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41 FR 23681, June 11, 1976, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981.
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Subscribe to: 7 CFR Part 70 Subpart A - Appeal of a Grading or Decision
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An appeal grading may be requested by any interested party who is dissatisfied with the determination by a grader of the class, quality, quantity, or condition of any product as evidenced by the USDA grademark and accompanying label, or as stated on a grading certificate, and a review may be requested by the operator of an official plant with respect to a grader's decision on any other matter relating to grading in an official plant.
(a) Appeal from resident grader's grading or decision in an official plant. Any interested party who is not satisfied with the determination of the class, quality, quantity, or condition of product which was graded by a grader in an official plant and has not left such plant, and the operator of any official plant who is not satisfied with a decision made by a grader or any other matter relating to grading in such plant, may request an appeal grading or review of the decision by filing such request with the grader's immediate supervisor.
(b) All other appeal requests. Any interested party who is not satisfied with the determination of the class, quality, quantity, or condition of product which has left the official plant where it was graded, or which was graded other than in an official plant, may request an appeal grading by filing such request with the regional director in the area where the product is located or with the Chief of the Grading Branch.
Any request for an appeal grading or review of a grader's decision may be made orally or in writing. If made orally, written confirmation may be required. The applicant shall clearly state the reasons for requesting the appeal service, and a description of the product or the decision which is questioned. If such appeal request is based on the results stated on an official certificate, the original and all available copies of the certificate shall be returned to the appeal grader assigned to make the appeal grading.
When it appears to the official with whom an appeal request is filed that the reasons given in the request for an appeal grading are frivolous or not substantial, or that the quality or condition of the product has undergone a material change since the original grading, or that the original lot has changed in some manner, or the Act or the regulations in this part have not been complied with, the applicant's request for the appeal grading may be refused. In such case, the applicant shall be promptly notified of the reason(s) for such refusal.
(a) An appeal grading or review of a decision requested under § 70.101(a) shall be made by the grader's immediate supervisor or by one or more licensed graders assigned by the immediate supervisor.
(b) Appeal gradings requested under § 70.101(b) shall be performed by a grader other than the grader who originally graded the product.
(c) Whenever practical, an appeal grading shall be conducted jointly by two graders. The assignment of the grader(s) who will make the appeal grading requested under § 70.101(b) shall be made by the regional director or the Chief of the Grading Branch.
[41 FR 23681, June 11, 1976; 41 FR 24693, June 18, 1976. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981, as amended at 71 FR 42014, July 24, 2006]
(a) The appeal sample shall consist of product taken from the original sample container plus an equal number of containers selected at random.
(b) When the original samples are not available or have been altered, such as the removal of undergrades, the appeal sample size for the lot shall consist of double the samples required in § 70.80.
(c) Poultry or rabbits in an unfrozen state must be adequately protected and kept in good condition until the appeal grading is performed.
(d) Overwraps on frozen poultry or rabbits shall be removed from all birds or rabbits in the sample prior to appeal grading for quality or to determine the class.
(e) When the appeal is based on grading or class determination factors, each frozen carcass shall be defrosted prior to conducting the appeal grading. Whether defrosting poultry or rabbit carcasses for other types of appeals will be required by the appeal grader, will depend upon the reason for the appeal.
[41 FR 23681, June 11, 1976; 41 FR 24693, June 18, 1976. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981, as amended at 71 FR 42014, July 24, 2006]
Immediately after an appeal grading is completed, an appeal certificate shall be issued to show that the original grading was sustained or was not sustained. Such certificate shall supersede any previously issued certificate for the product involved and shall clearly identify the number and date of the superseded certificate. The issuance of the appeal certificate may be withheld until any previously issued certificate and all copies have been returned when such action is deemed necessary to protect the interest of the Government. When the appeal grader assigns a different grade to the lot, the existing grademark shall be changed or obliterated as necessary. When the appeal grader assigns a different class or quantity designation to the lot, the labeling shall be corrected.