TITLE 7 - US CODE - CHAPTER 38 - DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

TITLE 7 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER I - GENERAL PROVISIONS

7 USC 1621 - Congressional declaration of purpose; use of existing facilities; cooperation with States

The Congress declares that a sound, efficient, and privately operated system for distributing and marketing agricultural products is essential to a prosperous agriculture and is indispensable to the maintenance of full employment and to the welfare, prosperity, and health of the Nation. It is further declared to be the policy of Congress to promote through research, study, experimentation, and through cooperation among Federal and State agencies, farm organizations, and private industry a scientific approach to the problems of marketing, transportation, and distribution of agricultural products similar to the scientific methods which have been utilized so successfully during the past eighty-four years in connection with the production of agricultural products so that such products capable of being produced in abundance may be marketed in an orderly manner and efficiently distributed. In order to attain these objectives, it is the intent of Congress to provide for
(1)  continuous research to improve the marketing, handling, storage, processing, transportation, and distribution of agricultural products;
(2)  cooperation among Federal and State agencies, producers, industry organizations, and others in the development and effectuation of research and marketing programs to improve the distribution processes;
(3)  an integrated administration of all laws enacted by Congress to aid the distribution of agricultural products through research, market aids and services, and regulatory activities, to the end that marketing methods and facilities may be improved, that distribution costs may be reduced and the price spread between the producer and consumer may be narrowed, that dietary and nutritional standards may be improved, that new and wider markets for American agricultural products may be developed, both in the United States and in other countries, with a view to making it possible for the full production of American farms to be disposed of usefully, economically, profitably, and in an orderly manner. In effectuating the purposes of this chapter, maximum use shall be made of existing research facilities owned or controlled by the Federal Government or by State agricultural experiment stations and of the facilities of the Federal and State extension services. To the maximum extent practicable marketing research work done under this chapter in cooperation with the States shall be done in cooperation with the State agricultural experiment stations; marketing educational and demonstrational work done under this chapter in cooperation with the States shall be done in cooperation with the State agricultural extension service; market information, inspection, regulatory work and other marketing service done under this chapter in cooperation with the State agencies shall be done in cooperation with the State departments of agriculture, and State bureaus and departments of markets.

7 USC 1622 - Duties of Secretary relating to agricultural products

The Secretary of Agriculture is directed and authorized:
(a) Determination of methods of processing, packaging, marketing, etc.; publication of results 
To conduct, assist, and foster research, investigation, and experimentation to determine the best methods of processing, preparation for market, packaging, handling, transporting, storing, distributing, and marketing agricultural products: Provided, That the results of such research shall be made available to the public for the purpose of expanding the use of American agricultural products in such manner as the Secretary of Agriculture may determine.
(b) Determination of costs 
To determine costs of marketing agricultural products in their various forms and through the various channels and to foster and assist in the development and establishment of more efficient marketing methods (including analyses of methods and proposed methods), practices, and facilities, for the purpose of bringing about more efficient and orderly marketing, and reducing the price spread between the producer and the consumer.
(c) Improvement of standards of quality, condition, etc.; standard of quality for ice cream 
To develop and improve standards of quality, condition, quantity, grade, and packaging, and recommend and demonstrate such standards in order to encourage uniformity and consistency in commercial practices. Within thirty days after September 29, 1977, the Secretary shall by regulation adopt a standard of quality for ice cream which shall provide that ice cream shall contain at least 1.6 pounds of total solids to the gallon, weigh not less than 4.5 pounds to the gallon and contain not less than 20 percent total milk solids, constituted of not less than 10 percent milkfat. In no case shall the content of milk solids not fat be less than 6 percent. Whey shall not, by weight, be more than 25 percent of the milk solids not fat. Only those products which meet the standard issued by the Secretary may bear a symbol thereon indicating that they meet the Department of Agriculture standard for ice cream.
(d) Elimination of artificial barriers to free movement 
To conduct, assist, foster, and direct studies and informational programs designed to eliminate artificial barriers to the free movement of agricultural products.
(e) Development of new markets 

