Collapse to view only § 3414. Other programs relating to wheat or wheat food research or nutrition education

§ 3401. Congressional findings and declaration of policy
(a) Wheat is basic to the American diet and the American economy. It is grown by thousands of farmers and consumed, in various forms, by millions of people in the United States.
(b) The size of the American wheat crop and how it is marketed and ultimately consumed determines whether many Americans receive adequate nourishment. Wheat has a strong impact on the Nation’s well-being. Additional research on the optimal use of wheat products can improve the American diet. Consumer education about the nutritional value and economic use of wheat products can enhance the national welfare.
(c) It has long been recognized that it is in the national interest to have a regular, adequate, and high quality wheat supply. It would be extremely difficult, without an effective coordinated research and nutrition education effort, to accomplish this objective. A programed effort of research and nutrition education is of great importance to wheat producers, processors, end product manufacturers, and consumers.
(d) It is the purpose of this chapter and in the public interest to authorize and enable the creation of an orderly procedure, adequately financed through an assessment, for the development and initiation of an effective and continuous coordinated program of research and nutrition education, designed to improve and enhance the quality, and make the most efficient use, of American wheat, processed wheat, and wheat end products to ensure an adequate diet for the people of the United States. The maximum rate of assessment authorized hereunder represents an infinitesimal proportion of the overall cost of manufacturing wheat end products. Therefore, such assessment will not significantly affect the retail prices of those products. Furthermore, any price effect will be more than offset by the increased efficiency in end product manufacture and increased consumer acceptance, due to nutritional improvements in wheat products, which may be expected to follow from adoption of a plan under this chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to provide for control of production or otherwise limit the right of individual wheat producers to produce wheat.
(Pub. L. 95–113, title XVII, § 1702, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1031.)
§ 3402. Definitions
For the purposes of this chapter:
(a) The term “wheat” means all classes of wheat grains grown in the United States.
(b) The term “processed wheat” means the wheat-derived span of any substance (such as cake mix or flour) produced for use as an ingredient of an end product by changing wheat grown within the United States in form or character by any mechanical, chemical, or other means.
(c) The term “end product” means any product which contains processed wheat as an ingredient and which is intended, as produced, for consumption as human food, notwithstanding any additional incidental preparation which may be necessary by the ultimate consumer.
(d) The term “wheat producer” means any person who grows wheat within the United States for market.
(e) The term “processor” means any person who commercially produces processed wheat within the United States.
(f) The term “end product manufacturer” means any person who commercially produces an end product within the United States, but such term shall not include such persons to the extent that they produce end products on the premises where such end products are to be consumed by an ultimate consumer, including, but not limited to, hotels, restaurants, and institutions, nor shall such term include persons who produce end products for their own personal, family, or household use.
(g) The term “research” means any type of research to advance the nutritional quality, marketability, production, or other qualities of wheat, processed wheat, or end products.
(h) The term “nutrition education” means any action to disseminate to the public information resulting from research concerning the economic value or nutritional benefits of wheat, processed wheat, and end products.
(i) The term “Council” means the Wheat Industry Council established pursuant to section 3405 of this title.
(j) The term “Department” means the United States Department of Agriculture.
(k) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States.
(l) The term “person” means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, or other entity.
(m) The term “United States” means the several States and the District of Columbia, including any territory or possession.
(Pub. L. 95–113, title XVII, § 1703, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1032.)
§ 3403. Issuance of orders
(a) Notice and hearing
(b) Effectuation of Congressional policy
(Pub. L. 95–113, title XVII, § 1704, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1033.)
§ 3404. Permissive terms and conditions of orders
Any order issued pursuant to this chapter shall contain one or more of the following terms and conditions, and, except as provided in section 3405 of this title, no others:
(a) Nutrition education plans
(b) Research and studies
(c) Records and reports; confidential information; penalties
(d) Assessment exemption
(e) Miscellaneous terms and conditions
(Pub. L. 95–113, title XVII, § 1705, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1033.)
§ 3405. Wheat Industry Council
Any order issued pursuant to this chapter shall contain such terms and conditions as to provide—
(a) Establishment; powers
(b) Membership
(c) Research and nutrition education plans
(d) Budgets
(e) Processed wheat assessment; payment by end product manufacturers
(f) Maintenance of records
(g) Contracts
(h) Investment of assessment funds
(i) Lobbying restriction
(j) Reimbursement of expenses
(Pub. L. 95–113, title XVII, § 1706, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1034.)
§ 3406. Exemption for retail bakers

Any end product manufacturer who is a retail baker shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter. For the purposes of this section, the term “retail baker” shall be deemed to include all end product manufacturers who sell end products directly to the ultimate consumer: Provided, That such term shall not include any end product manufacturer who derives less than 10 per centum of gross end product sales revenues from sales to ultimate consumers or who derives 10 per centum or more of gross food or food products sales revenues from the sale of such products manufactured or produced by others.

