Any end product manufacturer who is a retail baker shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter. For the purposes of this section, the term “retail baker” shall be deemed to include all end product manufacturers who sell end products directly to the ultimate consumer: Provided, That such term shall not include any end product manufacturer who derives less than 10 per centum of gross end product sales revenues from sales to ultimate consumers or who derives 10 per centum or more of gross food or food products sales revenues from the sale of such products manufactured or produced by others.

The Secretary shall conduct a referendum as soon as practicable among end product manufacturers not exempt hereunder who, during a representative period preceding the date of the referendum, as determined by the Secretary, have been engaged in the manufacture of end products, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the issuance of an order is approved or favored by such manufacturers. Qualified end product manufacturers may register with the Secretary by mail to vote in such referendum during a period ending not less than thirty days prior to the date of the referendum. Within ten days thereafter, the Secretary shall determine which end product manufacturers are eligible to vote in such referendum and cause to be published the list of such eligible voters. The Secretary shall issue ballots to all such persons who have so registered and been declared eligible to vote. No order issued pursuant to this chapter shall be effective unless the Secretary determines (1) that votes were cast by at least 50 per centum of such registered end product manufacturers, and (2) that the issuance of such order is approved or favored by not less than two-thirds of the end product manufacturers voting in such referendum or by a majority of the end product manufacturers voting in such referendum if such majority manufactured end products containing not less than two-thirds of the total processed wheat contained in all end products manufactured by those voting in the referendum, during the representative period defined by the Secretary: Provided, That at the time of the registration provided under this section each end product manufacturer so registering shall certify to the Secretary the amount of processed wheat contained in the end products manufactured by such end product manufacturer during such representative period. The Secretary shall be reimbursed from assessments collected by the Council for any expenses incurred for the conduct of the referendum. Eligible voter lists and ballots cast in the referendum shall be retained by the Secretary for a period of not less than twelve months after they are cast for audit and recount in the event the results of the referendum are challenged and either the Secretary or the courts determine a recount and retabulation of results is appropriate.

The Secretary may make such investigations as the Secretary deems necessary for the effective administration of this chapter or to determine whether any person subject to the provisions of this chapter has engaged or is about to engage in any acts or practices which constitute or will constitute a violation of any provisions of this chapter, or of any order, or rule or regulation issued under this chapter. For the purpose of such investigation, the Secretary is empowered to administer oaths and affirmations, subpena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence and require the production of any books, papers, and documents which are relevant to the inquiry. Such attendance of witnesses and the production of any such records may be required from any place in the United States. In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpena to, any person, the Secretary may invoke the aid of any court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which such investigation or proceeding is carried on, or where such person resides or carries on business, in requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and documents; and such court may issue an order requiring such person to appear before the Secretary, there to produce records, if so ordered, or to give testimony touching the matter under investigation. Any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof. All process in any such case may be served in the judicial district whereof such person is an inhabitant or wherever such person may be found.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to preempt or interfere with the workings of any other program relating to wheat or wheat foods research or nutrition education organized and operating under the laws of the United States or any State.

The Secretary is authorized to issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

The provisions of this chapter applicable to orders shall be applicable to amendments to orders.

There are hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated such funds as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. The funds so appropriated shall not be available for payment of the expenses or expenditures of the Council in administering any provisions of any order issued pursuant to the terms of this chapter.