---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 4811"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "4811"
heading: "Referendum"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/4811"
units:
  - "Chapter 79 — Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information"
---

# §4811. Referendum

- (a) **Continuation of order—** For the purpose of determining whether an [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) then[^1] effect shall be continued during the period beginning not earlier than 24 months after the issuance of the [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) and ending not later than 30 months after the issuance of the [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6), the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) shall conduct a referendum among [persons](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) who have been [pork](/usc/7/4802.md?p=9) [producers](/usc/7/4802.md?p=11) and [importers](/usc/7/4802.md?p=5) during a representative period, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14).
- (b) **Factors determining continuation; termination of order—**
  - (1) Such [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) shall be continued only if the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) determines that such [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) has been approved by not less than a majority of the [producers](/usc/7/4802.md?p=11) and [importers](/usc/7/4802.md?p=5) voting in the referendum.
  - (2) If the continuation of such [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) is not approved by a majority of the [producers](/usc/7/4802.md?p=11) and [importers](/usc/7/4802.md?p=5) voting in the referendum, the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) shall terminate—
    - (A) collection of assessments under the [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) not later than 6 months after the date of such determination; and
    - (B) the [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) in an orderly manner as soon as practicable after the date of such determination.
- (c) **Reimbursement for cost—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) shall be reimbursed from assessments collected by the [Board](/usc/7/4802.md?p=1) for any expenses incurred in connection with a referendum conducted under this section or [section 4812 of this title](/usc/7/4812.md).
- (d) **Manner of conducting—** A referendum shall be conducted in such manner as prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14).
- (e) **Amendment of initial order—** A referendum to amend the initial [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) shall be conducted pursuant to this section.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be followed by “in”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–198, title XVI, § 1622, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1618.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1986, see section 1631 of Pub. L. 99–198, set out as a note under section 4801 of this title.