7 U.S.C. § 3413: Certification of organizations

Summary

The Secretary must approve groups that want to represent wheat producers, processors, end-product manufacturers, or consumers to ask for an order under section 3403(a) and to take part in making nominations under section 3405(b). The Secretary’s decision is final. To be approved, a group must give a factual report with the information the Secretary asks for and any other helpful facts. The report should cover things like the area the group serves, who and how many members it has, how stable and permanent it is, where its money comes from, what it does, and whether it will work toward the goals of this law. For non-consumer groups, the main test is whether most members are wheat producers, processors, or manufacturers who handle a substantial volume, and whether the group exists mainly to support those activities and the nutritional aspects of wheat products. For consumer groups, the main tests are that promoting consumer interests or education is a main purpose, the group has a broad, active membership, and it has shown the Secretary it is committed to the law’s objectives.

Title 7, §3413

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

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.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1977, see section 1901 of Pub. L. 95–113, set out as an

Effective Date

of 1977 Amendment note under section 1307 of this title.

§3413 Certification of Organizations

Summary

Title 7, §3413

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Effective Date

Citations & Metadata