(1) In general 
To foster and assist in the development of new or expanded markets (domestic and foreign) and new and expanded uses and in the moving of larger quantities of agricultural products through the private marketing system to consumers in the United States and abroad.
(2) Fees and penalties 

(A) In general 
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary may assess and collect reasonable fees and late payment penalties to mediate and arbitrate disputes arising between parties in connection with transactions involving agricultural products moving in foreign commerce under the jurisdiction of a multinational entity.
(B) Deposit 
Fees and penalties collected under subparagraph (A) shall be deposited into the account that incurred the cost of providing the mediation or arbitration service.
(C) Availability 
Fees and penalties collected under subparagraph (A) shall be available to the Secretary without further Act of appropriation and shall remain available until expended to pay the expenses of the Secretary for providing mediation and arbitration services under this paragraph.
(D) No requirement for use of services 
No person shall be required by the Secretary to use the mediation and arbitration services provided under this paragraph.
(f) Increasing consumer education 
To conduct and cooperate in consumer education for the more effective utilization and greater consumption of agricultural products: Provided, That no money appropriated under the authority of this chapter shall be used to pay for newspaper or periodical advertising space or radio time in carrying out the purposes of this section and subsection (e) of this section.
(g) Collection and dissemination of marketing information 
To collect and disseminate marketing information, including adequate outlook information on a market-area basis, for the purpose of anticipating and meeting consumer requirements, aiding in the maintenance of farm income, and bringing about a balance between production and utilization of agricultural products.
(h) Inspection and certification of products in interstate commerce; credit and future availability of funds; investment; certificates as evidence; penalties 
To inspect, certify, and identify the class, quality, quantity, and condition of agricultural products when shipped or received in interstate commerce, under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of Agriculture may prescribe, including assessment and collection of such fees as will be reasonable and as nearly as may be to cover the cost of the service rendered, to the end that agricultural products may be marketed to the best advantage, that trading may be facilitated, and that consumers may be able to obtain the quality product which they desire, except that no person shall be required to use the service authorized by this subsection. Any fees collected under this subsection, late payment penalties, the proceeds from the sales of samples, and interest earned from the investment of such funds shall be credited to the trust fund account that incurs the cost of the services provided under this subsection and shall remain available without fiscal year limitation to pay the expenses of the Secretary incident to providing such services. Such funds may be invested by the Secretary in insured or fully collateralized, interest-bearing accounts or, at the discretion of the Secretary, by the Secretary of the Treasury in United States Government debt instruments. Any official certificate issued under the authority of this subsection shall be received by all officers and all courts of the United States as prima facie evidence of the truth of the statements therein contained. Whoever knowingly shall falsely make, issue, alter, forge, or counterfeit any official certificate, memorandum, mark, or other identification, or device for making such mark or identification, with respect to inspection, class, grade, quality, size, quantity, or condition, issued or authorized under this section or knowingly cause or procure, or aid, assist in, or be a party to, such false making, issuing, altering, forging, or counterfeiting, or whoever knowingly shall possess, without promptly notifying the Secretary of Agriculture or his representative, utter, publish, or use as true, or cause to be uttered, published, or used as true, any such falsely made, altered, forged, or counterfeited official certificate, memorandum, mark, identification, or device, or whoever knowingly represents that an agricultural product has been officially inspected or graded (by an authorized inspector or grader) under the authority of this section when such commodity has in fact not been so graded or inspected shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. Shell eggs packed under the voluntary grading program of the Department of Agriculture shall not have been shipped for sale previous to being packed under the program, as determined under a regulation promulgated by the Secretary.
(i) Development of facilities for assembling, processing, transporting, etc. 
To determine the needs and develop or assist in the development of plans for efficient facilities and methods of operating such facilities for the proper assembly, processing, transportation, storage, distribution, and handling of agricultural products.
(j) Improvement of transportation facilities and rates 
To assist in improving transportation services and facilities and in obtaining equitable and reasonable transportation rates and services and adequate transportation facilities for agricultural products and farm supplies by making complaint or petition to the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Maritime Commission,,[1] or other Federal or State transportation regulatory body, or the Secretary of Transportation, with respect to rates, charges, tariffs, practices, and services, or by working directly with individual carriers or groups of carriers.
(k) Collection and dissemination of marketing statistics 
To collect, tabulate, and disseminate statistics on marketing agricultural products, including, but not restricted to statistics on market supplies, storage stocks, quantity, quality, and condition of such products in various positions in the marketing channel, utilization of such products, and shipments and unloads thereof.
(l) Development of procurement standards and specifications 
To develop and promulgate, for the use and at the request of any Federal agency or State, procurement standards and specifications for agricultural products, and submit such standards and specifications to such agency or State for use or adoption for procurement purposes.
(m) Promotion of research for handling, storing, preserving, etc. 
To conduct, assist, encourage, and promote research, investigation, and experimentation to determine the most efficient and practical means, methods, and processes for the handling, storing, preserving, protecting, processing, and distributing of agricultural commodities to the end that such commodities may be marketed in an orderly manner and to the best interest of the producers thereof.
(n) Grading program 
To establish within the Department of Agriculture a voluntary fee based grading program for
(1) catfish (as defined by the Secretary under paragraph (2) of section 601 (w) of title 21); and
(2) any additional species of farm-raised fish or farm-raised shellfish
(A) for which the Secretary receives a petition requesting such voluntary fee based grading; and
(B) that the Secretary considers appropriate.
(o) General research, services, and activities 
To conduct such other research and services and to perform such other activities as will facilitate the marketing, distribution, processing, and utilization of agricultural products through commercial channels.
[1] So in original.

