---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 4507"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "4507"
heading: "Suspension and termination of orders"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/4507"
units:
  - "Chapter 76 — Dairy Research and Promotion"
  - "Subchapter I — Dairy Promotion Program"
---

# §4507. Suspension and termination of orders

- (a) **Determination by Secretary—** After September 30, 1985, the [Secretary](/usc/7/4502.md?p=c) shall, whenever the [Secretary](/usc/7/4502.md?p=c) finds that any order issued under this subchapter or any provision thereof obstructs or does not tend to effectuate the declared policy of this subchapter, terminate or suspend the operation of such order or such provisions thereof.
- (b) **Referendum—** After September 30, 1985, the [Secretary](/usc/7/4502.md?p=c) may conduct a referendum at any time, and shall hold a referendum on request of a representative group comprising 10 per centum or more of the number of [producers](/usc/7/4502.md?p=h) and [importers](/usc/7/4502.md?p=n) subject to the order, to determine whether the [producers](/usc/7/4502.md?p=h) and [importers](/usc/7/4502.md?p=n) favor the termination or suspension of the order. The [Secretary](/usc/7/4502.md?p=c) shall suspend or terminate collection of assessments under the order within six months after the [Secretary](/usc/7/4502.md?p=c) determines that suspension or termination of the order is favored by a majority of the [producers](/usc/7/4502.md?p=h) voting in the referendum who, during a representative period (as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/4502.md?p=c)), have been engaged in the production of [milk](/usc/7/4502.md?p=d) for commercial use and [importers](/usc/7/4502.md?p=n) voting in the referendum (who have been engaged in the importation of [dairy products](/usc/7/4502.md?p=e) during the same representative period, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/4502.md?p=c)) and shall terminate the order in an orderly manner as soon as practicable after such determination.
- (c) **Action not considered an order—** The termination or suspension of any order, or any provision thereof, shall not be considered an order within the meaning of this subchapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–180, title I, § 116, Nov. 29, 1983, 97 Stat. 1141; Pub. L. 107–171, title I, § 1505(f), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 209.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2002—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107–171, which directed amendment of section 116(b) of the Dairy Promotion Stabilization Act of 1983 by inserting “and importers” after “of producers” and after “whether the producers” in first sentence and inserting “and importers voting in the referendum (who have been engaged in the importation of dairy products during the same representative period, as determined by the Secretary)” after “commercial use” in second sentence, was executed by making the insertions in subsec. (b) of this section, section 116 of the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.