Change in Minimum Quality and Handling Standards for Domestic and Imported Peanuts Marketed in the United States

This rule changes peanut quality and handling standards for domestic and imported peanuts marketed in the United States. These changes are based on comments received from the Peanut Standards Board (Board) and other industry sources. The standards and the Board were established by the Department of Agriculture (USDA), pursuant to section 1308 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. This rule changes screen sizes specified in the outgoing quality standards to allow smaller peanut kernels of all varieties to be used in edible markets; specifies in the text of the regulations that financially interested persons may appeal quality inspection results and that "holders of the title" to any lot of peanuts may appeal aflatoxin test results; allows peanut lots which meet minimum damage and minor defect standards prior to blanching, but fail for some other reason, to be exempt from damage and minor defect standards upon re- inspection after blanching; and increases to 10 percent the quantity of sound whole kernels that may be contained in lots of splits for specified peanut varieties. These changes are intended to maximize handling efficiency and to provide the producers, handlers, and importers with flexibility to meet current and new market demands, while maintaining peanut quality and wholesomeness for consumers.