4 



1 quest that the Secretary conduct a referendum under 



2 paragraph (2). If the Egg Board makes such a request 



3 on competent evidence, as provided in paragraph (1), the 



4 Secretary shall conduct such referendum as soon as prac- 



5 ticable, but not later than 3 months after receipt of such 



6 request from the Egg Board. 



7 "(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, 



8 whenever an increase in the assessment rate and the au- 



9 thority for additional increases is approved by producers 



10 in a referendum under this subsection, the Secretary shall 



1 1 amend the order as appropriate to reflect such vote of pro- 



12 ducers; and such amendment to the order shall become 



13 effective on the date it is issued.". 



14 SEC. 3. AMENDMENT RELATING TO EXEMPT PRODUCERS. 



15 Section 12(a)(2) of the Egg Research and Consumer 



16 Information Act (7 U.S.C. 2711) is amended by striking 



17 out "30,000 laying hens" and inserting in lieu thereof 



18 "50,000 laying hens". 



19 SEC. 4. AMENDMENT TO EGG PROMOTION AND RESEARCH 



20 ORDER. 



21 Notwithstanding any other provision of law: 



22 (a) Amendment. — The Secretary of Agriculture 



23 shall issue amendments to the egg promotion and research 



24 order issued under the Egg Research and Consumer Infor- 



25 mation Act (7 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) to implement the 



HR 1637 IH 



