Après, le déluge

The CEI's weekly round-up of new regulation. If you handle spearmint in your business, you now have to do it differently. Or at least with due regard for the total quantity:

This rule revises the quantity of Class 1 (Scotch) and Class 3 (Native) spearmint oil that handlers may purchase from, or handle on behalf of, producers during the 2012-2013 marketing year under the Far West spearmint oil marketing order. This rule increases the Scotch spearmint oil salable quantity from 782,413 pounds to 2,622,115 pounds, and the allotment percentage from 38 percent to 128 percent. In addition, this rule increases the Native spearmint oil salable quantity from 1,162,473 pounds to 1,348,270 pounds, and the allotment percentage from 50 percent to 58 percent. The marketing order regulates the handling of spearmint oil produced in the Far West and is administered locally by the Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee). The Committee recommended this rule for the purpose of maintaining orderly marketing conditions in the Far West spearmint oil market.

I'm going to confess more than the usual ignorance and admit that I did not know that U.S.D.A. sponsored a Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee for the purpose of "maintaining orderly marketing conditions in the Far West spearmint oil market". I smell regulatory capture!