Export Sales Reporting Requirements

On July 25, 2001, USDA published a final rule in the Federal Register (66 FR 38526-38528) amending the Export Sales Reporting Requirements Regulation (7 CFR part 20) to add fresh, chilled, or frozen muscle cuts of beef to such regulation, effective August 24, 2001. At that time, USDA believed the current reporting system used for all other agricultural commodities covered by the regulation would require only minor modifications to accommodate beef reporting. The desired changes, however, are more extensive than originally anticipated, and USDA is not fully prepared to begin accepting and reporting export sales of beef. The delay of the effective date would provide USDA the additional time needed to modify and test its reporting system and develop detailed reporting instructions for the reporting entities. This notice advises the public the effective date of the final rule will be delayed.