---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 4812"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "4812"
heading: "Suspension and termination of orders"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/4812"
units:
  - "Chapter 79 — Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information"
---

# §4812. Suspension and termination of orders

- (a) **Authority of Secretary—** If after the initial referendum provided for in [section 4811(a) of this title](/usc/7/4811.md?p=a) the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) determines that an [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6), or a provision of the [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6), obstructs or does not tend to effectuate the declared policy of this chapter, the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) shall terminate or suspend the operation of such [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) or provision.
- (b) **Referendum to terminate or suspend; eligible voters; requirements for approval; termination or suspension date; one referendum within 2-year period—**
  - (1)
    - (A) Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#b-2), after the initial referendum provided for in [section 4811(a) of this title](/usc/7/4811.md?p=a), on the request of a number of [persons](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) equal to at least 15 percent of [persons](/usc/7/4802.md?p=7) who have been [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), the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) shall conduct a referendum to determine whether the [producers](/usc/7/4802.md?p=11) and [importers](/usc/7/4802.md?p=5) favor the termination or suspension of the [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6).
    - (B) The [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) shall—
      - (i) suspend or terminate collection of assessments under the [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) not later than 6 months after the date the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) determines that suspension or termination of the [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) is favored by a majority of the [producers](/usc/7/4802.md?p=11) and [importers](/usc/7/4802.md?p=5) voting in the referendum; and
      - (ii) terminate the [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) in an orderly manner as soon as practicable after the date of such determination.
  - (2) Except with respect to a referendum required to be conducted under [section 4811 of this title](/usc/7/4811.md), the [Secretary](/usc/7/4802.md?p=14) shall not be required by [paragraph (1)](#b-1) to conduct more than one referendum under this chapter in a 2-year period.
- (c) **Termination or suspension not to be considered an order—** The termination or suspension of an [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6), or a provision of an [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6), shall not be considered an [order](/usc/7/4802.md?p=6) within the meaning of this chapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–198, title XVI, § 1623, 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.