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The proposed amendment will require remitters of pork checkoff assessments to submit to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service the names, addresses, and any other information deemed necessary. This information will help the department identify persons from whom assessments were collected.

This action is necessary in order to obtain information to conduct a survey of eligible pork producers and importers no earlier than June 2003 to determine if they favor a referendum on the Pork Checkoff Program.

The survey was part of a settlement of litigation against USDA filed by the Michigan Pork Producers Association and the National Pork Producers Council.

The information collected would be used to establish the total number of pork producers and importers that would be utilized in determining whether the 15 percent threshold requirement contained in the Pork Act for conducting a referendum has been met.

The proposed rule will appear in the March 13, 2003 Federal Register.

Comments may be sent via e-mail to ,
or sent regular mail to:

Kenneth Payne, Chief; Marketing Programs Branch;
AMS Livestock and Seed Program;
USDA STOP 0251; 1400 Independence Ave.,
S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20250-0251;
telephone (202) 720-1115
no later than May 12, 2003.

Copies of the proposed rule and additional information are available from the same address.

Source: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA - 12th March 2003