Domestically Produced and Imported Peanuts; Change in the Maximum Percentage of Foreign Material Allowed Under Quality Requirements

The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, the provisions of an interim final rule changing the outgoing quality control requirements currently prescribed under Marketing Agreement No. 146 (Agreement). The Agreement regulates the handling of peanuts grown in 16 States and is administered locally by the Peanut Administrative Committee (Committee). This rule continues to relax the allowance for foreign material to .20 percent from .10 percent in the three ``with splits'' edible grade categories to make them consistent with the other seven edible grade categories, as unanimously recommended by the Committee. The same change continues to apply to peanuts handled by handlers who have not signed the Agreement, and to imported peanuts.