imported veal to conform with updates in the numbers and categories used by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Approximately 270 companies import beef and veal products into the United States and about 198 companies import live cattle. The majority of those operations subject to the order are considered small businesses under the criteria established by the Small Business Administration, which defines small agricultural service firms as those having annual receipts of $7.5 million or less.

Although the addition of HTS codes reflects an increase of imported veal and veal products into the country, the proposed rule “will impose no significant burden on the industry,” AMS wrote in the Federal Register.

The proposed rule explains how the calculations for the new assessment rates were calculated.
AMS is accepting public comments regarding the proposed rule through Oct. 24, 2016.

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