§4808 National Pork Board

Summary

Creates a 15-member National Pork Board. Members are chosen by the Secretary from nominations sent under section 4806(g) of this title and must include producers representing at least 12 States and importers. Members serve 3-year terms and may not serve more than two consecutive 3-year terms. First appointments are staggered into 1-, 2-, and 3-year terms as evenly as possible. A member stays until a successor is appointed. The Board elects its president by majority vote. More than half the members make a quorum, and motions or elections pass by a majority of votes at a meeting with a quorum. Members are not paid but are reimbursed by the Board for reasonable expenses from assessments collected under section 4809 of this title. The Board must create and submit promotion, research, and consumer-information plans and projects to the Secretary for approval, run the program, make needed rules, investigate complaints and report them to the Secretary, recommend changes, hire staff, and handle routine business. Each year it must send an approved budget to the Secretary showing expected costs, including its projects and funds for State associations under section 4809(c)(1). No plan, project, or budget can take effect without the Secretary’s approval. With the Secretary’s OK, the Board may hire others and pay them from assessment funds. Contracts must make the contractor submit plans and budgets, take effect only after the Secretary approves, keep accurate records, give periodic activity and financial reports, and provide any other reports required.