§4808 National Pork Board

Summary

Creates a 15-member National Pork Board that the Secretary must appoint. Members are pork producers and importers picked from nominations under section 4806(g). The Board must include representatives from at least 12 States. Members serve 3-year terms and may serve no more than two back-to-back 3-year terms. The first group of members must be staggered so roughly equal numbers serve 1-, 2-, and 3-year terms. A member stays in the job until a successor is appointed. The Board picks its President by majority vote. A majority of members is a quorum, and a motion or election passes by a majority of votes cast. Members get no pay but are reimbursed for reasonable expenses from assessment funds under section 4809. The Board must create and send promotion, research, and consumer-information plans to the Secretary for approval. It runs the program, makes rules needed to carry it out, looks into complaints, suggests changes to the order, hires staff, and handles everyday business. Each year the Board must send the Secretary a budget that shows expected costs, including money for State associations under section 4809(c)(1). No plan, project, or budget can start without the Secretary’s OK. With the Secretary’s approval, the Board can hire others and pay them from assessment funds. Contracts must include the proposed plan and budget, require Secretary approval before starting, and require accurate records and regular reports on activities and spending.