Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA or Department) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to amend the regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 (the P&S Act or the Act) to clarify the unfair practices that the P&S Act prohibits. The proposed rule would define unfair practices as conduct that harms market participants and conduct that harms the market. Combined, these comprehensively define the contours of "unfair practices" under the P&S Act. The purpose of this proposed rule is to promote fair and competitive markets in the livestock, meats, poultry, and live poultry markets.