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XVII, § 1707, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1036.)
§ 3407. Referendum

The Secretary shall conduct a referendum as soon as practicable among end product manufacturers not exempt hereunder who, during a representative period preceding the date of the referendum, as determined by the Secretary, have been engaged in the manufacture of end products, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the issuance of an order is approved or favored by such manufacturers. Qualified end product manufacturers may register with the Secretary by mail to vote in such referendum during a period ending not less than thirty days prior to the date of the referendum. Within ten days thereafter, the Secretary shall determine which end product manufacturers are eligible to vote in such referendum and cause to be published the list of such eligible voters. The Secretary shall issue ballots to all such persons who have so registered and been declared eligible to vote. No order issued pursuant to this chapter shall be effective unless the Secretary determines (1) that votes were cast by at least 50 per centum of such registered end product manufacturers, and (2) that the issuance of such order is approved or favored by not less than two-thirds of the end product manufacturers voting in such referendum or by a majority of the end product manufacturers voting in such referendum if such majority manufactured end products containing not less than two-thirds of the total processed wheat contained in all end products manufactured by those voting in the referendum, during t

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XVII, § 1708, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1036.)
§ 3408. Refund of processed wheat assessment
(a) Election of end product manufacturers to seek refunds
(b) Refund demand; rules and regulations
(Pub. L. 95–113, title XVII, § 1709, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1037.)
§ 3409. Petition and review
(a) Petition; hearing; ruling
(b) Judicial review; jurisdiction; process; remand
(Pub. L. 95–113, title XVII, § 1710, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1037.)
§ 3410. Enforcement of orders and regulations
(a) Jurisdiction; reference of civil actions to Attorney General
(b) Penalties
(c) Other remedies
(Pub. L. 95–113, title XVII, § 1711, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1038.)
§ 3411. Suspension and termination of orders
(a) Authority and responsibility of Secretary
(b) Referendum
(c) Suspension or termination of order not to be considered an order
(Pub. L. 95–113, title XVII, § 1712, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1038.)
§ 3412. Investigations; power to subpena and take oaths and affirmations; aid of courts

The Secretary may make such investigations as the Secretary deems necessary for the effective administration of this chapter or to determine whether any person subject to the provisions of this chapter has engaged or is about to engage in any acts or practices which constitute or will constitute a violation of any provisions of this chapter, or of any order, or rule or regulation issued under this chapter. For the purpose of such investigation, the Secretary is empowered to administer oaths and affirmations, subpena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence and require the production of any books, papers, and documents which are relevant to the inquiry. Such attendance of witnesses and the production of any such records may be required from any place in the United States. In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpena to, any person, the Secretary may invoke the aid of any court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which such investigation or proceeding is carried on, or where such person resides or carries on business, in requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and documents; and such court may issue an order requiring such person to appear before the Secretary, there to produce records, if so ordered, or to give testimony touching the matter under investigation. Any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof. All process in any such case may be served in the judicial district whereof such person is an inhabitant or wherever such person may be found.

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XVII, § 1713, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1039.)
§ 3413. Certification of organizations
The eligibility of any organization to represent wheat producers, processors, end product manufacturers, or consumers to request the issuance of an order under section 3403(a) of this title and to participate in the making of nominations under section 3405(b) of this title, shall be certified by the Secretary. The Secretary shall certify any organization which the Secretary finds to be eligible under this section and the Secretary’s determination as to eligibility shall be final. Certification shall be based, in addition to other available information, upon a factual report submitted by the organization which shall contain information deemed relevant and specified by the Secretary for the making of such determination, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) geographic territory covered by the organization’s active membership,
(b) nature and size of the organization’s active membership, including, in the case of an organization other than a consumer organization, the proportion of the total number of active wheat producers, processors, or end product manufacturers represented by the organization,
(c) evidence of stability and permanency of the organization,
(d) sources from which the organization’s operating funds are derived,
(e) functions of the organization, and
(f) the organization’s ability and willingness to further the aims and objectives of this title: Provided, That the primary consideration in determining the eligibility of an organization, other than a consumer organization, shall be whether its membership consists primarily of wheat producers, processors, or end product manufacturers who produce a substantial volume of wheat, processed wheat, or end products, respectively, and whether the organization is based on a primary or overriding interest in the production, processing, or end manufacture of wheat or wheat products, and the nutritional attributes thereof: Provided further, That the primary consideration in determining the eligibility of a consumer organization shall be whether (1) a principal purpose of the organization is to promote consumer interests, consumer research, or consumer education, (2) such organization has a broadly representative constituency of consumers, with active membership participation on a regular basis, and (3) the organization has demonstrated to the Secretary’s satisfaction its commitment to the achievement of the objectives of this chapter.
(Pub. L. 95–113, title XVII, § 1714, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1039.)
§ 3414. Other programs relating to wheat or wheat food research or nutrition education

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to preempt or interfere with the workings of any other program relating to wheat or wheat foods research or nutrition education organized and operating under the laws of the United States or any State.

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XVII, § 1715, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1040.)
§ 3415. Regulations

The Secretary is authorized to issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XVII, § 1716, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1040.)
§ 3416. Amendments to orders

The provisions of this chapter applicable to orders shall be applicable to amendments to orders.

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XVII, § 1717, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1040.)
§ 3417. Authorization of appropriations

There are hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated such funds as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. The funds so appropriated shall not be available for payment of the expenses or expenditures of the Council in administering any provisions of any order issued pursuant to the terms of this chapter.

(Pub. L. 95–113, title XVII, § 1719, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 1040.)