(a) Suspension or termination by Secretary

The Secretary shall, whenever the Secretary finds that the order or any provision of the order obstructs or does not tend to effectuate the declared policy of this chapter, terminate or suspend the operation of the order or provision.

(b) Other referenda

(1) In general

The Secretary may conduct at any time a referendum of persons who, during a representative period as determined by the Secretary, have been fluid milk processors on whether to suspend or terminate the order, and shall hold such a referendum on request of the Board or any group of such processors that among them marketed during a representative period, as determined by the Secretary, 10 percent or more of the volume of fluid milk products marketed by fluid milk processors voting in the preceding referendum.

(2) Suspension or termination

If the Secretary determines that the suspension or termination is favored—

(A) by at least 50 percent of fluid milk processors voting in the referendum; and

(B) by fluid milk processors voting in the referendum that marketed during a representative period, as determined by the Secretary, 40 percent or more of the volume of fluid milk products marketed by fluid milk processors voting in the referendum;


the Secretary shall, within 6 months after making the determination, suspend or terminate, as appropriate, collection of assessments under the order, and suspend or terminate, as appropriate, activities under the order in an orderly manner as soon as practicable.

(3) Costs; manner

Subsections (c) and (d) of section 6413 of this title shall apply to a referendum conducted under this subsection.

Terms Used In 7 USC 6414

  • Board: means the National Processor Advertising and Promotion Board established under section 6407(b) of this title. See 7 USC 6402
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of Agriculture. See 7 USC 6402