Sheep Promotion, Research, and Information Program

This rule suspends indefinitely provisions of the Order and the Certification and Nomination Regulations, and postpones indefinitely the announced effective date of July 1, 1996, for assessment collection in the Rules and Regulations, and the assessment provisions of the Order. The Department of Agriculture (Department) conducted a review and evaluated the conduct and results of the February 6, 1996, nationwide sheep referendum. The Department discovered inconsistencies in the application of the referendum rules, and this action is the result of the discovery of these inconsistencies. A second nationwide referendum will be conducted among eligible sheep producers, sheep feeders, and importers of sheep and sheep products on a date to be announced by the Department.