PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department intends to amend WAC 16-390-240 What is the fresh product audit verification program? and 16-390-242 What charges does the department assess for fruit and vegetable audit verification certificates issued under the fresh produce audit verification program?, in order to increase the audit fee and make any other changes necessary to update the chapter and increase its clarity.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 15.17 RCW, Standards of grades and packs and chapter 34.05 RCW, Administrative Procedure Act.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: An audit fee change has been implemented by the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Fresh Products Branch. The proposed fee increase is necessary to offset the increase in the Washington state department of agriculture's fruit and vegetable inspection program operating expenses caused by the change in the audit fee by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Washington state department of agriculture's fruit and vegetable inspection program operates under a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Fresh Products Branch.
Process for Developing New Rule: Washington state department of agriculture staff members will develop the rule proposal. Industry representatives may review and comment on the proposed rule amendments and interested parties can participate in the public hearing and comment process, the dates of which will be announced when the agency files the rule proposal with the code reviser.
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, e-mail jquigley@agr.wa.gov.
February 23, 2007
Dennis Hannapel
Assistant Director