Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 1.djvu/623

 PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 112 STAT. 597 products of producers, handlers, and importers that participate in the voluntary program. "(3) DISPLAY OF SEAL OF APPROVAL. —TO be eligible to display the official seal of approval established under paragraph (2)(A) on a honey or honey product, a producer, handler, or importer shall participate in the voluntary program under this subsection. "(d) AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY. —Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Secretary shall have the authority to approve or disapprove the establishment of minimum purity standards, the inspection and monitoring system under subsection (b), and the voluntary quality assurance program under subsection (c).". (h) COLLECTION OF ASSESSMENTS.— (1) NEW ASSESSMENT.— Section 9 of the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4608) is amended— (A) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following: "(a) HANDLERS. —Except as otherwise provided in this section, a first handler of honey shall be responsible, at the time of first purchase— "(1) for the collection, and payment to the Honey Board, of the assessment payable by a producer under section 7(e)(2)(A) or, if approved in a referendum conducted under this Act, under section 7(e)(3)(A)(i); and "(2) if approved in a referendum conducted under this Act, for the payment to the Honey Board of an additional assessment payable by the handler under section 7(e)(3)(A)(ii)."; (B) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following: "(c) IMPORTERS.— Except as otherwise provided in this section, at the time of entry of honey and honey products into the United States, an importer shall remit to the Honey Board through the United States Customs Service— "(1) the assessment on the imported honey and honey products required under section 7(e)(2)(B); or "(2) if approved in a referendum conducted under this Act, the assessment on the imported honey and honey products required under section 7(e)(3)(B), of which the amount payable under section 7(e)(3)(A)(ii) represents the assessment due from the handler to be paid by the importer on behalf of the handler."; and (C) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following: "(e) PRODUCER-PACKERS.— Except as otherwise provided in this section, a producer-packer shall be responsible for the collection, and payment to the Honey Board, of— "(1) the assessment payable by the producer-packer under section 7(e)(2)(A) or, if approved in a referendum conducted under this Act, under section 7(e)(3)(A)(i) on honey produced by the producer-packer; "(2) at the time of fixst purchase, the assessment payable by a producer under section 7(e)(2)(A) or, if approved in a referendum conducted under this Act, under section 7(e)(3)(A)(i) on honey purchased by the producer-packer as a first handler; and

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