The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with Victoria Livestock & Poultry Market LLC of Newark, N.J., (Victoria) on July 15, 2022, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under the terms of the stipulation agreement, Victoria waived its rights to a hearing and paid a civil penalty of $4,200.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) revealed that Victoria failed to pay for its livestock purchases promptly. Victoria failed to pay when due for livestock on 19 transactions, totaling $853,200 between Dec. 6, 2021, and March 14, 2022. The late payments ranged between 3 to 66 days late.
The P&S Act requires subject entities to issue the full payment for livestock by the close of the first business day following purchase and transfer of possession. Failure to timely pay for livestock purchases is a violation of the P&S Act.
The P&S Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to assess civil penalties up to $29,616 per violation against any person after notice and opportunity for a hearing on the record. USDA may offer alleged violators the option of waiving their right to a hearing and enter into a stipulation agreement to resolve alleged violations quickly.
The P&S Act is a fair-trade practice and payment protection law that promotes fair and competitive marketing environments for the livestock, meat, and poultry industries.
For further information about the Packers and Stockyards Act, contact Kraig Roesch, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (303) 375-4291 or by email at Kraig.Roesch@usda.gov
Original source can be found here.
