Proposed Rule2022-11294
Honey Packers and Importers Research, Promotion, Consumer Education, and Industry Information Order; Continuance Referendum
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 31, 2022
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAgricultural Marketing Service
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 104 (Tuesday, May 31, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 104 (Tuesday, May 31, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 32328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[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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