96-4506. Recommendations of Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7466-7467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4506]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
[CN-95-004]


Recommendations of Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton 
Standards

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) held a meeting of the 
Universal Cotton Standards Advisory Committee in Memphis, Tennessee on 
June 15 and 16, 1995. This notice announces that the Advisory Committee 
recommended that the Universal Cotton Standards be expanded to include 
the current USDA High Volume Instrument (HVI) Calibration Cottons, 
laboratory atmospheric conditions and sample conditioning practices and 
procedures.

DATES: Comments must be received by March 29, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments and inquiries should be addressed to Ross Griffith, 
Cotton Division, AMS, USDA, Room 2641-S., P.O. Box 96456, Washington, 
D.C. 20090-6456. Comments will be available for public inspection 
during regular business hours at the above office in Rm. 2641-S., 14th 
& Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ross Griffith, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Universal Cotton Standards Advisory 
Committee meets triennially to consider any necessary changes to the 
Universal Cotton Standards and to review freshly prepared sets of 
Universal Cotton Standards for conformity with the existing standards.
    At this meeting, the committee recommended expanding the Universal 
Cotton Standards to include the current USDA High Volume Instrument 
(HVI) Calibration Cottons (Long-Strong and Short-Weak); laboratory 
atmospheric conditions of 70 degrees Fahrenheit , plus or minus one 
degree, and 65 percent Relative Humidity, plus or minus two percent; 
and sample conditioning practices and procedures as follows: ``Samples 
of cotton must be directly exposed to approved laboratory atmospheric 
conditions until their moisture content reaches equilibrium with that 
of the atmosphere. This equilibrium moisture content usually ranges 
from 6.75 percent to 8.25 percent. Conditioning of samples in sacks, 
wrappers, or other coverings is not permissible''.
    High Volume Instrument (HVI) Classing of cotton has been available 
on an optional basis since 1980. Since 1991, HVI classification has 
been provided on all cotton classed by USDA along with the classer 
color grade and leaf grade which conform to the Universal Grade 
Standards. HVI systems provide the most scientific and reliable sources 
of cotton quality information available. The advisory committee 
includes representatives of all segments of the U.S. cotton industry 
and the 21 overseas cotton associations that are signatories to the 
Universal Cotton Standards Agreement. Adoption of this recommendation 
should result in the establishment of a universal language for the 
marketing of U.S. cotton under the HVI Classification System.

    Authority: United States Cotton Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 51 et 
seq.)


[[Page 7467]]

    Dated: February 22, 1996.
Lon Hatamiya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-4506 Filed 2-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P