0581-AE05 202304 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 0581 Agricultural Marketing Service AMS 0500 Department of Agriculture USDA Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act (AMS-FTPP-21-0045)

This final rule would supplement a recent revision to regulations issued under the Packers and Stockyards Act (Act) (7 U.S.C. 181 229c) that provided criteria for the Secretary to consider when determining whether certain conduct or action by packers, swine contractors, or live poultry dealers is unduly or unreasonably or advantageous. Supplemental amendments clarify the conduct the Department considers unfair, preferential, unjustly discriminatory, or deceptive and a violation of sections 202(a) and (b) of the Act. The rule also clarifies the criteria and types of conduct that would be considered unduly or unreasonably preferential, advantageous, prejudicial, or disadvantageous and violations of the Act, including retaliatory practices that interfere with lawful communications, assertion of rights, and associational participation.

]]> Other Significant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Final Rule Stage No No 9 CFR 201 7 U.S.C. 181 to 229c Yes NPRM 10/03/2022 87 FR 60010 NPRM Comment Period Extended 11/30/2022 87 FR 73507 NPRM Comment Period End 12/02/2022 NPRM Comment Period Extended End 01/17/2023 Final Rule 09/00/2023 Yes Businesses None No Yes No Michael Durando V. Deputy Administrator, Fair Trade Practices Program 0581 Agricultural Marketing Service AMS 202 720-0219 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC 20250-0237