Posted January 29, 2014
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently
published a final rule for the Paper and Paper-based Packaging Promotion
program. The final rule is available here.
The rule establishes a research, promotion, and
information program for paper and paper-based packaging. The program will cover four types: “printing,
writing and related paper (used to make products for printing, writing and
other communication purposes), kraft packaging paper (like grocery bags and
sacks), containerboard (used to make corrugated boxes, shipping containers and
related products), and paperboard (used for food and beverage packaging, tubes
and other miscellaneous products).
The program will be funded by the industry with an
assessment on domestic paper and paper-based packaging manufacturers and
importers. The assessment rate will be
$0.35 per short ton. The industry voted
on the program and the assessment fee – 85 percent voted to implement the
program.
The proposed rule
was published in the Federal Register on January 2, 2013, and provided for a
60-day comment period.
“Today’s announcement represents a seminal moment for
our industry to stand together and promote the benefits of paper-based
packaging to customers and consumers,” said Paper Check-off Panel Chairman John
Williams, president and CEO of Domtar.
“Our industry produces recyclable products from a renewable
resource. The Paper Check-off will allow
us to inform consumers of the sustainable products we make and the responsible
manner in which we make them.” News and
information on the Paper program are available here.
Checkoff programs are also referred to as research and
promotion programs which promote and provide research and information for a
particular agricultural commodity without reference to specific producers or
brands. Producers and handlers usually
finance these programs for assessments charged on a per unit basis of the
marketed commodity. For more information
on Checkoff programs, please visit the National Agriculture Law Center’s
website, here.