7 USC 1622a - Authority to assist farmers and elevator operators

The Secretary may provide technical assistance (including information on such financial assistance as may be available) to grain producers and elevator operators to assist such producers and operators in installing or improving grain cleaning, drying or storage equipment.

7 USC 1622b - Specialty crops market news allocation

(a) In general 
The Secretary shall
(1) carry out market news activities to provide timely price and shipment information of specialty crops in the United States; and
(2) use funds made available under subsection (b) to increase the reporting levels for specialty crops in effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
(b) Authorization of appropriations 
In addition to any other funds made available through annual appropriations for market news services, there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $9,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012, to remain available until expended.

7 USC 1622c - Grant program to improve movement of specialty crops

(a) Grants authorized 
The Secretary may make grants under this section to an eligible entity described in subsection (b)
(1) to improve the cost-effective movement of specialty crops to local, regional, national, and international markets; and
(2) to address regional intermodal transportation deficiencies that adversely affect the movement of specialty crops to markets inside or outside the United States.
(b) Eligible grant recipients 
Grants may be made under this section to any of, or any combination of:
(1) State and local governments.
(2) Grower cooperatives.
(3) National, State, or regional organizations of producers, shippers, or carriers.
(4) Other entities as determined to be appropriate by the Secretary.
(c) Matching funds 
The recipient of a grant under this section shall contribute an amount of non-Federal funds toward the project for which the grant is provided that is at least equal to the amount of grant funds received by the recipient under this section.
(d) Authorization of appropriations 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.

7 USC 1623 - Authorization of appropriations; allotments to States

(a) In order to conduct research and service work in connection with the preparation for market, processing, packaging, handling, storing, transporting, distributing, and marketing of agricultural products as authorized by this chapter, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated the following sums:
(1) $2,500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1947, and each subsequent fiscal year.
(2) An additional $2,500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1948, and each subsequent fiscal year.
(3) An additional $5,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1949, and each subsequent fiscal year.
(4) An additional $5,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1950, and each subsequent fiscal year.
(5) An additional $5,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1951, and each subsequent fiscal year.
(6) In addition to the foregoing, such additional funds beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1952, and thereafter, as the Congress may deem necessary.

Such sums appropriated in pursuance of this chapter shall be in addition to, and not in substitution for, sums appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Agriculture.

(b) The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to make available from such funds such sums as he may deem appropriate for allotment to State departments of agriculture, State bureaus and departments of markets, State agricultural experiment stations, and other appropriate State agencies for cooperative projects in marketing service and in marketing research to effectuate the purposes of this chapter: Provided, That no such allotment and no payment under any such allotment shall be made for any fiscal year to any State agency in excess of the amount which such State agency makes available out of its own funds for such research. The funds which State agencies are required to make available in order to qualify for such an allotment shall be in addition to any funds now available to such agencies for marketing services and for marketing research. The allotments authorized under this section shall be made to the agency or agencies best equipped and qualified to conduct the specific project to be undertaken. Such allotments shall be covered by cooperative agreements between the Secretary of Agriculture and the cooperating agency and shall include appropriate provisions for preventing duplication or overlapping of work within the State or States cooperating. Should duplication or overlapping occur subsequent to approval of a cooperative project or allotment of funds, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed to withhold unexpended balances on such projects notwithstanding the prior approval thereof.

7 USC 1623a - Omitted

7 USC 1624 - Cooperation with Government and State agencies, private research organizations, etc.; rules and regulations

(a) In carrying out the provisions of this chapter, the Secretary of Agriculture may cooperate with other branches of the Government, State agencies, private research organizations, purchasing and consuming organizations, boards of trade, chambers of commerce, other associations of business or trade organizations, transportation and storage agencies and organizations, or other persons or corporations engaged in the production, transportation, storing, processing, marketing, and distribution of agricultural products whether operating in one or more jurisdictions. The Secretary of Agriculture shall have authority to enter into contracts and agreements under the terms of regulations promulgated by him with States and agencies of States, private firms, institutions, and individuals for the purpose of conducting research and service work, making and compiling reports and surveys, and carrying out other functions relating thereto when in his judgment the services or functions to be performed will be carried out more effectively, more rapidly, or at less cost than if performed by the Department of Agriculture. Contracts under this section may be made for work to be performed within a period not more than four years from the date of any such contract, and advance, progress, or other payments may be made. The provisions of section 3324 (a) and (b) of title 31 and section 5 of title 41 shall not be applicable to contracts or agreements made under the authority of this section. Any unexpended balances of appropriations obligated by contracts as authorized by this section may, notwithstanding the provisions of section 5 of the Act of June 20, 1874, as amended (31 U.S.C., sec. 713), remain upon the books of the Treasury for not more than five fiscal years before being carried to the surplus fund and covered into the Treasury. Any contract made pursuant to this section shall contain requirements making the result of such research and investigations available to the public by such means as the Secretary of Agriculture shall determine.
(b) The Secretary of Agriculture shall promulgate such orders, rules, and regulations as he deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

7 USC 1625 - Transfer and consolidation of functions, powers, bureaus, etc.

In order to facilitate administration and to increase the effectiveness of the marketing research, service, and regulatory work of the Department of Agriculture to the fullest extent practicable, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, to transfer, group, coordinate, and consolidate the functions, powers, duties, and authorities of each and every agency, division, bureau, service, section, or other administrative unit in the Department of Agriculture primarily concerned with research, service, or regulatory activities in connection with the marketing, transportation, storage, processing, distribution of, or service or regulatory activities in connection with, the utilization of, agricultural products, into a single administrative agency. In making such changes as may be necessary to carry out effectively the purposes of this chapter, the records, property, personnel, and funds of such agencies, divisions, bureaus, services, sections, or other administrative units in the Department of Agriculture affected are authorized to be transferred to and used by such administrative agency to which the transfer may be made, but such unexpended balances of appropriations so transferred shall be used only for the purposes for which such appropriations were made.

7 USC 1626 - Definitions

When used in this chapter, the term agricultural products includes agricultural, horticultural, viticultural, and dairy products, livestock and poultry, bees, forest products, fish and shellfish, and any products thereof, including processed and manufactured products, and any and all products raised or produced on farms and any processed or manufactured product thereof, and the term State when used in this chapter shall include the Virgin Islands and Guam.

