AMS No. 291-02

Kathryn Mattingly (202) 720-8998

kathryn.mattingly@usda.gov

Billy Cox (202) 720-8998

billy.cox@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30, 2002 –– The U.S. Department of Agriculture is soliciting comments on proposed minimum standards for livestock and meat industry production/marketing claims. These standards, when adopted, will become the U.S. Standards for Livestock and Meat Marketing Claims.

Increasingly, livestock and meat producers are using production and/or processing claims to distinguish their products in the marketplace. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, through its voluntary certification and/or audit programs, verifies the accuracy of these claims. The proposed standards will establish the minimum requirements for those livestock and meat producers who choose to operate a USDA certified or verified program involving marketing claims.

Notice of the opportunity to submit comments will be published in the Dec. 30, 2002, Federal Register.

Comments may be submitted to Chief, Standardization Branch, AMS Livestock and Seed Program, USDA Stop 0254, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-0254; telephone (202) 720-4486; fax (202) 720-1112; or e-mail marketingclaim@usda.gov. Comments must be submitted on or before March 31, 2003.

All comments received will be made available for public inspection at the above address during regular business hours, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., or at www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/stand/claim.htm. These proposed U.S. Standards for Livestock and Meat Marketing Claims are available through the above addresses or by accessing www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/stand/st-pubs.htm.