7 U.S.C. § 2623
The Secretary shall conduct a referendum among producers, who during a representative period determined by the Secretary have been engaged in the production of potatoes, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the issuance of a plan is approved or favored by such producers. When the issuance of a plan would subject importers to the terms and conditions of a plan, the Secretary also shall conduct the referendum among importers, who during a representative period determined by the Secretary have been engaged in the importation of potatoes, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the issuance of such plan is approved or favored by such importers.
No plan issued under this chapter shall be effective unless the Secretary determines that the issuance of such plan is approved or favored by not less than a majority of the producers voting in such referendum or a majority of the producers and importers when the issuance of a plan would subject importers to the terms and conditions of a plan, voting in such referendum.
The failure of potato producers and importers to approve an amendment to any plan issued under this chapter shall not be deemed to invalidate such plan.
The ballots and other information or reports which reveal or tend to reveal the vote of any producer or his production of potatoes, or any importer or the volume of potatoes imported by such importer, shall be held strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed. Any officer or employee of the Department of Agriculture violating the provisions hereof shall upon conviction be subject to the penalties provided in section 2619(c) of this title.
7 U.S.C. § 2623
EDITORIAL NOTES
AMENDMENTS1990-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101-624, §1944(1), inserted at end "When the issuance of a plan would subject importers to the terms and conditions of a plan, the Secretary also shall conduct the referendum among importers, who during a representative period determined by the Secretary have been engaged in the importation of potatoes, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the issuance of such plan is approved or favored by such importers." Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101-624, §1944(2), substituted "a majority of the producers voting in such referendum or a majority of the producers and importers when the issuance of a plan would subject importers to the terms and conditions of a plan, voting in such referendum" for "two-thirds of the producers voting in such referendum, or by the producers of not less than two-thirds of the potatoes produced during the representative period by producers voting in such referendum, and by not less than a majority of the producers voting in such referendum". Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101-624, §1944(3), inserted "and importers" after "producers". Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101-624, §1944(4), inserted ",or any importer or the volume of potatoes imported by such importer," after "potatoes".1982- Pub. L. 97-244 designated existing provisions as subsecs. (a), (b) and (d), in subsec. (a), as so redesignated, inserted commas after "referendum among producers" and "production of potatoes", struck out commas after "who" and "determined by the Secretary", and substituted "by such producers" for "by producers", in subsec. (b), as so redesignated, substituted "under this chapter" for "pursuant to this chapter", and added subsec. (c).
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
CONSTRUCTION OF 1982 REFERENDUM ON AMENDMENTS TO PLAN Pub. L. 98-171, §2(b), Nov. 29, 1983, 97 Stat. 1118, provided that: "The failure of potato producers in December 1982 to approve amendments to the plan issued under this title [probably means title III of Pub. L. 91-670 which is classified to this chapter] shall not be deemed to invalidate the plan."
- Secretary
- The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture.
- importer
- The term "importer" means any person who imports tablestock, frozen, or processed potatoes for ultimate consumption by humans or seed potatoes into the United States.
- potatoes
- The term "potatoes" means all varieties of Irish potatoes grown by producers in the 50 States of the United States, and grown in foreign countries and imported into the United States.
- producer
- The term "producer" means any person engaged in the growing of five or more acres of potatoes.