7 USC 1627 - Appointment of personnel; compensation; employment of specialists

The Secretary of Agriculture shall have the power to appoint, remove, and fix, in accordance with existing law, the compensation of such officers and employees, and to make such expenditures as he deems necessary, including expenditures for rent outside the District of Columbia, travel, supplies, books, equipment, and such other expenditures as may be necessary to the administration of this chapter: Provided, That the Secretary of Agriculture may appoint any technically qualified person, firm, or organization by contract or otherwise on a temporary basis and for a term not to exceed six months in any fiscal year to perform research, inspection, classification, technical, or other special services, without regard to the civil-service laws.

7 USC 1628 - Repealed. Pub. L. 9386, 2, Aug. 10, 1973, 87 Stat. 246

Section, acts Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 966, title III, 301, 60 Stat. 1091; Dec. 29, 1967, Pub. L. 90–233, 81 Stat. 752, provided for establishment and staffing of a national advisory committee to aid in implementing the research and service work authorized under this chapter, sections 427 and 427i of this title and former sections 427h and 427j of this title, and set forth functions of such committee.

7 USC 1629 - Establishment of committees to assist in research and service programs

In the furtherance of the research and service work authorized by sections 427 and 427i of this title and this chapter, the Secretary of Agriculture may, in addition to the national advisory committee, establish appropriate committees, including representatives of producers, industry, government and science, to assist in effectuating specific research and service programs.

