§ 6407. Required terms in orders
(a)
In general
Each order issued under this chapter shall contain the terms and conditions prescribed in this section.
(b)
National Processor Advertising and Promotion Board
(1)
Establishment
The order shall establish a National Processor Advertising and Promotion Board to administer the order.
(2)
Service to entire industry
In administering the order, the Board shall carry out programs and projects that will provide maximum benefit to the fluid milk industry and promote only fluid milk products. The Board shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that advertising coverage in each region is proportionate to the funds collected from each region.
(3)
Regions
The Secretary shall establish not less than 12 nor more than 15 regions in order to ensure appropriate geographic representation on the Board.
(4)
Board membership
The Board shall consist of one member appointed by the Secretary, from among fluid milk processors, to represent each of the regions established under paragraph (3), with the membership representing, to the extent practicable, differing sizes of operations. The Secretary shall appoint five additional at-large members to the Board, of which at least three shall be fluid milk processors and at least one shall be from the general public.
(5)
Terms of office
The members of the Board shall serve for terms of 3 years, except that the members appointed to the initial Board shall serve, proportionately, for terms of 1, 2, and 3 years, as determined by the Secretary. No member shall serve for more than 2 consecutive terms, except that the members that are selected to serve for the initial term of 1 or 2 years shall be eligible to be reappointed for a 3-year term.
(c)
Powers and duties of Board
The order shall define the powers and duties of the Board, which shall include the power and duty—
(4)
to develop and recommend such rules, regulations, and amendments to the order to the Secretary for approval as may be necessary for the development and execution of programs or projects to carry out the order;
(5)
to employ such persons as the Board considers necessary and determine the compensation and define the duties of the persons;
(6)
to prepare and submit for the approval of the Secretary, prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, a fiscal year budget of the anticipated expenses in the administration of the order, including the probable costs of all programs and projects;
(8)
to enter into contracts or agreements, with the approval of the Secretary, to develop and carry out programs or projects of research and advertising;
(9)
to carry out advertising or research, and pay the costs of the projects with funds collected pursuant to section
6409 of this title;
(d)
Plans and budgets
(1)
Budgets
The order shall require the Board, prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, or as may be necessary after the beginning of the fiscal year, to develop budgets of the anticipated expenses and disbursements of the Board in the implementation of the order, including projected costs of research and advertising. The budget shall be submitted to the Secretary and be effective on the approval of the Secretary.
(2)
Incurring expenses
The Board may incur such expenses for research or advertising of fluid milk products, and other expenses for the administration, maintenance, and functioning of the Board, as may be authorized by the Secretary. The expenses shall include any implementation, administrative, and referendum costs incurred by the Department.
(3)
Paying expenses
The funds to cover the expenses referred to in paragraph (2) shall be paid from assessments collected under section
6409 of this title.
(e)
Prohibition on branded advertising
A program or project conducted under this chapter shall not make any reference to private brand names or use false or unwarranted claims on behalf of fluid milk products, or false or unwarranted statements with respect to the attributes or use of any competing products, except that this subsection shall not preclude the Board from offering its programs and projects for use by commercial parties, under such terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe as approved by the Secretary.
(f)
Contracts and agreements
(1)
In general
To ensure efficient use of funds collected under this chapter, the order shall provide that the Board may enter into contracts or agreements for the implementation and carrying out of programs or projects for fluid milk products research and advertising and for the payment of the costs of the programs or projects with funds received by the Board under the order.
(g)
Investment of funds
(1)
In general
The order shall provide that the Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may invest assessment funds collected by the Board under the order, pending disbursement of the funds, only in—
(h)
Books and records of Board
(i)
Books and records of processors
(1)
In general
The order shall require that each fluid milk processor subject to this chapter maintain and make available for inspection such books and records as may be required by the order and file reports at the time, in the manner, and having the content prescribed by the order.
(2)
Use of information
Information obtained under paragraph (1) shall be made available to the Secretary as is appropriate for the effectuation, administration, or enforcement of this chapter, or any order or regulation issued under this chapter.
(3)
Confidentiality
(A)
In general
Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), commercial or financial information that is obtained under paragraph (1) or (2) and that is privileged or confidential shall be kept confidential by all officers and employees of the Department and agents of the Board, and only such information so obtained as the Secretary considers relevant may be disclosed to the public by them and then only in a suit or administrative hearing brought at the request of the Secretary, or to which the Secretary or any officer of the United States is a party, and involving the order.
(B)
Availability of information
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, information obtained under this chapter may be made available to another agency of the Federal Government for a civil or criminal law enforcement activity if the activity is authorized by law and if the head of the agency has made a written request to the Secretary specifying the particular information desired and the law enforcement activity for which the information is sought.
(C)
Other exceptions
Nothing in subparagraph (A) may be construed to prohibit—
(4)
Penalty
Any person violating this subsection, on conviction, shall be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or both, and if such person is an agent of the Board or an officer or employee of the Department, shall be removed from office.
(j)
Prohibition on use of funds to influence governmental action
(l)
Exemptions
The order shall exempt fluid milk products exported from the United States from assessments under the order.
(m)
Report
The Secretary shall provide annually for an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the fluid milk promotion program carried out under this chapter during the previous fiscal year, in conjunction with the evaluation of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board established under section
4504
(b) of this title.
(n)
Other terms and conditions
The order also shall contain such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with this chapter, as are necessary to effectuate this chapter, including regulations relating to the assessment of late payment charges.