---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 7470"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "7470"
heading: "Referenda"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/7470"
units:
  - "Chapter 101 — Agricultural Promotion"
  - "Subchapter IV — Kiwifruit"
---

# §7470. Referenda

- (a) **Initial referendum—**
  - (1) **Referendum required—** During the 60-day period immediately preceding the proposed effective date of an [order](/usc/7/7462.md?p=8) issued under [section 7463 of this title](/usc/7/7463.md), the [Secretary](/usc/7/7462.md?p=14) shall conduct a referendum among [kiwifruit](/usc/7/7462.md?p=6) [producers](/usc/7/7462.md?p=11) and [importers](/usc/7/7462.md?p=5) who will be subject to assessments under the [order](/usc/7/7462.md?p=8), to ascertain whether [producers](/usc/7/7462.md?p=11) and [importers](/usc/7/7462.md?p=5) approve the implementation of the [order](/usc/7/7462.md?p=8).
  - (2) **Approval of order—** The [order](/usc/7/7462.md?p=8) shall become effective, as provided in [section 7463 of this title](/usc/7/7463.md), if the [Secretary](/usc/7/7462.md?p=14) determines that—
    - (A) the [order](/usc/7/7462.md?p=8) has been approved by a majority of the [producers](/usc/7/7462.md?p=11) and [importers](/usc/7/7462.md?p=5) voting in the referendum; and
    - (B) the [producers](/usc/7/7462.md?p=11) and [importers](/usc/7/7462.md?p=5) favoring approval produce and import more than 50 percent of the total volume of [kiwifruit](/usc/7/7462.md?p=6) produced and imported by [persons](/usc/7/7462.md?p=9) voting in the referendum.
- (b) **Subsequent referenda—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/7462.md?p=14) may periodically conduct a referendum to determine if [kiwifruit](/usc/7/7462.md?p=6) [producers](/usc/7/7462.md?p=11) and [importers](/usc/7/7462.md?p=5) favor the continuation, termination, or suspension of any [order](/usc/7/7462.md?p=8) issued under [section 7463 of this title](/usc/7/7463.md) that is in effect at the time of the referendum.
- (c) **Required referenda—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/7462.md?p=14) shall hold a referendum under [subsection (b)](#b)—
  - (1) at the end of the 6-year period beginning on the effective date of the [order](/usc/7/7462.md?p=8) and at the end of each subsequent 6-year period;
  - (2) at the request of the [Board](/usc/7/7462.md?p=1); or
  - (3) if not less than 30 percent of the [kiwifruit](/usc/7/7462.md?p=6) [producers](/usc/7/7462.md?p=11) and [importers](/usc/7/7462.md?p=5) subject to assessments under the [order](/usc/7/7462.md?p=8) submit a petition requesting the referendum.
- (d) **Vote—** On completion of a referendum under [subsection (b)](#b), the [Secretary](/usc/7/7462.md?p=14) shall suspend or terminate the [order](/usc/7/7462.md?p=8) that was subject to the referendum at the end of the [marketing](/usc/7/7462.md?p=7) year if—
  - (1) the suspension or termination of the [order](/usc/7/7462.md?p=8) is favored by not less than a majority of the [producers](/usc/7/7462.md?p=11) and [importers](/usc/7/7462.md?p=5) voting in the referendum; and
  - (2) the [producers](/usc/7/7462.md?p=11) and [importers](/usc/7/7462.md?p=5) produce and import more than 50 percent of the total volume of [kiwifruit](/usc/7/7462.md?p=6) produced and imported by [persons](/usc/7/7462.md?p=9) voting in the referendum.
- (e) **Confidentiality—** The ballots and other information or reports that reveal, or tend to reveal, the vote of any [person](/usc/7/7462.md?p=9) under this subchapter and the voting list shall be held strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 104–127, title V, § 561, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1073.)