--- kind: "section" citation: "7 U.S.C. § 6806" title: "7" title_heading: "Agriculture" number: "6806" heading: "Referenda" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/6806" units: - "Chapter 97 — Fresh Cut Flowers and Fresh Cut Greens Promotion and Information" --- # §6806. Referenda - (a) **Requirement for initial referendum—** - (1) **In general—** Not later than 3 years after the issuance of an [order](/usc/7/6802.md?p=5) under [section 6803(b)(3) of this title](/usc/7/6803.md?p=b-3), the [Secretary](/usc/7/6802.md?p=11) shall conduct a referendum among [qualified handlers](/usc/7/6802.md?p=4-A-i) required to pay assessments under the [order](/usc/7/6802.md?p=5), as provided in [section 6804(h)(1) of this title](/usc/7/6804.md?p=h-1), subject to the voting requirements of [subsection (b)](#b), to ascertain whether the [order](/usc/7/6802.md?p=5) then in effect shall be continued. - (2) **Approval of order needed—** The [order](/usc/7/6802.md?p=5) shall be continued only if the [Secretary](/usc/7/6802.md?p=11) determines that the [order](/usc/7/6802.md?p=5) has been approved by a simple majority of all votes cast in the referendum. If the [order](/usc/7/6802.md?p=5) is not approved, the [Secretary](/usc/7/6802.md?p=11) shall terminate the [order](/usc/7/6802.md?p=5) as provided in [subsection (d)](#d). - (b) **Votes permitted—** - (1) **In general—** Each [qualified handler](/usc/7/6802.md?p=4-A-i) eligible to vote in a referendum conducted under this section shall be entitled to cast 1 vote for each separate facility of the [person](/usc/7/6802.md?p=6) that is an eligible separate facility, as defined in [paragraph (2)](#b-2). - (2) **Eligible separate facility—** For the purpose of [paragraph (1)](#b-1): - (A) **Separate facility—** A handling or marketing facility of a [qualified handler](/usc/7/6802.md?p=4-A-i) shall be considered to be a separate facility if the facility is physically located away from other facilities of the [qualified handler](/usc/7/6802.md?p=4-A-i) or the business function of the facility is substantially different from the functions of other facilities owned or operated by the [qualified handler](/usc/7/6802.md?p=4-A-i). - (B) **Eligibility—** A separate facility of a [qualified handler](/usc/7/6802.md?p=4-A-i) shall be considered to be an eligible separate facility if the annual sales of [cut flowers](/usc/7/6802.md?p=2-A-i) and [cut greens](/usc/7/6802.md?p=2-A-ii) to [retailers](/usc/7/6802.md?p=10-A) and [exempt handlers](/usc/7/6802.md?p=4-B) from the facility are $750,000 or more. - (C) **Annual sales determined—** For the purpose of determining the amount of annual sales of [cut flowers](/usc/7/6802.md?p=2-A-i) and [cut greens](/usc/7/6802.md?p=2-A-ii) under [subparagraph (B)](#b-2-B), subparagraphs (A) and (C) of [section 6802(4) of this title](/usc/7/6802.md?p=4) shall apply. - (c) **Suspension or termination referenda—** If an [order](/usc/7/6802.md?p=5) is approved in a referendum conducted under [subsection (a)](#a), effective beginning on the date that is 3 years after the date of the approval, the [Secretary](/usc/7/6802.md?p=11)— - (1) at the discretion of the [Secretary](/usc/7/6802.md?p=11), may conduct at any time a referendum of [qualified handlers](/usc/7/6802.md?p=4-A-i) required to pay assessments under the [order](/usc/7/6802.md?p=5), as provided in [section 6804(h)(1) of this title](/usc/7/6804.md?p=h-1), subject to the voting requirements of [subsection (b)](#b), to ascertain whether [qualified handlers](/usc/7/6802.md?p=4-A-i) favor suspension or termination of the [order](/usc/7/6802.md?p=5); and - (2) if requested by the [PromoFlor Council](/usc/7/6802.md?p=7) or by a representative group comprising 30 percent or more of all [qualified handlers](/usc/7/6802.md?p=4-A-i) required to pay assessments under the [order](/usc/7/6802.md?p=5), as provided in [section 6804(h)(1) of this title](/usc/7/6804.md?p=h-1), shall conduct a referendum of all [qualified handlers](/usc/7/6802.md?p=4-A-i) required to pay assessments under the [order](/usc/7/6802.md?p=5), as provided in [section 6804(h)(1) of this title](/usc/7/6804.md?p=h-1), subject to the voting requirements of [subsection (b)](#b), to ascertain whether [qualified handlers](/usc/7/6802.md?p=4-A-i) favor suspension or termination of the [order](/usc/7/6802.md?p=5). - (d) **Suspension or termination—** If, as a result of the referendum conducted under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/7/6802.md?p=11) determines that the [order](/usc/7/6802.md?p=5) has not been approved by a simple majority of all votes cast in the referendum, or as a result of a referendum conducted under [subsection (c)](#c), the [Secretary](/usc/7/6802.md?p=11) determines that suspension or termination of the [order](/usc/7/6802.md?p=5) is favored by a simple majority of all votes cast in the referendum, the [Secretary](/usc/7/6802.md?p=11) shall— - (1) not later than 180 days after the referendum, suspend or terminate, as appropriate, collection of assessments under the [order](/usc/7/6802.md?p=5); and - (2) suspend or terminate, as appropriate, activities under the [order](/usc/7/6802.md?p=5) as soon as practicable and in an orderly manner. - (e) **Manner of conducting referenda—** Referenda under this section shall be conducted in such manner as is determined appropriate by the [Secretary](/usc/7/6802.md?p=11). ## Source credit (Pub. L. 103–190, § 7, Dec. 14, 1993, 107 Stat. 2284.)