§ 2327 — Plant Variety Protection Board

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