[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 104 (Tuesday, May 31, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 32328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11294]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 104 / Tuesday, May 31, 2022 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 32328]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1212

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-21-0094]


Honey Packers and Importers Research, Promotion, Consumer 
Education, and Industry Information Order; Continuance Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notification of referendum.

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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among 
eligible first handlers and importers of honey or honey products to 
determine whether they favor continuance of the Agriculture Marketing 
Service's regulations regarding a national honey packers and importers 
research and promotion program.

DATES: This referendum will be conducted by express mail and electronic 
ballot from August 8, 2022 through August 26, 2022. To be eligible to 
vote, first handlers and importers must have handled or imported 
250,000 or more pounds of honey or honey products during the 
representative period from January 1 through December 31, 2021, are 
subject to assessments under the Honey Packers and Importers Research, 
Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order (Order), 
and excluding those exempt from assessment under the Order. Ballots 
delivered via express mail or electronic ballot must show proof of 
delivery by no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on August 26, 
2022 to be counted.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Honey Packers and Importers Research, 
Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order may be 
obtained from: Referendum Agent, Market Development Division, Specialty 
Crops Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406-S, Stop 0244, 
Washington, DC 20250-0244, telephone: (202) 720-9915; or contact Katie 
Cook at (202) 617-4760 or via electronic mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#602b011409054e230f0f0b20151304014e070f16"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="733812071a165d301c1c1833060017125d141c05">[email protected]</span></a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie Cook, Marketing Specialist, MDD, 
SCP, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406-S, Stop 0244, 
Washington, DC 20250-0244; telephone: (202) 617-4760; or electronic 
mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#307b514459551e735f5f5b70454354511e575f46"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fbb09a8f929ed5b8949490bb8e889f9ad59c948d">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Commodity Promotion, 
Research and Information Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7411-7425) (Act), it is 
hereby directed that a referendum be conducted to ascertain whether 
continuance of the Order (7 CFR part 1212) is favored by eligible first 
handlers and importers of honey or honey products covered under the 
program. The Order is authorized under the Act.
    The representative period for establishing voter eligibility for 
the referendum shall be the period from January 1 through December 31, 
2021. Persons who handled or imported 250,000 or more pounds of honey 
or honey products during the representative period and are subject to 
assessments under the Order are eligible to vote. Persons who received 
an exemption from assessments for the entire representative period are 
ineligible to vote. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will 
provide the option for electronic balloting. The referendum will be 
conducted by express mail and electronic ballot from August 8, 2022 
through August 26, 2022. Further details will be provided in the ballot 
instructions.
    Section 518 of the Act authorizes continuance referenda. Under 
Sec.  1212.81 of the Order, USDA must conduct a referendum every 7 
years to determine whether persons subject to assessment favor 
continuance of the Order. The last referendum was held in 2015. USDA 
would continue the Order if continuance is favored by a majority of the 
first handlers and importers voting in the referendum, and a majority 
of volume voting in the referendum who, during the period from January 
1 through December 31, 2021, have been engaged in the handling or 
importation of honey or honey products.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
chapter 35), the referendum ballot has been approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) and assigned OMB No. 0581-0093. It has been 
estimated that there are approximately 40 first handlers and 55 
importers who will be eligible to vote in the referendum. It will take 
an average of 15 minutes for each voter to read the voting instructions 
and complete the referendum ballot.

Referendum Order

    Katie Cook, Marketing Specialist, and Heather Pichelman, Acting 
Director, Market Development Division, SCP, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, Room 
1406-S, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0244, are 
designated as the referendum agents to conduct this referendum. The 
referendum procedures at 7 CFR 1212.100 through 1212.108, which were 
issued pursuant to the Act, shall be used to conduct the referendum.
    The referendum agent will express mail or provide access 
electronically to the ballots to be cast in the referendum and voting 
instructions to all known, eligible honey first handlers and importers 
prior to the first day of the voting period. Persons who handled or 
imported 250,000 or more pounds of honey or honey products during the 
representative period and are subject to assessments under the Order 
are eligible to vote. Persons who received an exemption from 
assessments during the entire representative period, from January 1 
through December 31, 2021, are ineligible to vote. Any eligible first 
handler or importer who does not receive a ballot should contact the 
referendum agent no later than three days before the end of the voting 
period. Ballots delivered via express mail or electronic ballot must 
show proof of delivery by no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on August 26, 
2022, to be counted.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1212

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Agricultural 
research, Honey, Labeling, Marketing agreements, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425; 7 U.S.C. 7401.

Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-11294 Filed 5-27-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P


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