§4315 Certification of Organizations; Applicable Criteria and Considerations

Summary

The Secretary must decide which groups can represent flower and plant producers or importers when asking for an order or making nominations. To decide, the group must give a written factual report with key information the Secretary asks for. That report should cover things like the area the group represents; how many active members it has and how much they produce or import; how producers and importers shape the group’s policies; proof the group is stable; where its money comes from; what the group does; whether the board is mostly producers and importers; and whether the group can and will carry out the program’s goals. The main test is whether the group has a substantial number of producers and importers who handle a substantial volume of flowers and plants. If the Secretary finds a group eligible, the group is certified and the decision is final. If more than one group is certified in the same area, they may meet together to decide that area’s nominations.