PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Update chapter 16-448 WAC, Standards for potatoes, in order to reflect current industry practices, and to stay consistent with the United States standards for grades of potatoes.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 15.17 RCW, Standards of grades and packs.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Changes in the existing chapter 16-448 WAC are needed in order to reflect current industry practices and to stay consistent with the United States standards for grades of potatoes. Presently, existing chapter 16-448 WAC is outdated, and does not reflect current practices now in place as stated in the United States standards for grades of potatoes.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: Negotiated rule making; and will be working with the Washington State Potato Commission and the Washington State Potato Committee to develop changes in the existing chapter 16-448 WAC, Standards for potatoes.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Jim Quigley, Program Manager, Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Program, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1833, fax (360) 902-2085.
April 6, 1999
Robert W. Gore
Assistant Director