112 STAT. 594 PUBLIC LAW 105-185-JUNE 23, 1998 "(ii) to consider the nomination of nonmembers when making the nominations of the organization to the Committee, if nonmembers indicate an interest in serving on the Honey Board. "(7) MINIMUM PERCENTAGE OF HONEY PRODUCERS. —Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, at least 50 percent of the members of the Honey Board shall be honey producers."; and (D) in paragraph (8) (as so redesignated), by striking "except" and all that follows through "three-year terms" and inserting "except that appointments to the Honey Board may be staggered periodically, as determined by the Secretary, to msdntain continuity of the Honey Board with respect to all members and with respect to members representing particular groups.". (3) ASSESSMENTS.— Section 7(e) of the Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4606(e)) is amended— (A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; (B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: "(1) IN GENERAL. —The Honey Board shall administer collection of the assessment provided for in this subsection, and may accept voluntary contributions from other sources, to finance the expenses described in subsections (d) and (f). "(2) RATE. — Except as provided in paragraph (3), the assessment rate shall be $0.0075 per pound (payable in the manner described in section 9), with— "(A) in the case of honey produced in the United States, $0.0075 per poimd payable by honey producers; and "(B) in the case of honey or honey products imported into the United States, $0.0075 per poimd payable by honey importers. "(3) ALTERNATIVE RATE APPROVED IN REFERENDUM. —If approved in a referendum conducted under this Act, the assessment rate shall be $0,015 per pound (payable in the manner described in section 9)— "(A) in the case of honey produced in the United States— "(i) $0.0075 per pound payable by— "(I) honey producers; and "(II) producer-packers on all honey produced by the producer-packers; and " (ii) $0.0075 per pound payable by— "(I) handlers; and "(II) producer-packers on all honey and honey products handled by the producer-packers, including honey produced by the producer-packers); and "(B) in the case of honey and honey products imported into the United States, $0,015 per pound payable by honey importers, of which $0.0075 per pound represents the assessment due from the handler to be paid by the importer on behalf of the heindler."; (C) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following: " (B) SMALL QUANTITIES. —
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