U.S. Potato Marketing Order Amendments

WASHINGTON - May 19/05 - SNS -- Seven of nine amendments to the Irish potato marketing order passed in the recent referendum, says the USDA.

The amendments that passed will:

- allow container and marking regulations (91% of voters and 91% volume of production represented by those voting);

- add authority to the marketing order to require committee producer members to have produced fresh market potatoes in at least 3 of the 5 years prior to nomination (91% of voters and 92% volume of production represented by those voting);

- update provisions of the marketing order that pertain to districts and the allocation of committee membership among those districts (90% of voters and 99% volume of production represented by those voting);

- add authority to the marketing order that will allow committee nominations to be held at potato industry meetings or events (82% of voters and 90% volume of production represented by those voting);

- add authority to the marketing order that will allow for a change in the size of the committee (91% of voters and 92% volume of production represented by those voting);

- add authority to the marketing order that will allow temporary alternates to serve when a committee member and that member’s alternate are unable to serve (82% of voters and 65% volume of production represented by those voting); and

- require referenda to be conducted every six years to determine the level of producer support for the marketing order (82% of voters and 73% volume of production represented by those voting). - MORE -

The two amendments that failed to receive the required amount of producer support – requiring committee nominees to submit written background and acceptance statements prior to selection by USDA and establishing tenure limits of two consecutive three-year terms for committee members – received 55% and 44%, and 55% and 65%, of the number of producers and volume of production represented in the referendum, respectively.

To become effective, the amendments had to be approved by at least two-thirds of those producers voting or by voters representing at least two-thirds of the volume of Irish potatoes represented by voters voting in the referendum.