WSR 98-24-104

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Filed December 2, 1998, 8:19 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: New rules on a voluntary total quality assurance program for egg production.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 16.36.040.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The egg industry has requested that the department develop a voluntary quality assurance program modeled after the United Egg Producers "5-Star" program.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other agencies regulate such voluntary quality assurance programs in the state of Washington.

Process for Developing New Rule: The Washington State Department of Agriculture has met with interested parties and industry stakeholders to discuss this proposal which was industry requested. Anyone wishing to receive more information on the proposed rule should contact the department using the information listed below.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Dr. Robert W. Mead, State Veterinarian, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Food Safety/Animal Health Division, P.O. Box 42577, Olympia, WA 98504-2577, (360) 902-1878, fax (360) 902-2087, e-mail rmead@agr.wa.gov.

December 2, 1998

Candace Jacobs, DVM

Assistant Director