§501 Collection and Publication; Facts Required; Deteriorated Tobacco

Summary

The Secretary of Agriculture must collect and publish counts of leaf tobacco in the United States and Puerto Rico when it is held by dealers, manufacturers, growers’ cooperatives, warehousemen, brokers, holders, or owners — but not by the original growers. The data must break tobacco down by type, groups of grades, and other useful categories (like quality or color). Totals are to be made for January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 each year, and an annual report must be issued. The Secretary does not have to collect data from manufacturers who, in the first three quarters of the prior year, made less than 35,000 pounds of tobacco, cigar makers who made under 185,000 cigars, or cigarette makers who made under 750,000 cigarettes. The Secretary may also skip anyone who has under 50,000 pounds of leaf tobacco in stock on the report date. Tobacco that has deteriorated so it is not marketable or usable for making tobacco products must be listed with other nondescript tobacco and reported in the “N” group for its type.