§511d Designation of markets; manner; inspection and related services; fees and charges

Summary

The Secretary may name which auction markets must have official inspection and certification whenever tobacco sold there moves in interstate or other commerce. Before naming a market, the Secretary must hold a vote of the tobacco growers who sold at that market in the previous marketing season. The Secretary can combine markets into one vote. A market is only named if two-thirds of the growers who vote approve. The Secretary can use Internal Revenue tobacco records to find who can vote, and no grower may vote in more than one referendum. After at least 30 days’ public notice that a market is named, tobacco cannot be sold there at auction until an authorized inspector has checked and certified it under the set standards, unless inspectors are unavailable or the amount of tobacco is too small to justify inspection. The Secretary will set and collect fees for inspection, certification, standards, and related services. Fees should cover the costs and are charged to the warehouse operator, who must collect them from sellers. If the warehouse operator does not pay, inspection can be stopped. The Secretary will also create a permanent national advisory committee and subcommittees of tobacco producers to advise on service levels and fees.