---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 7484"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "7484"
heading: "Required terms in orders"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/7484"
units:
  - "Chapter 101 — Agricultural Promotion"
  - "Subchapter V — Popcorn"
---

# §7484. Required terms in orders

- (a) **In general—** An [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) shall contain the terms and conditions specified in this section.
- (b) **Establishment and membership of Popcorn Board—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) shall provide for the establishment of, and appointment of members to, a [Popcorn](/usc/7/7482.md?p=9) [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) that shall consist of not fewer than 4 members and not more than 9 members.
  - (2) **Nominations—** The members of the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) shall be [processors](/usc/7/7482.md?p=11) appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) from nominations submitted by [processors](/usc/7/7482.md?p=11) in a manner authorized by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14), subject to [paragraph (3)](#b-3). Not more than 1 member may be appointed to the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) from nominations submitted by any 1 [processor](/usc/7/7482.md?p=11).
  - (3) **Geographical diversity—** In making appointments, the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) shall take into account, to the extent practicable, the geographical distribution of [popcorn](/usc/7/7482.md?p=9) production throughout the [United States](/usc/7/7482.md?p=16).
  - (4) **Terms—** The term of appointment of each member of the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) shall be 3 years, except that the members appointed to the initial [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) shall serve, proportionately, for terms of 2, 3, and 4 years, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14).
  - (5) **Compensation and expenses—** A member of the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for the expenses of the member incurred in the performance of duties for the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1).
- (c) **Powers and duties of Board—** The [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) shall define the powers and duties of the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1), which shall include the power and duty—
  - (1) to administer the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) in accordance with the terms and provisions of the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7);
  - (2) to issue regulations to effectuate the terms and provisions of the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7);
  - (3) to appoint members of the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) to serve on an executive committee;
  - (4) to propose, receive, evaluate, and approve budgets, plans, and projects of [promotion](/usc/7/7482.md?p=12), [research](/usc/7/7482.md?p=13), [consumer information](/usc/7/7482.md?p=3), and [industry information](/usc/7/7482.md?p=5), and to contract with appropriate [persons](/usc/7/7482.md?p=8) to implement the plans or projects;
  - (5) to accept and receive voluntary contributions, gifts, and [market](/usc/7/198.md?p=1) [promotion](/usc/7/7482.md?p=12) or similar funds;
  - (6) to invest, pending disbursement under a plan or project, funds collected through assessments authorized under [subsection (f)](#f), only in—
    - (A) obligations of the [United States](/usc/7/7482.md?p=16) or an agency of the [United States](/usc/7/7482.md?p=16);
    - (B) general obligations of a [State](/usc/7/7482.md?p=15) or a political subdivision of a [State](/usc/7/7482.md?p=15);
    - (C) an interest-bearing account or certificate of deposit of a [bank](/usc/7/27.md?p=a) that is a member of the Federal Reserve System; or
    - (D) obligations fully guaranteed as to principal and interest by the [United States](/usc/7/7482.md?p=16);
  - (7) to receive, investigate, and report to the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) complaints of violations of the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7); and
  - (8) to recommend to the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) amendments to the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7).
- (d) **Plans and budgets—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) shall provide that the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) for approval any plan or project of [promotion](/usc/7/7482.md?p=12), [research](/usc/7/7482.md?p=13), [consumer information](/usc/7/7482.md?p=3), or [industry information](/usc/7/7482.md?p=5).
  - (2) **Budgets—** The [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) shall require the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) to submit to the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) for approval budgets on a fiscal year basis of the anticipated expenses and disbursements of the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) in the implementation of the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7), including projected costs of plans and projects of [promotion](/usc/7/7482.md?p=12), [research](/usc/7/7482.md?p=13), [consumer information](/usc/7/7482.md?p=3), and [industry information](/usc/7/7482.md?p=5).
- (e) **Contracts and agreements—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) shall provide that the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) may enter into contracts or agreements for the implementation and carrying out of plans or projects of [promotion](/usc/7/7482.md?p=12), [research](/usc/7/7482.md?p=13), [consumer information](/usc/7/7482.md?p=3), or [industry information](/usc/7/7482.md?p=5), including contracts with a [processor](/usc/7/7482.md?p=11) organization, and for the payment of the cost of the plans or projects with funds collected by the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) under the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7).
  - (2) **Requirements—** A contract or agreement under [paragraph (1)](#e-1) shall provide that—
    - (A) the contracting party shall develop and submit to the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) a plan or project, together with a budget that shows the estimated costs to be incurred for the plan or project;
    - (B) the plan or project shall become effective on the approval of the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14); and
    - (C) the contracting party shall keep accurate records of each transaction of the party, account for funds received and expended, make periodic reports to the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) of activities conducted, and make such other reports as the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) or the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) may require.
  - (3) **Processor organizations—** The [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) shall provide that the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) may contract with [processor](/usc/7/7482.md?p=11) organizations for any services required in addition to the services described in [paragraph (1)](#e-1). The contract shall include provisions comparable to the provisions required by [paragraph (2)](#e-2).
- (f) **Assessments—**
  - (1) **Processors—** The [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) shall provide that each [processor](/usc/7/7482.md?p=11) [marketing](/usc/7/7482.md?p=6) [popcorn](/usc/7/7482.md?p=9) in the [United States](/usc/7/7482.md?p=16) or for export shall, in the manner prescribed in the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7), pay assessments and remit the assessments to the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1).
  - (2) **Direct marketers—** A [processor](/usc/7/7482.md?p=11) that [markets](/usc/7/198.md?p=1) [popcorn](/usc/7/7482.md?p=9) produced by the [processor](/usc/7/7482.md?p=11) directly to consumers shall pay and remit the assessments on the [popcorn](/usc/7/7482.md?p=9) directly to the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) in the manner prescribed in the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7).
