[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 2, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34385-34386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16839]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR PART 1240

[FV-96-707]


Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Order; 
Continuance Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Referendum order.

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SUMMARY: This document gives notice that a referendum will be conducted 
to determine whether the continuance of the Honey Research, Promotion, 
and Consumer Information Order is favored by a majority of the 
producers, producer-packers, and importers voting in the referendum. 
This action establishes the voting period, representative period, 
method of voting, and agents.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted by mail ballot from August 1 
through August 30, 1996. The representative period for establishing 
voter eligibility shall be the period from January 1, 1994, through 
December 31, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer 
Information Order may be obtained from: Referendum Agent, Research and 
Promotion Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 
96456, Room 2535-S, Washington, DC 20090-6456.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Schultz, Research and 
Promotion Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, Room 2535-S, 
P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456. Telephone (202) 720-5976.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A referendum will be conducted among 
eligible honey producers, producer-packers, and importers to determine 
whether the continuance of the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer 
Information Order (Order) [7 CFR 1240] is favored by persons voting in 
the referendum. The Order is authorized under the Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act, as amended (act) [7 U.S.C. 
4601-4612].
    The representative period for establishing voter eligibility for 
the referendum shall be the period from January 1, 1994, through 
December 31, 1995. Persons who are producers, producers and handlers, 
or importers of honey or honey products at the time of the referendum 
and during the representative period are eligible to vote. Persons who 
have received an exemption from assessment for the entire representive 
period are ineligible to vote. The referendum shall be conducted by 
mail ballot from August 1 through 30, 1996.
    Section 13(b)(1) of the act provides that 5 years from the date on 
which the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) issues an order 
authorizing the collection of assessments, and every 5 years 
thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct a referendum to determine if 
honey producers and importers favor the termination or suspension of 
the Order. On July 21, 1986, the Secretary issued the Order, and the 
first continuance referendum was conducted in August 1991. Therefore, 
this order is issued pursuant to the Act's requirements and gives 
producers and importers a second opportunity to vote on whether the 
program will continue.
    Section 13(d) also provides that the Secretary shall suspend or 
terminate the Order if termination or suspension is favored by a 
majority of the producers and importers voting in the referendum and 
that the producers and importers comprising this majority produce or

[[Page 34386]]

import more than 50 percent of the volume of honey produced or imported 
by those voting in the referendum.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 [Pub. L. 
104-13], the referendum ballot has been approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) and has been assigned OMB number 0581-0093. 
It is estimated that there are 8,300 producers, 510 producer-packers, 
and 350 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

    It is hereby directed that a referendum be conducted among eligible 
producers, producer-packers, and importers to determine whether they 
favor the continuance of the Order. The representative period for 
establishing voter eligibility for the referendum shall be the period 
from January 1, 1994, through December 31, 1995. A referendum shall be 
conducted by mail ballot from August 1 through 30, 1996.
    Section 13(d)(1) of the act provides that the Secretary shall 
conduct a referendum to determine if honey producers and importers 
favor the termination or suspension of the Order. Therefore, voters 
will vote on whether the program will continue. Section 13(d) also 
provides that the Secretary shall suspend or terminate the Order if 
termination or suspension is favored by a majority of the producers and 
importers voting in the referendum and that the producers and importers 
comprising this majority produce or import more than 50 percent of the 
volume of honey produced or imported by those voting in the referendum.
    Richard Schultz and Martha B. Ransom, Research and Promotion 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, 
P.O. Box 96456, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20090-6456, 
are designated as the referendum agents of the Secretary to conduct 
this referendum. The Procedure for the Conduct of Referenda in 
Connection with the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information 
Order [7 CFR 1240.200-1240.207] shall be used to conduct the 
referendum.
    Ballots to be cast in the referendum, and any related material 
relevant to the referendum, will be mailed by the referendum agents to 
all known producers, producer-packers, and importers. Persons who have 
produced, produced and handled, or imported honey or honey products 
during the representative period are eligible to vote. Persons who have 
received an exemption from assessment for the entire representative 
period are ineligible to vote. Any eligible producer, producer-packer, 
or importer who does not receive a ballot and related material should 
immediately contact the referendum agents.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1240

    Advertising, Agricultural research, Honey, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 4601-4612.

    Dated: June 26, 1996.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-16839 Filed 6-27-96; 2:46 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P