§ 671. — Arbitration of disputes concerning milk.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC671]
TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
CHAPTER 26A--AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AGREEMENTS
Sec. 671. Arbitration of disputes concerning milk
(a) Application
The Secretary of Agriculture, or such officer or employee of the
Department of Agriculture as may be designated by him, upon written
application of any cooperative association, incorporated or otherwise,
which is in good faith owned or controlled by producers or organizations
thereof, of milk or its products, and which is bona fide engaged in
collective processing or preparing for market or handling or marketing
(in the current of interstate or foreign commerce, as defined by section
610(j) of this title), milk or its products, may mediate and, with the
consent of all parties, shall arbitrate if the Secretary has reason to
believe that the declared policy of the Agricultural Adjustment Act [7
U.S.C. 601 et seq.], as amended, would be effectuated thereby, bona fide
disputes, between such associations and the purchasers or handlers, or
processors or distributors of milk or its products, as to terms and
conditions of the sale of milk or its products. The power to arbitrate
under this section shall apply only to such subjects of the term or
condition in dispute as could be regulated under the provisions of the
Agricultural Adjustment Act, as amended, relating to orders for milk and
its products.
(b) Conduct of meetings
Meeting held pursuant to this section shall be conducted subject to
such rules and regulations as the Secretary may prescribe.
(c) Approval of award
No award or agreement resulting from any such arbitration or
mediation shall be effective unless and until approved by the Secretary
of Agriculture, or such officer or employee of the Department of
Agriculture as may be designated by him, and shall not be approved if it
permits any unlawful trade practice or any unfair method of competition.
(d) Exemption from antitrust laws
No meeting so held and no award or agreement so approved shall be
deemed to be in violation of any of the antitrust laws of the United
States.
(June 3, 1937, ch. 296, Sec. 3, 50 Stat. 248.)
References in Text
The Agricultural Adjustment Act, as amended, referred to in subsec.
(a), is title I of act May 12, 1933, ch. 25, 48 Stat. 31, as amended,
which is classified generally to chapter 26 (Sec. 601 et seq.) of this
title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short
Title note set out under section 601 of this title and Tables.
The antitrust laws, referred to in subsec. (d), are classified
generally to chapter 1 (Sec. 1 et seq.) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 1392 of this title.
