[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 227 (Monday, November 27, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58252-58253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28769]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1160

[DA-96-01]


Fluid Milk Promotion Program; Notice of Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of referendum.

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SUMMARY: This document announces that a referendum will be held to 
determine whether fluid milk processors favor the continuation of the 
Fluid Milk Promotion Order. The National Fluid Milk Processor Board, 
which administers the order, requested the action. The order will 
remain in effect if it is favored by at least 50 percent of the fluid 
milk processors who marketed at least 60 percent of the fluid milk 
products sold in the United States.

DATES: The referendum will be held on February 29 through March 7, 
1996. The representative period for establishing voter eligibility will 
be September 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lance Jervis, Referendum Agent, USDA/
AMS/Dairy Division, Room 2759, South Building, P.O. Box 96456, 
Washington, DC 20090-6456, (202) 720-3869.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces that a referendum 
will be conducted on February 29 through March 7, 1996, among fluid 
milk processors to determine whether the Fluid Milk Promotion Order 
should continue. The Order is authorized by the Fluid Milk Promotion 
Act of 1990, as amended by the Fluid Milk Promotion Amendments Act of 
1993. The program is funded by a mandatory 20-cent assessment on 
processors whose monthly marketing exceeds 500,000 pounds of fluid milk 
products sold in the United States.
    The Fluid Milk Promotion Order, which became effective December 10, 
1993, provides that the Secretary shall conduct a continuation 
referendum at the request of the Board or any group of fluid milk 
processors which represents 10 percent or more of the fluid milk 
products marketed in the United States. The order specifies that this 
continuation referendum should be held not later than June 10, 1996, 
which is 30 months after the order's effective date.
    The Fluid Milk Promotion Order will continue if the Secretary 
determines that it is favored by at least 50 percent of the processors 
voting in the referendum who during the representative period (as 
determined by the Secretary) marketed at least 60 percent of the volume 
of fluid milk products sold in the United States. The month of 
September 1995 is hereby determined to be the representative period for 
the conduct of such referendum. Fluid milk processors who wish to 
participate in the referendum will have to register to vote by 
certifying that they were processors during the month of September 
1995. Those handlers processing and marketing more than 500,000 pounds 
of fluid milk products during the month of September will be eligible 
to vote in the referendum, provided they are fluid milk processors at 
the time of voter registration and during the time the referendum is 
conducted.
    It is hereby directed that a referendum be conducted during the 
period of February 29 through March 7, 1996, in accordance with the 
procedure for the conduct of referenda (7 CFR 1160.600 et seq.), to 
determine whether the Fluid Milk Promotion Order is approved by fluid 
milk processors, who during the representative period were engaged in 
the distribution of fluid milk products within the 48 contiguous United 
States and the District of Columbia.
    Lance Jervis is hereby designated as the agent of the Secretary to 
conduct such referendum.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35), the forms and reporting and recordkeeping requirements 
that are 

[[Page 58253]]
included in the Fluid Milk Promotion Order have been approved by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and were assigned OMB No. 0581-
0093, except for Board members' nominee information sheets that were 
assigned OMB No. 0505-0001.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1160

    Milk, Fluid milk products, Promotion.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6401-6417.

    Dated: November 20, 1995.
Shirley R. Watkins,
Acting Assistant Secretary Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 95-28769 Filed 11-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P