[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 8]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR900.66]

[Page 23]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
  CHAPTER IX--AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE (Marketing Agreements and 
      Orders; Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 900--GENERAL REGULATIONS--Table of Contents
 
Subpart--Rules of Practice Governing Proceedings on Petitions To Modify 
                 or To Be Exempted From Marketing Orders
 
Sec. 900.66  Consideration of appeal by the Secretary and issuance of final order.

    (a) Consideration of appeal. As soon as practicable after the 
receipt of the record from the hearing clerk, or, in case oral argument 
was had, as soon as practicable thereafter, the Secretary, upon the 
basis of and after due consideration of the record, shall rule on the 
appeal. If the Secretary decides that no change or modification of the 
judge's decision is warranted, he may adopt the Judge's decision as the 
final order of the Secretary, preserving any right of the party bringing 
the appeal to seek judicial review of such decision in the proper forum. 
At no stage of the proceeding between its institution and the issuance 
of the order shall the Secretary discuss ex parte the merits of the 
proceeding with any person who is connected with the proceeding in an 
advocative or an investigative capacity, or with any representative of 
such person: Provided, however, That the Secretary may discuss the 
merits of the proceeding with such a person if all parties to the 
proceeding, or their representatives, have been given an opportunity to 
be present. If, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this 
section, a memorandum or other communication from any party, or from any 
person acting on behalf of any party, which relates to the merits of the 
proceeding, receives the personal attention of the Secretary (or, if an 
official other than the Secretary is to issue the order, then of such 
other official) during the pendency of the proceeding, such memorandum 
or communication shall be regarded as argument made in the proceeding 
and shall be filed with the hearing clerk, who shall serve a copy 
thereof upon the opposite party to file a reply thereto.
    (b) Issuance of final order. A final order issued by the Secretary 
shall be filed with the hearing clerk, who shall serve it upon the 
parties: Provided, That, if the terms of the order differ substantially 
from those proposed in the decision of the judge, the Secretary shall, 
if he deems it advisable to do so, direct that a copy of the order be 
served upon the parties as a tentative order; and, in such event, 
opportunity shall be given the parties to file exceptions thereto and 
written arguments or briefs in support of such exceptions. In such case, 
if exceptions are filed within a period of time (to be fixed by the 
Secretary but not to exceed 20 days) following the service of the 
tentative order, the Secretary shall give consideration, to and shall 
make such changes in the tentative order as he deems to be appropriate; 
otherwise, the tentative order shall become final, as of the day 
following the date of expiration of the period fixed for the filing of 
exceptions.

[38 FR 29799, Oct. 29, 1973]