---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 4607"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "4607"
heading: "Permissive terms and provisions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/4607"
units:
  - "Chapter 77 — Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information"
---

# §4607. Permissive terms and provisions

- (a) **In general—** On the recommendation of the [Honey Board](/usc/7/4602.md?p=8), and with the approval of the [Secretary](/usc/7/4602.md?p=22), an order issued pursuant to this chapter may contain one or more of the following provisions:
  - (1) Providing authority to exempt from the provisions of the order [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7) used for exporting and providing authority for the [Honey Board](/usc/7/4602.md?p=8) to require satisfactory safeguards against improper use of such exemption.
  - (2) Providing that in a [State](/usc/7/4602.md?p=23) with an existing [marketing](/usc/7/4602.md?p=13) order with respect to [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7), the objectives of which the [Secretary](/usc/7/4602.md?p=22) determines are comparable to the program established under this chapter, there shall be paid to the [Honey Board](/usc/7/4602.md?p=8) as provided in [section 4608 of this title](/usc/7/4608.md) that portion of the national assessment which is above the [State](/usc/7/4602.md?p=23) assessment, if any, actually paid on such [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7).
  - (3) Providing for authority to designate different [handler](/usc/7/4602.md?p=6) payment and reporting schedules to recognize differences in [marketing](/usc/7/4602.md?p=13) practices and procedures.
  - (4) Providing that the [Honey Board](/usc/7/4602.md?p=8) may convene from time to time working groups drawn from [producers](/usc/7/4602.md?p=16), [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7) [handlers](/usc/7/4602.md?p=6), [importers](/usc/7/4602.md?p=11), [exporters](/usc/7/4602.md?p=4), members of the wholesale or retail outlets for [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7), or other members of the public to assist in the development of [research](/usc/7/4602.md?p=21) and [marketing](/usc/7/4602.md?p=13) programs for [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7).
  - (5) Providing for authority to accumulate reserve funds from assessments collected pursuant to this chapter to permit an effective and continuous coordinated program of [research](/usc/7/4602.md?p=21), [promotion](/usc/7/4602.md?p=18), and consumer information, in years when the production and assessment income may be reduced, but the total reserve fund may not exceed the amount budgeted for one year’s operation.
  - (6) Providing for the authority to use funds collected under this chapter with the approval of the [Secretary](/usc/7/4602.md?p=22) for the development and expansion of [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7) and [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7) product sales in foreign [markets](/usc/7/198.md?p=1).
  - (7) Providing for terms and conditions incidental to, and not inconsistent with, the terms and conditions specified in this chapter and necessary to effectuate the other provisions of such an order.
  - (8) If approved in a referendum conducted under this chapter, providing authority for the development of programs and related rules and regulations that will, with the approval of the [Secretary](/usc/7/4602.md?p=22), establish minimum purity standards for [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7) and [honey products](/usc/7/4602.md?p=10) that are designed to maintain a positive and wholesome [marketing](/usc/7/4602.md?p=13) image for [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7) and [honey products](/usc/7/4602.md?p=10).
- (b) **Inspection and monitoring system—**
  - (1) **Inspection—** Any program, rule, or regulation under [subsection (a)(8)](#a-8) may provide for the inspection, by the [Secretary](/usc/7/4602.md?p=22), of [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7) and [honey products](/usc/7/4602.md?p=10) being sold for domestic consumption in, or for export from, the United States.
  - (2) **Monitoring system—** The [Honey Board](/usc/7/4602.md?p=8) may develop and recommend to the [Secretary](/usc/7/4602.md?p=22) a system for monitoring the purity of [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7) and [honey products](/usc/7/4602.md?p=10) being sold for domestic consumption in, or for export from, the United States, including a system for identifying adulterated [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7).
  - (3) **Coordination with other Federal agencies—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/4602.md?p=22) may coordinate, to the maximum extent practicable, with the head of any other Federal agency that has authority to ensure compliance with labeling or other requirements relating to the purity of [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7) and [honey products](/usc/7/4602.md?p=10) concerning an enforcement action against any [person](/usc/7/4602.md?p=15) that does not comply with a rule or regulation issued by any other Federal agency concerning the labeling or purity requirements of [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7) and [honey products](/usc/7/4602.md?p=10).
  - (4) **Authority to issue regulations—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/4602.md?p=22) may issue such rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out this subsection.
- (c) **Voluntary quality assurance program—**
  - (1) **In general—** In addition to or independent of any program, rule, or regulation under [subsection (b)](#b), the [Honey Board](/usc/7/4602.md?p=8), with the approval of the [Secretary](/usc/7/4602.md?p=22), may establish and carry out a voluntary quality assurance program concerning purity standards for [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7) and [honey products](/usc/7/4602.md?p=10).
  - (2) **Components—** The program may include—
    - (A) the establishment of an official [Honey Board](/usc/7/4602.md?p=8) seal of approval to be displayed on [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7) and [honey products](/usc/7/4602.md?p=10) of [producers](/usc/7/4602.md?p=16), [handlers](/usc/7/4602.md?p=6), and [importers](/usc/7/4602.md?p=11) that participate in the voluntary program and are found to meet such standards of purity as are established under the program;
    - (B) actions to encourage [producers](/usc/7/4602.md?p=16), [handlers](/usc/7/4602.md?p=6), and [importers](/usc/7/4602.md?p=11) to participate in the program;
    - (C) actions to encourage consumers to purchase [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7) and [honey products](/usc/7/4602.md?p=10) bearing the official seal of approval; and
    - (D) periodic inspections by the [Secretary](/usc/7/4602.md?p=22), or other parties approved by the [Secretary](/usc/7/4602.md?p=22), of [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7) and [honey products](/usc/7/4602.md?p=10) of [producers](/usc/7/4602.md?p=16), [handlers](/usc/7/4602.md?p=6), and [importers](/usc/7/4602.md?p=11) that participate in the voluntary program.
  - (3) **Display of seal of approval—** To be eligible to display the official seal of approval established under [paragraph (2)(A)](#c-2-A) on a [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7) or [honey](/usc/7/4602.md?p=7) product, a [producer](/usc/7/4602.md?p=16), [handler](/usc/7/4602.md?p=6), or [importer](/usc/7/4602.md?p=11) shall participate in the voluntary program under this subsection.
- (d) **Authority of Secretary—** Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the [Secretary](/usc/7/4602.md?p=22) shall have the authority to approve or disapprove the establishment of minimum purity standards, the inspection and monitoring system under [subsection (b)](#b), and the voluntary quality assurance program under [subsection (c)](#c).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–590, § 8, Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 3119; Pub. L. 105–185, title VI, § 605(g), June 23, 1998, 112 Stat. 596.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1998—Pub. L. 105–185 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added par. (8) and subsecs. (b) to (d).