§ 6201. — Findings, purposes, and limitations.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC6201]
TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
CHAPTER 91--LIME PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND CONSUMER INFORMATION
Sec. 6201. Findings, purposes, and limitations
(a) Findings
Congress finds that--
(1) domestically produced limes are grown by many individual
producers;
(2) virtually all domestically produced limes are grown in the
States of Florida and California;
(3) limes move in interstate and foreign commerce, and limes
that do not move in such channels of commerce directly burden or
affect interstate commerce in limes;
(4) in recent years, large quantities of limes have been
imported into the United States;
(5) the maintenance and expansion of existing domestic and
foreign markets for limes and the development of additional and
improved markets for limes are vital to the welfare of lime
producers and other persons concerned with producing, marketing, or
processing limes;
(6) a coordinated program of research, promotion, and consumer
information regarding limes is necessary for the maintenance and
development of such markets; and
(7) lime producers, lime producer-handlers, lime handlers, and
lime importers are unable to implement and finance such a program
without cooperative action.
(b) Purposes
The purposes of this chapter are--
(1) to authorize the establishment of an orderly procedure for
the development and financing (through an adequate assessment) of an
effective and coordinated program of research, promotion, and
consumer information regarding limes designed--
(A) to strengthen the position of the lime industry in
domestic and foreign markets, and
(B) to maintain, develop, and expand markets for limes; and
(2) to treat domestically produced and imported limes equitably.
(c) Limitations
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require quality
standards for limes, control the production of limes, or otherwise limit
the right of the individual producers to produce limes.
(Pub. L. 101-624, title XIX, Sec. 1952, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3870.)
Short Title of 1993 Amendment
Pub. L. 103-194, Sec. 1, Dec. 14, 1993, 107 Stat. 2294, provided
that: ``This Act [amending sections 6202, 6204, and 6209 of this title
and enacting provisions set out as a note below] may be cited as the
`Lime Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Improvement Act'.''
Short Title
Section 1951 of Pub. L. 101-624 provided that: ``This subtitle
[subtitle D (Secs. 1951-1963) of title XIX of Pub. L. 101-624, enacting
this chapter] may be cited as the `Lime Research, Promotion, and
Consumer Information Act of 1990'.''
Legislative Findings and Purpose of Pub. L. 103-194
Pub. L. 103-194, Sec. 2, Dec. 14, 1993, 107 Stat. 2294, provided
that:
``(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
``(1) The Lime Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act
of 1990 [7 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.] was enacted on November 28, 1990,
for the purpose of establishing an orderly procedure for the
development and financing of an effective and coordinated program of
research, promotion, and consumer information to strengthen the
domestic and foreign markets for limes.
``(2) The lime research, promotion, and consumer information
order required by such Act became effective on January 27, 1992.
``(3) Although the intent of such Act was to cover seedless
limes, the definition of the term `lime' in section 1953(6) of such
Act [7 U.S.C. 6202(6)] applies to seeded limes. Therefore, the Act
and the order need to be revised before a research, promotion, and
consumer information program on seedless limes can go into effect.
``(4) Since the enactment of the Lime Research, Promotion, and
Consumer Information Act of 1990, the United States production of
fresh market limes has plummeted and the volume of imports has risen
dramatically. The drop in United States production is primarily due
to damage to lime orchards in the State of Florida by Hurricane
Andrew in August 1992. United States production is not expected to
reach pre-Hurricane Andrew levels for possibly two to three years
because a majority of the United States production of limes is in
Florida.
``(b) Purposes.--The purpose of this Act [see Short Title of 1993
Amendment note above] is--
``(1) to revise the definition of the term `lime' in order to
cover seedless and not seeded limes;
``(2) to increase the exemption level;
``(3) to delay the initial referendum date; and
``(4) to alter the composition of the Lime Board.''
