Notice2025-20217
United States Standards for Rice
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 18, 2025
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAgricultural Marketing Service
Abstract
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking public comment on whether the United States Standards for Rough Rice, Brown Rice for Processing, and Milled Rice should be opened for comments and suggestions for revisions. The Rice Standards were last opened for comment in 2015. Since then, rice production, quality assessment methods, and consumer preferences may have changed.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 220 (Tuesday, November 18, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 18, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51636-51637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-20217]
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Notices
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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 220 / Tuesday, November 18, 2025 /
Notices
[[Page 51636]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-FGIS-25-0155]
United States Standards for Rice
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking public
comment on whether the United States Standards for Rough Rice, Brown
Rice for Processing, and Milled Rice should be opened for comments and
suggestions for revisions. The Rice Standards were last opened for
comment in 2015. Since then, rice production, quality assessment
methods, and consumer preferences may have changed.
DATES: Submit comments on or before January 20, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments
electronically through the Federal e-rulemaking portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Comments may also be submitted by mail to Jacob
Thein, USDA, AMS, 10383 N Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153. All
comments should reference document number AMS-FGIS-25-0155, the date of
submission, and the page number of this issue of the Federal Register.
Instructions for submitting and reading comments online are detailed on
the site. All comments received will be posted to <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>
without change, including any personal information provided, and will
be made available for public inspection at the above physical address
during regular business hours.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacob Thein, USDA AMS; telephone:
(816) 702-3923; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4f052e2c202d610b611b272a26210f3a3c2b2e61282039"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8dc7eceee2efa3c9a3d9e5e8e4e3cdf8fee9eca3eae2fb">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing
Act of 1946, 7 U.S.C. 1622(c), directs and authorizes the Secretary of
Agriculture ``to develop and improve standards of quality, condition,
quantity, grade, and packaging and recommend and demonstrate such
standards in order to encourage uniformity and consistency in
commercial practices.'' AMS is committed to carrying out this authority
in a manner that facilitates the marketing of agricultural commodities.
The United States Standards for Rough Rice, Brown Rice for Processing,
and Milled Rice (Rice Standards) appear in the Code of Federal
Regulations in Sec. Sec. 868.201 through 868.316 of title 7.
Background
Official USDA grade standards and associated voluntary, fee-for-
service grading programs are authorized under the Agricultural
Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1621, et seq.). The primary
purpose of USDA grade standards, including the Rice Standards, is to
divide the population of a commodity into uniform groups (of similar
quality, value, etc.) to facilitate marketing. In concert, the Federal
voluntary, fee-for-service grading programs are designed to provide an
independent, objective determination as to whether a given product is
in conformance with the applicable USDA grade standard. USDA quality
grades provide a simple, effective means of describing product that is
easily understood by both buyers and sellers.
The Rice Standards were first developed in 1927, and periodic
revisions were made to reflect industry improvements or changes in the
marketplace. The current Rice Standards were last updated in 2009 to
move information previously provided on the grade line of the official
certificate for Mixed rice to the ``Results'' section of the inspection
certificate (74 FR 55441). Prior to that, the last substantial
revisions occurred in 2002 with the addition of a new milling degree,
i.e., ``hard milled,'' to the existing milling requirements and the
elimination of the reference to ``lightly milled'' from the milling
requirements (67 FR 61249 and 67 FR 62313).
Request for Comments
AMS is soliciting comments including data, recommendations, and
other information from stakeholders about potential changes to the U.S.
Standards for Rough Rice, Brown Rice for Processing, and Milled Rice.
Comments may include any current and/or ongoing research or industry
practice that has relevance to the Rice Standards. AMS also invites
comments about how those changes would be implemented in the Federal
voluntary, fee-for-service grading programs.
After reviewing the recommendations and information submitted in
response to this notice, AMS will determine if it will propose official
changes to the standards. If changes are proposed, a proposed rule with
the updated Rice Standards will be published in the Federal Register
for public comment period. Any comments outside the scope of this
request for comments will not be considered. Commenters are encouraged
to support their views with data and other information.
AMS invites responses to the following questions:
1. Should rough rice, brown rice, and milled rice that has an
``Aromatic'' odor be considered to have a commercially objectionable
foreign odor (COFO) since the aroma is not found in more traditional
varieties of rice?
Refer to the Rice Inspection Handbook (<a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/content/fgis-pdf-handbooks">https://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/content/fgis-pdf-handbooks</a>), sections 3.3, 4.3, 5.3
(Special Grades and Special Grade Requirements); sections 3.15, 4.15,
5.15 (Odor); and sections 3.35, 4.36, 5.39 (Aromatic Milled Rice).
2. Are the Sample Grade moisture limits for Brown rice (14.5
percent) and Milled rice (15.0 percent) acceptable as currently
provided in the handbook?
Refer to the Rice Inspection Handbook, sections 4.2 and 5.2 (Grades
and Grade Requirements), and sections 4.12 and 5.12 (Moisture).
3. Should the grading criteria for broken kernels removed by the 5
plate, the 6 plate, and the 6 sieve be removed from table 5.1 (Grades
and Grade Requirements for Milled Rice: Long Grain, Medium Grain, Short
Grain, and Mixed Milled Rice)?
Refer to the Rice Inspection Handbook, table 5.1 (Grades and Grade
Requirements for Milled Rice: Long Grain, Medium Grain, Short Grain,
and Mixed Milled Rice) and section 5.30 (Broken Kernels Removed by a 5
& 6 Plate or Through a 6 Sieve).
4. Should Paddy Kernels be inspected as a count only, a percentage
only, or be
[[Page 51637]]
left as currently provided in the handbook for Brown Rice for
Processing?
Refer to the Rice Inspection Handbook, section 4.2 (Grades and
Grade Requirements), section 4.22 (Paddy Kernels), section 5.2 (Grades
and Grade Requirements), section 5.23 (Paddy Kernels), and section 5.24
(Seeds).
Melissa Bailey,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-20217 Filed 11-17-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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