[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 10]
[Revised as of January 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR1210.404]

[Page 110-111]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
  CHAPTER XI--AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE (MARKETING AGREEMENTS AND 
      ORDERS; MISCELLANEOUS COMMODITIES), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 1210_WATERMELON RESEARCH AND PROMOTION PLAN--Table of Contents
 
                     Subpart B_Nominating Procedures
 
Sec. 1210.404  Importer member nomination and selection.

    (a) The Board shall include one or more representatives of 
importers, who shall be appointed by the Secretary from nominations 
submitted by watermelon importers. Importers' representation on the 
Board shall be proportionate to the percentage of assessments paid by 
importers to the Board, except that at least one representative of 
importers shall serve on the Board if importers are subject to the Plan. 
Nominations for importer positions that become vacant shall be made by 
importers at nomination conventions or by mail ballot.
    (b) The initial nomination of importer members shall be made not 
later than 90 days after the Plan is amended.
    (c) There shall be two individuals nominated for each vacant 
position. The importer receiving the highest number of votes for a 
vacancy shall be the first choice nominee, and the importer receiving 
the second highest number of votes shall be the second choice nominee 
submitted to the Secretary.
    (d) Any individual, group of individuals, partnership, corporation, 
association, cooperative or any other entity which is engaged in the 
production, first handling or importing of watermelons is considered a 
person and as such is entitled to only one vote, except that such person 
may cast proxy votes as provided in paragraph (e)(1) of this section.

[[Page 111]]

    (e) Nomination Conventions. If nominations are made by nomination 
conventions, the Board shall widely publicize such conventions and 
provide importers and the Secretary at least 10 days notice prior to 
each convention.
    (1) Proxy voting by importers shall be permitted at all conventions. 
Any person wanting to cast proxy votes must demonstrate authorization to 
do so. Authority to cast a proxy vote on behalf of another person shall 
be demonstrated through documentation containing:
    (i) The proxy voter's name, address, and telephone number;
    (ii) Signature and date signed;
    (iii) A certification identifying the proxy voter as an importer; 
and
    (iv) A statement identifying the person being given authority by the 
proxy voter to cast the proxy vote.
    (2) The Board shall provide to the Secretary a typed copy of each 
convention's minutes and shall arrange for completion of qualification 
statements and other specified information by each nominee and forward 
such to the Secretary within 14 calendar days of completion of a 
convention.
    (f) Mail balloting. If nominations are conducted by mail ballot, the 
Board shall request importers to submit nominations of eligible 
importers. It is the importer's responsibility to prove the individual's 
eligibility. After the names of nominees are received, the Board shall 
print ballots and ask eligible importers to vote to nominate their 
candidates. After the vote is received, the Board shall tabulate the 
results and shall send to the Department the nominees in order of 
preference. The Board shall provide the Secretary with a report on the 
results, number of importers participating in the vote, and the volume 
of imports, and shall arrange for completion of qualification statements 
and other specified information by each nominee and forward such to the 
Secretary within 14 calendar days of receiving the ballots.
    (g) Any individual who both imports and handles watermelons will be 
considered an importer if that person imports 50 percent or more of the 
combined total volume of watermelons handled and imported by that 
person.

[60 FR 10800, Feb. 28, 1995]

                              Public Member