Olives Grown in California and Imported Olives; Revisions of Outgoing Inspection Requirements and Size Requirements for Whole Pitted Olives

Samenvatting

The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting as a final rule, with changes, the provisions of an interim final rule amending outgoing inspection regulations under the California olive marketing order to authorize handlers to use in-plant Quality Assurance Programs (QAPs) in lieu of continuous in-line inspection. This rule also permits handlers to size whole pitted olives by diameter as an alternative to the requirement that such olives be sized by weight prior to pitting. Conforming changes are made to the size requirements for imported whole pitted olives so that the requirements for domestic and imported olives are applied similarly. The changes in the California olive requirements are designed to result in more efficient handling operations. The changes in import requirements are necessary under section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937.