The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) stated it will begin work on three proposals to strengthen its enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act. USDA said it would bolster Meatpacker Antitrust Enforcement in 2021.
The 100-year-old law was designed to protect poultry, hog, and cattle producers from unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive practices in meat markets, reported Capital Press.
The Packers and Stockyards Act is a vital tool for protecting farmers and ranchers, but it needs to take into account modern market dynamics and should not be used as a safe haven for bad actors, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said Friday in announcing the proposed action.
USDA intends to take three actions related to rulemaking in the months ahead. First is to propose a new rule to provide greater clarity to strengthen enforcement of unfair and deceptive practices, undue preference and unjust prejudices. Second is to propose a new poultry grower tournament system rule. Third is to re-propose a rule to clarify parties do not need to demonstrate harm to competition to bring legal action against a meatpacker.
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said in a statement USDA’s announcement signals the start of a lengthy process, not the conclusion.
“We don’t yet have language for proposed rules, and we don’t expect to see specifics from USDA for some time”, said Colin Woodall, NCBA CEO.
“But we are actively engaging with the agency to get more information and make sure that the needs of our members are front and center in the administration’s thought process,” he said.
In repose to the USDA saying it would bolster Meatpacker Antitrust Enforcement, NCBA will fight hard to ensure that any regulations created or revised do not reduce cattle producers’ ability to realize higher profits and make the decisions that are best for their business, he said.
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Pfizer Settles Remaining Effexor XR Antitrust Claims for $25.5 Million
Apr 29, 2024 by
CPI
South Korean Regulator Approves LG Uplus and Kakao Mobility EV Charging Venture
Apr 29, 2024 by
CPI
Federal Judge Dismisses Doctors’ Antitrust Suit Against Ohio Health System
Apr 29, 2024 by
CPI
Paramount CEO Bob Bakish Steps Down as Merger Inches Closer
Apr 29, 2024 by
CPI
EU Brands Apple’s iPadOS as Gatekeeper in Tech Crackdown
Apr 29, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI