---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 4904"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "4904"
heading: "Notice and hearings"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/4904"
units:
  - "Chapter 80 — Watermelon Research and Promotion"
---

# §4904. Notice and hearings

- (a) When sufficient evidence, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/4902.md?p=1), is presented to the [Secretary](/usc/7/4902.md?p=1) by [watermelon](/usc/7/4902.md?p=3) [producers](/usc/7/4902.md?p=5), [handlers](/usc/7/4902.md?p=4), and [importers](/usc/7/4902.md?p=6), or whenever the [Secretary](/usc/7/4902.md?p=1) has reason to believe that a plan will tend to effectuate the declared policy of this chapter, the [Secretary](/usc/7/4902.md?p=1) shall give due notice and opportunity for a hearing on a proposed plan. Such hearing may be requested by [watermelon](/usc/7/4902.md?p=3) [producers](/usc/7/4902.md?p=5), [handlers](/usc/7/4902.md?p=4), or [importers](/usc/7/4902.md?p=6) or by any other interested [person](/usc/7/4902.md?p=2), including the [Secretary](/usc/7/4902.md?p=1), when the request for such hearing is accompanied by a proposal for a plan.
- (b) After notice and opportunity for hearing as provided in [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, the [Secretary](/usc/7/4902.md?p=1) shall issue a plan if the [Secretary](/usc/7/4902.md?p=1) finds, and sets forth in such plan, on the evidence introduced at the hearing that the issuance of the plan and all the terms and conditions thereof will tend to effectuate the declared policy of this chapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–198, title XVI, § 1645, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1623; Pub. L. 103–189, § 8(c), Dec. 14, 1993, 107 Stat. 2261.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–189 substituted “, handlers, and importers” for “and handlers” and “, handlers, or importers” for “or handlers”.