(a) The following persons shall be exempt from assessments under this part:

(1) A person who produces or imports, on average, 500,000 pounds or less of mushrooms annually shall be exempt from assessments under this part.

(2) [Reserved]

(b) To claim such exemption, such persons shall apply to the Council, in the form and manner prescribed in the rules and regulations.

(c) Mushrooms produced in the United States that are exported are exempt from assessment and are subject to such safeguards as prescribed in rules and regulations to prevent improper use of this exemption.

(d) Domestic and imported mushrooms used for processing are exempt from assessment and are subject to such safeguards as prescribed in rules and regulations to prevent improper use of this exemption.