ALB Final Rule Published

June 11, 2004 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture?s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) on June 8, 2004, issued the final rule in the Federal Register establishing the details of the assessment regulations for the Lamb Promotion, Research and Information Program.

Under the program, domestic lamb producers, feeders, seedstock producers and exporters are required to pay one-half cent ($.005) per pound of live ovine animals sold. In addition, first handlers (primarily packers) are assessed 30 cents per head of ovine animals purchased by the first handler for slaughter. First handlers and exporters are responsible for remitting the assessment to the American Lamb Board.

?The final rule emphasizes the key points of the lamb program and the operations that the American Lamb Board has used since inception of the program in mid-2002 under the final assessment order published in April of that year,? stated American Sheep Industry Association President Guy Flora. ?The next step is for the department to publish the proposed rule for the national referendum to be conducted in 2005.?

The final rule can be accessed at Final Rule on the World Wide Web.

Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33

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