--- kind: "range" citation: "7 C.F.R. §§ 983.64–983.74" title: "7" from: "983.64" to: "983.74" count: 10 url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/7/983.64..983.74" --- # §983.64. Reports. Upon the request of the committee, with the approval of the Secretary, each handler shall furnish such reports and information on such forms as are needed to enable the Secretary and the committee to perform their functions and enforce the regulations under this part. The committee shall provide a uniform report format for the handlers. # §983.65. Confidential information. All reports and records furnished or submitted by handlers to the committee which include confidential data or information constituting a trade secret or disclosing the trade position, financial condition, or business operations of the particular handler or their customers shall be received by, and at all times kept in the custody and under the control of, one or more employees of the committee, who shall disclose such data and information to no person except the Secretary. However, such data or information may be disclosed only with the approval of the Secretary, to the committee when reasonably necessary to enable the committee to carry out its functions under this part. # §983.66. Records. Records of pistachios received, held and shipped by him, as will substantiate any required reports and will show performance under this part will be maintained by each handler for at least three years beyond the crop year of their applicability. # §983.67. Random verification audits. - (a) All handlers' pistachio inventory shall be subject to random verification audits by the committee to ensure compliance with the terms of the order, and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. - (b) Committee staff or agents of the committee, based on information from the industry or knowledge of possible violations, may make buys of handler product in retail locations. If it is determined that violations of the order have occurred as a result of the buys, the matter will be referred to the Secretary for appropriate action. # §983.68. Verification of reports. For the purpose of checking and verifying reports filed by handlers or the operation of handlers under the provisions of this part, the Secretary and the committee, through their duly authorized agents, shall have access to any premises where pistachios and records relating thereto may be held by any handler and at any time during reasonable business hours, shall be permitted to inspect any pistachios so held by such handler and any and all records of such handler with respect to the acquisition, holding, or disposition of all pistachios which may be held or which may have been shipped by him/her. # §983.70. Expenses. The committee is authorized to incur such expenses as the Secretary finds are reasonable and likely to be incurred by it during each production year for the maintenance and functioning of the committee and for such other purposes as the Secretary may, pursuant to the provisions of this part, determine to be appropriate. # §983.71. Assessments. - (a) Each handler who receives pistachios for processing in each production year, except as provided in [§ 983.58](/cfr/7/983.58.md), shall pay the committee on demand, an assessment based on the pro rata share of the expenses authorized by the Secretary for that year attributable to the assessed weight of pistachios received by that handler in that year. - (b) The committee, prior to the beginning of each production year, shall recommend and the Secretary shall set the assessment for the following production year, which shall not exceed one-half of one percent of the average price received by producers in the preceding production year. The committee, with the approval of the Secretary, may revise the assessment if it determines, based on information including crop size and value, that the action is necessary, and if the revision does not exceed the assessment limitation specified in this section and is made prior to the final billing of the assessment. # §983.72. Contributions. The committee may accept voluntary contributions but these shall only be used to pay for committee expenses unless specified in support of research under [§ 983.46](/cfr/7/983.46.md). Furthermore, research contributions shall be free of additional encumbrances by the donor and the committee shall retain complete control of their use. # §983.73. Delinquent assessments. Any handler who fails to pay any assessment within the time required by the committee, shall pay to the committee a late payment charge of 10 percent of the amount of the assessment determined to be past due and, in addition, interest on the unpaid balance at the rate of one and one-half percent per month. The late payment and interest charges may be modified by the Secretary upon recommendation of the committee. # §983.74. Accounting. - (a) If, at the end of a production year, the assessments collected are in excess of expenses incurred, such excess shall be accounted for in accordance with one of the following: - (1) If such excess is not retained in a reserve, as provided in [paragraph (a)(2)](#a-2) of this section, it shall be refunded proportionately to the persons from whom it was collected in accordance with [§ 983.71](/cfr/7/983.71.md): Provided, That any sum paid by a person in excess of his/her pro rata share of the expenses during any production year may be applied by the committee at the end of such production year as credit for such person, toward the committee's fiscal operations of the following production year; - (2) The committee, with the approval of the Secretary, may carry over such excess into subsequent production years as a reserve: Provided, That funds already in the reserve do not exceed approximately two production years' budgeted expenses. In the event that funds exceed two production years' budgeted expenses, future assessments will be reduced to bring the reserves to an amount that is less than or equal to two production years' budgeted expenses. Such reserve funds may be used: - (i) To defray expenses, during any production year, prior to the time assessment income is sufficient to cover such expenses; - (ii) To cover deficits incurred during any production year when assessment income is less than expenses; - (iii) To defray expenses incurred during any period when any or all provisions of this part are suspended; and - (iv) **To cover necessary expenses of liquidation in the event of termination of this part.** Upon such termination, any funds not required to defray the necessary expenses of liquidation shall be disposed of in such manner as the Secretary may determine to be appropriate: Provided, That to the extent practical, such funds shall be returned pro rata to the persons from whom such funds were collected. - (b) All funds received by the committee pursuant to the provisions of this part shall be used solely for the purpose specified in this part and shall be accounted for in the manner provided in this part. The Secretary may at any time require the committee and its members to account for all receipts and disbursements. - (c) Upon the removal or expiration of the term of office of any member of the committee, such member shall account for all receipts and disbursements for which that member was personally responsible, deliver all committee property and funds in the possession of such member to the committee, and execute such assignments and other instruments as may be necessary or appropriate to vest in the committee full title to all of the committee property, funds, and claims vested in such member pursuant to this part.