An area committee may issue certificates of exemption to any qualified applicant who furnishes adequate evidence to such committee:

(a) That the grade, size, or quality of the applicant's potatoes have been adversely affected by acts beyond his control or reasonable expectations;

(b) That by reason of regulations issued pursuant to § 948.20 or § 948.22, the applicant will be prevented as a producer from shipping or having shipped as large a proportion of his production as the average proportion of production shipped by all producers in said applicant's immediate area of production during the season, or a specific portion thereof.

(c) Each such certificate issued shall permit the person identified therein to ship or have shipped the potatoes described thereon, and evidence of such certificates shall be made available to subsequent handlers thereof.