The Director shall, before any violation of this act is reported to any U.S. attorney for institution of a criminal proceeding, notify the person against whom such proceeding is contemplated that action is contemplated, inform him regarding the facts involved, and afford him an opportunity to present his views, either orally or in writing, with regard to such contemplated proceeding. Notice shall be served upon such person in the manner provided in § 202.27 of this part. If the person desires to explain the transaction or otherwise to present his views, he shall file with the Director, within 20 days after the service of the notice, an answer, in duplicate, signed by him or by his attorney, or shall request, within the 20 days, an opportunity to express his views orally. The request shall be embodied in a writing signed by the person or by his attorney or agent. Such opportunity to present his views orally shall be afforded at a time and place to be designated by the Director and it shall be given within a time not to exceed 10 days after the date of the filing of the request therefor.

Prior to the promulgation of any rule or regulation contemplated by section 402 of the Act (7 U.S.C. 1592), notice shall be given by publication in the Federal Register of intention to promulgate such rule or regulation and of the time and place of a public hearing to be held with reference thereto. Such hearings shall be conducted by the Director or by such employee or employees of the Department of Agriculture as may be designated to preside thereat, except that hearings with respect to rules or regulations contemplated by section 402(b) of the Act relating to title III of the Act (Foreign Commerce), shall be conducted by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting jointly or separately, or by such employee or employees of the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Treasury as may be designated to preside thereat. The presiding officer shall conduct the hearing in an orderly and informal manner, according to such procedure as he may announce at the commencement of the hearing. Any rule or regulation promulgated under section 402 of the Act shall become effective on the date fixed in the promulgation, which date shall be not less than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Any rule or regulation may be amended or revoked in the same manner as is provided for its promulgation.

After judgment or settlement, or the issuance of a cease and desist order, in any case or proceeding arising under this Act, notice thereof containing any information pertinent to the judgment or settlement or the issuance of the cease and desist order, shall be given by issuing a press release or by such other media as the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service may designate from time to time.

When seed or screenings have been refused admission into the United States under the Act or the joint regulations promulgated thereunder, the owner or consignee of such seed or screenings may submit a request to the Director for a hearing in which he may show cause, if any he have, why such seed or screenings should be admitted. Request for such hearing shall be embodied in a writing signed by the owner or consignee or by his attorney or agent. The Director shall thereupon fix, and notify the owner or consignee of, the time when and place at which the hearing will be held. The hearing shall be conducted in an orderly and informal manner by the Director or by a presiding officer duly designated by him, and it shall be governed by such rules of procedure as the presiding officer shall announce at the opening of the hearing. The determination as to whether the seed or screenings may be admitted into the United States shall be made by the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service, within a reasonable time after the close of the hearing, and the owner or consignee of the seed or screenings who requested the hearing and the Secretary of the Treasury shall be duly notified as to such determination.

The public hearings which shall be held from time to time for the purpose of determining whether seed of alfalfa or red clover from any foreign country or region is not adapted for general agricultural use in the United States shall be conducted by the Director, or by a presiding officer duly designated by him. Such hearings shall be conducted in an orderly and informal manner in accordance with such procedure as the presiding officer shall announce at the opening of each hearing. The Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service shall, within a reasonable time after the close of the public hearing, make and publish his determination as to whether the said seed is adapted for general agricultural use in the United States. Publication of the determination shall be made in the Federal Register, and through such other media as the said Administrator may deem appropriate.