§7958 Miscellaneous Provisions

Summary

All peanuts sold in the United States must be officially inspected and graded by federal or federal‑state inspectors. The old Peanut Administrative Committee under Marketing Agreement No. 146 is ended. The Secretary of Agriculture must create a Peanut Standards Board to advise on quality and handling rules for U.S. and imported peanuts. The Board will have 18 members, split evenly between peanut producers and peanut industry representatives. The Secretary will appoint 3 producer members and 3 industry members from each of three regions: Southeast (Alabama, Georgia, Florida), Southwest (Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico), and Virginia/Carolina (Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina). Members serve 3‑year terms. For the first appointments, terms will be staggered so one producer and one industry member from each region serve 1 year, one serve 2 years, and one serve 3 years. The Secretary must consult the Board before making or changing peanut quality or handling standards. The Board is not covered by Chapter 10 of Title 5. The Secretary must make finding and fighting peanut quality problems a priority and work with appropriate federal and state agencies. Imported peanuts must meet the same standards as U.S. peanuts. Money may be appropriated as needed to carry out these rules, and the Board’s expenses generally do not count toward any overall limits on advisory committee costs unless specifically stated. During a transition beginning May 13, 2002, and ending when the Secretary appoints the Board or 180 days after May 13, 2002 (whichever comes first), the Secretary may name the old committee’s members to the new Board and transfer funds to it. These requirements take effect with the 2002 peanut crop.