  - (3) **Rate—**
    - (A) **In general—** The rate of assessment prescribed in the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) shall be a rate established by the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) but not more than $.08 per hundredweight of [popcorn](/usc/7/7482.md?p=9).
    - (B) **Adjustment of rate—** The [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) shall provide that the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1), with the approval of the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14), may raise or lower the rate of assessment annually up to a maximum of $.08 per hundredweight of [popcorn](/usc/7/7482.md?p=9).
  - (4) **Use of assessments—**
    - (A) **In general—** Subject to subparagraphs [(B)](#f-4-B) and [(C)](#f-4-C) and [subsection (c)(5)](#c-5), the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) shall provide that the assessments collected shall be used by the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1)—
      - (i) to pay expenses incurred in implementing and administering the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7), with provision for a reasonable reserve; and
      - (ii) to cover such administrative costs as are incurred by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14), except that the administrative costs incurred by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) (other than any legal expenses incurred to defend and enforce the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7)) that may be reimbursed by the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) may not exceed 15 percent of the projected annual revenues of the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1).
    - (B) **Expenditures based on source of assessments—** In implementing plans and projects of [promotion](/usc/7/7482.md?p=12), [research](/usc/7/7482.md?p=13), [consumer information](/usc/7/7482.md?p=3), and [industry information](/usc/7/7482.md?p=5), the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) shall expend funds on—
      - (i) plans and projects for [popcorn](/usc/7/7482.md?p=9) marketed in the [United States](/usc/7/7482.md?p=16) or Canada in proportion to the amount of assessments collected on domestically marketed [popcorn](/usc/7/7482.md?p=9); and
      - (ii) plans and projects for exported [popcorn](/usc/7/7482.md?p=9) in proportion to the amount of assessments collected on exported [popcorn](/usc/7/7482.md?p=9).
    - (C) **Notification—** If the administrative costs incurred by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) that are reimbursed by the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) exceed 10 percent of the projected annual revenues of the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1), the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) shall notify as soon as practicable the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.
- (g) **Prohibition on use of funds—** The [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) shall prohibit any funds collected by the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) under the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) from being used to influence government action or policy, other than the use of funds by the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) for the development and recommendation to the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) of amendments to the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7).
- (h) **Books and records of Board—** The [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) shall require the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) to—
  - (1) maintain such books and records (which shall be available to the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) for inspection and audit) as the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) may prescribe;
  - (2) prepare and submit to the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14), from time to time, such reports as the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) may prescribe; and
  - (3) account for the receipt and disbursement of all funds entrusted to the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1).
- (i) **Books and records of processors—**
  - (1) **Maintenance and reporting of information—** The [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) shall require that each [processor](/usc/7/7482.md?p=11) of [popcorn](/usc/7/7482.md?p=9) for the [market](/usc/7/198.md?p=1) shall—
    - (A) maintain, and make available for inspection, such books and records as are required by the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7); and
    - (B) file reports at such time, in such manner, and having such content as is prescribed in the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7).
  - (2) **Use of information—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) shall authorize the use of information regarding [processors](/usc/7/7482.md?p=11) that may be accumulated under a law or regulation other than this subchapter or a regulation issued under this subchapter. The information shall be made available to the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) as appropriate for the administration or enforcement of this subchapter, the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7), or any regulation issued under this subchapter.
  - (3) **Confidentiality—**
    - (A) **In general—** Subject to subparagraphs [(B)](#i-3-B), [(C)](#i-3-C), and [(D)](#i-3-D), all information obtained by the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) under paragraphs [(1)](#i-1) and [(2)](#i-2) shall be kept confidential by all officers, employees, and agents of the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) and the [Department](/usc/7/7482.md?p=4).
    - (B) **Disclosure by Secretary—** Information referred to in [subparagraph (A)](#i-3-A) may be disclosed if—
      - (i) the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) considers the information relevant;
      - (ii) the information is revealed in a suit or administrative hearing brought at the request of the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14), or to which the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14) or any officer of the [United States](/usc/7/7482.md?p=16) is a party; and
      - (iii) the information relates to the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7).
    - (C) **Disclosure to other agency of Federal Government—**
      - (i) **In general—** No information obtained under the authority of this subchapter may be made available to another agency or officer of the Federal Government for any purpose other than the implementation of this subchapter and any investigatory or enforcement activity necessary for the implementation of this subchapter.
      - (ii) **Penalty—** A [person](/usc/7/7482.md?p=8) who knowingly violates this subparagraph shall, on conviction, be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or both, and if an officer, employee, or agent of the [Board](/usc/7/7482.md?p=1) or the [Department](/usc/7/7482.md?p=4), shall be removed from office or terminated from [employment](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-10), as applicable.
    - (D) **General statements—** Nothing in this paragraph prohibits—
      - (i) the issuance of general statements based on the reports of a number of [persons](/usc/7/7482.md?p=8) subject to an [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) or statistical data collected from the reports, if the statements do not identify the information provided by any [person](/usc/7/7482.md?p=8); or
      - (ii) the publication, by direction of the [Secretary](/usc/7/7482.md?p=14), of the name of a [person](/usc/7/7482.md?p=8) violating the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7), together with a statement of the particular provisions of the [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) violated by the [person](/usc/7/7482.md?p=8).
- (j) **Other terms and conditions—** The [order](/usc/7/7482.md?p=7) shall contain such other terms and conditions, consistent with this subchapter, as are necessary to effectuate this subchapter, including regulations relating to the assessment of late payment charges.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 104–127, title V, § 575, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1077.)