§7803 Issuance of Orders

Summary

The Secretary must create national orders that apply to people and businesses who grow, import, or are the first handlers of Hass avocados. Only one such order can be in effect at any time. An existing avocado producer group set up by a State law, or anyone else who would be affected, can ask for and submit a proposed order. If a state-established producer group sends a proposal, the Secretary must publish the proposed order and open it for public comment within 60 days of receiving the proposal. After the comment period, the Secretary will issue the order, consider the comments, and include what is needed to follow the law. The order only becomes effective after a yes vote in a referendum, and that must happen no later than 180 days after the proposed order is published. The Secretary may change an order later, and the same rules apply to any amendment.