Agricultural Marketing Service November 8, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule establishes procedures for conducting a referendum to determine whether the continuation of the Christmas Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order) is favored by domestic producers and importers of Christmas trees. This program will be implemented under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (1996 Act). The 1996 Act allows for a referendum to be conducted up to three years after the effective date of the Order. The program will be continued if approved by a simple majority of the current eligible domestic producers and importers voting in the referendum. These procedures will also be used for any subsequent referendum under the Order. The Order is being published separately in this issue of the Federal Register.

This rule establishes an industry-funded promotion, research, and information program for fresh cut Christmas trees. The Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order) is authorized under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (1996 Act). The Order will establish a national Christmas Tree Promotion Board (Board) comprised of 11 producers and one importer. Under the Order, producers and importers of fresh cut Christmas trees will pay an initial assessment of fifteen cents per Christmas tree. Producers and importers that produce or import less than 500 Christmas trees annually will be exempt from the assessment. A referendum will be conducted, among producers and importers, three years after the collection of assessments begin to determine if Christmas tree producers and importers favor the continuation of this program.