---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 4309"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "4309"
heading: "Suspension and termination of orders"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/4309"
units:
  - "Chapter 74 — Floral Research and Consumer Information"
---

# §4309. Suspension and termination of orders

- (a) **Prerequisites—** Whenever the [Secretary](/usc/7/4302.md?p=1) finds that any order issued under this chapter, or any provisions thereof, obstructs or does not tend to effectuate the declared policy of this chapter, the [Secretary](/usc/7/4302.md?p=1) shall terminate or suspend the operation of such order or such provisions thereof.
- (b) **Referendum—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/4302.md?p=1) may conduct a referendum at any time, and shall hold a referendum on request of 10 per centum or more of the number of [producers](/usc/7/4302.md?p=13) and [importers](/usc/7/4302.md?p=15) voting in the referendum approving the order, to determine whether such [producers](/usc/7/4302.md?p=13) and [importers](/usc/7/4302.md?p=15) favor the termination or suspension of the order, and shall suspend or terminate such order six months after the [Secretary](/usc/7/4302.md?p=1) determines that suspension or termination of the order is approved or favored by a majority of the [producers](/usc/7/4302.md?p=13) and [importers](/usc/7/4302.md?p=15) voting in such referendum who, during a representative period determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/4302.md?p=1), have been engaged in the production or importation of [flowers and plants](/usc/7/4302.md?p=7).
- (c) **Nature of order—** The termination or suspension of any order, or any provision thereof, shall not be considered an order within the meaning of this chapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–98, title XVII, § 1710, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1354.)