[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 37102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15825]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1240

[Docket No. FV-03-703]


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

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, Agriculture.

ACTION: Referendum order.

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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among 
eligible producers of honey and importers of honey or honey products to 
determine whether they favor continuance of the Honey Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Order (Order).

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from July 25, 2003, through 
August 22, 2003. To vote in this referendum, producers and importers 
must have been producing honey or importing honey or honey products 
during the period from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Order may be obtained from: Referendum Agent, 
Research and Promotion Branch (RP), Fruit and Vegetable Programs (FV), 
AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, Room 2535-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0244.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathie Birdsell, RP, FV, AMS, USDA, 
Stop 0244, Room 2535-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250-0244, telephone 888-720-9917 (toll free), fax 202-205-2800, e-
mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Honey Research, Promotion, 
and Consumer Information Act, as amended (Act) (7 U.S.C. 4601-4613), it 
is hereby directed that a referendum be conducted to ascertain whether 
continuance of the Order is favored by producers of honey and importers 
of honey or honey products. The Order is authorized under the Act.
    The representative period for establishing voter eligibility for 
the referendum shall be the period from January 1, 2001, through 
December 31, 2002. Persons who are producers of honey or importers of 
honey or honey products at the time of the referendum and during the 
representative period are eligible to vote. Persons who received an 
exemption from assessments for the entire representative period are 
ineligible to vote. The referendum shall be conducted by mail ballot 
from July 25, 2003, through August 22, 2003.
    Section 13 of the Act provides that the Department of Agriculture 
(Department) shall conduct a referendum every five years or when 10 
percent or more of the eligible voters petition the Secretary of 
Agriculture to hold a referendum to determine if persons subject to 
assessment favor continuance of the Order. Previous continuance 
referenda were conducted in 1991, 1996, and 2002. On February 10, 2003, 
a petition was filed containing the requisite number of eligible voter 
signatures to call for another continuance referendum.
    Sections 12(b)(1)(A) and (B) of the Act provide that the Department 
shall continue the Order if continuance of the Order is approved by a 
majority of the producers and importers voting in the referendum and 
that the producers and importers comprising this majority produce or 
import not less than 50 percent of the quantity of the honey or honey 
products produced or imported during the representative period by those 
voting in the referendum.
    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 3,290 producers and 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

    Kathie M. Birdsell and Margaret B. Irby, RP, FV, AMS, USDA, Stop 
0244, Room 2535-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-
0244, are designated as the referendum agents to conduct this 
referendum. The referendum procedures (7 CFR 1240.200 through 
1240.207), which were issued pursuant to the Act, shall be used to 
conduct the referendum.
    The referendum agents will mail the ballots to be cast in the 
referendum and voting instructions to all known producers and importers 
prior to the first day of the voting period. Persons who are producers 
or importers at the time of the referendum and during the 
representative period are eligible to vote. Persons who received an 
exemption from assessments during the entire representative period are 
ineligible to vote. Any eligible producer or importer who does not 
receive a ballot should contact the referendum agents no later than one 
week before the end of the voting period. Ballots must be received by 
the referendum agents on or before August 22, 2003, in order to be 
counted.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1240

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

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 4601-4613 and 7 U.S.C. 7401.

    Dated: June 18, 2003.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-15825 Filed 6-20-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P