{"abstract":"The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171) amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to issue country of origin labeling guidelines for voluntary use by retailers who wish to notify their customers of the country of origin of beef (including veal), lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts. The guidelines contained within this notice include definitions that can be used by retailers and their suppliers and understood by other market participants, to facilitate the voluntary labeling or identification of commodities covered by this program by their respective country of origin. These voluntary guidelines also outline what the Agency believes represents the framework of a consumer notification, product marking, and recordkeeping program that would be required to carry out this program. AMS is committed to providing the industry and consumers with a workable voluntary program that will carry out the intent of the law. Public Law 107-171 also requires the Secretary to promulgate a regulation for mandatory labeling by September 30, 2004. Development of this mandatory regulation will begin in April 2003 and will likely be based on these voluntary guidelines from the current interim period as well as related input the Agency receives. AMS encourages submissions on the utility of these voluntary guidelines during the next 180 days. The forthcoming mandatory regulation will be developed through the rulemaking process, which will include a proposal and an opportunity for public comment. Although the benefits and costs of the voluntary program are difficult to quantify, the Agency believes that retailers will choose to participate if the benefits outweigh the costs. However, as the Agency moves toward the development of the regulation that will implement the mandatory program as required by Public Law 107-171, information concerning the benefits and the estimated or actual costs of implementing a program in compliance with the voluntary guidelines will be of great benefit to the Agency.","action":"Notice.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE","name":"Agriculture Department","id":12,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/agriculture-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/12","parent_id":null,"slug":"agriculture-department"},{"raw_name":"Agricultural Marketing Service","name":"Agricultural Marketing Service","id":9,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/agricultural-marketing-service","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/9","parent_id":12,"slug":"agricultural-marketing-service"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2002/10/11/02-25734.html","cfr_references":[],"citation":"67 FR 63367","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"These voluntary guidelines are effective October 11, 2002. Submissions must be received by April 9, 2003.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket Number LS-02-13"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"02-25734","effective_on":"2002-10-11","end_page":63375,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2002/10/11/02-25734.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2002/10/11/02-25734/establishment-of-guidelines-for-the-interim-voluntary-country-of-origin-labeling-of-beef-lamb-pork","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/02-25734?publication_date=2002-10-11","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2002-10-11/02-25734/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":9,"page_views":{"count":303,"last_updated":"2026-07-28 12:15:07 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2002-10-11/pdf/02-25734.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"2002-10-11","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2002/10/11/02-25734.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{},"regulation_id_numbers":[],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":null,"signing_date":null,"start_page":63367,"subtype":null,"title":"Establishment of Guidelines for the Interim Voluntary Country of Origin Labeling of Beef, Lamb, Pork, Fish, Perishable Agricultural Commodities, and Peanuts Under the Authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946","toc_doc":"Beef, lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts; voluntary country of origin labeling guidelines; establishment","toc_subject":"Reports and guidance documents; availability, etc.:","topics":[],"type":"Notice","volume":67}