
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC2327]

 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
                  CHAPTER 57--PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION
 
              SUBCHAPTER I--PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION OFFICE
 
                  Part A--Organization and Publications
 
Sec. 2327. Plant Variety Protection Board


(a) Appointment

    The Secretary shall appoint a Plant Variety Protection Board. The 
Board shall consist of individuals who are experts in various areas of 
varietal development covered by this chapter. Membership of the Board 
shall include farmer representation and shall be drawn approximately 
equally from the private or seed industry sector and from the sector of 
government or the public. The Secretary or the designee of the Secretary 
shall act as chairperson of the Board without voting rights except in 
the case of ties.

(b) Functions of Board

    The functions of the Plant Variety Protection Board shall include:
        (1) Advising the Secretary concerning the adoption of Rules and 
    Regulations to facilitate the proper administration of this chapter;
        (2) Making advisory decisions on all appeals from the examiner. 
    The Board shall determine whether to act as a full Board or by 
    panels it selects; and whether to review advisory decisions made by 
    a panel. For service on such appeals, the Board may select, as 
    temporary members, experts in the area to which the particular 
    appeal relates; and
        (3) Advising the Secretary on all questions under section 2404 
    of this title.

(c) Compensation of Board

    The members of the Plant Variety Protection Board shall serve 
without compensation except for standard government reimbursable 
expenses.

(Pub. L. 91-577, title I, Sec. 7, Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1543; Pub. L. 
103-349, Sec. 13(a), Oct. 6, 1994, 108 Stat. 3142.)


                               Amendments

    1994--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103-349 substituted ``the designee of the 
Secretary shall act as chairperson'' for ``his designee shall act as 
chairman'' in last sentence.


                    Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 103-349 effective 180 days after Oct. 6, 1994, 
see section 15 of Pub. L. 103-349, set out as a note under section 2401 
of this title.