7 USC 1630 - Omitted

7 USC 1631 - Protection for purchasers of farm products

(a) Congressional findings 
Congress finds that
(1) certain State laws permit a secured lender to enforce liens against a purchaser of farm products even if the purchaser does not know that the sale of the products violates the lenders security interest in the products, lacks any practical method for discovering the existence of the security interest, and has no reasonable means to ensure that the seller uses the sales proceeds to repay the lender;
(2) these laws subject the purchaser of farm products to double payment for the products, once at the time of purchase, and again when the seller fails to repay the lender;
(3) the exposure of purchasers of farm products to double payment inhibits free competition in the market for farm products; and
(4) this exposure constitutes a burden on and an obstruction to interstate commerce in farm products.
(b) Declaration of purpose 
The purpose of this section is to remove such burden on and obstruction to interstate commerce in farm products.
(c) Definitions 
For the purposes of this section
(1) The term buyer in the ordinary course of business means a person who, in the ordinary course of business, buys farm products from a person engaged in farming operations who is in the business of selling farm products.
(2) The term central filing system means a system for filing effective financing statements or notice of such financing statements on a statewide basis and which has been certified by the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture; the Secretary shall certify such system if the system complies with the requirements of this section; specifically under such system
(A) effective financing statements or notice of such financing statements are filed with the office of the Secretary of State of a State;
(B) the Secretary of State records the date and hour of the filing of such statements;
(C) the Secretary of State compiles all such statements into a master list
(i) organized according to farm products;
(ii) arranged within each such product
(I) in alphabetical order according to the last name of the individual debtors, or, in the case of debtors doing business other than as individuals, the first word in the name of such debtors; and
(II) in numerical order according to the social security number, or other approved unique identifier, of the individual debtors or, in the case of debtors doing business other than as individuals, the Internal Revenue Service taxpayer identification number, or other approved unique identifier, of such debtors, except that the numerical list containing social security or taxpayer identification numbers may be encrypted for security purposes if the Secretary of State provides a method by which an effective search of the encrypted numbers may be conducted to determine whether the farm product at issue is subject to 1 or more liens; and
(III) geographically by county or parish; and
(IV) by crop year;
(iii) containing the information referred to in paragraph (4)(D);
(D) the Secretary of State maintains a list of all buyers of farm products, commission merchants, and selling agents who register with the Secretary of State, on a form indicating
(i) the name and address of each buyer, commission merchant and selling agent;
(ii) the interest of each buyer, commission merchant, and selling agent in receiving the lists described in subparagraph (E); and
(iii) the farm products in which each buyer, commission merchant, and selling agent has an interest;
(E) the Secretary of State distributes regularly as prescribed by the State to each buyer, commission merchant, and selling agent on the list described in subparagraph (D) a copy in written or printed form of those portions of the master list described in subparagraph (C) that cover the farm products in which such buyer, commission merchant, or selling agent has registered an interest except that
(i) the distribution of the portion of the master list may be in electronic, written, or printed form; and
(ii) if social security or taxpayer identification numbers on the master list are encrypted, the Secretary of State may distribute the master list only
(I) by compact disc or other electronic media that contains
(aa) the recorded list of debtor names; and
(bb) an encryption program that enables the buyer, commission merchant, and selling agent to enter a social security number for matching against the recorded list of encrypted social security or taxpayer identification numbers; and
(II) on the written request of the buyer, commission merchant, or selling agent, by paper copy of the list to the requestor;
(F) the Secretary of State furnishes to those who are not registered pursuant to (2)(D) of this section[1] oral confirmation within 24 hours of any effective financing statement on request followed by written confirmation to any buyer of farm products buying from a debtor, or commission merchant or selling agent selling for a seller covered by such statement.
(3) The term commission merchant means any person engaged in the business of receiving any farm product for sale, on commission, or for or on behalf of another person.
(4) The term effective financing statement means a statement that
(A) is an original or reproduced copy of the statement, or, in the case of a State which (under the applicable State law provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code) allows the electronic filing of financing statements without the signature of the debtor, is an electronically reproduced copy of the statement;
(B) other than in the case of an electronically reproduced copy of the statement, is signed, authorized, or otherwise authenticated by the debtor, and filed with the Secretary of State of a State by the secured party;
(C) contains,
(i) the name and address of the secured party;
(ii) the name and address of the person indebted to the secured party;
(iii) the social security number, or other approved unique identifier, of the debtor or, in the case of a debtor doing business other than as an individual, the Internal Revenue Service taxpayer identification number, or other approved unique identifier, of such debtor; and
(iv) a description of the farm products subject to the security interest created by the debtor, including the amount of such products where applicable, and the name of each county or parish in which the farm products are produced or located;
(D) must be amended in writing, within 3 months, similarly signed, authorized, or otherwise authenticated by the debtor and filed, to reflect material changes;
(E) remains effective for a period of 5 years from the date of filing, subject to extensions for additional periods of 5 years each by refiling or filing a continuation statement within 6 months before the expiration of the initial 5 year period;
(F) lapses on either the expiration of the effective period of the statement or the filing of a notice signed, authorized, or otherwise authenticated by the secured party that the statement has lapsed, whichever occurs first;
(G) is accompanied by the requisite filing fee set by the Secretary of State; and
(H) substantially complies with the requirements of this subparagraph even though it contains minor errors that are not seriously misleading.
(5) [2] The term farm product means an agricultural commodity such as wheat, corn, soybeans, or a species of livestock such as cattle, hogs, sheep, horses, or poultry used or produced in farming operations, or a product of such crop or livestock in its unmanufactured state (such as ginned cotton, wool-clip, maple syrup, milk, and eggs), that is in the possession of a person engaged in farming operations.
(6) The term knows or knowledge means actual knowledge.
(7) The term security interest means an interest in farm products that secures payment or performance of an obligation.
(8) The term selling agent means any person, other than a commission merchant, who is engaged in the business of negotiating the sale and purchase of any farm product on behalf of a person engaged in farming operations.
(9) The term State means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
(10) The term person means any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, or any other business entity.
(11) The term Secretary of State means the Secretary of State or the designee of the State.
(5) [3] The term approved unique identifier means a number, combination of numbers and letters, or other identifier selected by the Secretary of State using a selection system or method approved by the Secretary of Agriculture.
(d) Purchases free of security interest 
Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section and notwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or local law, a buyer who in the ordinary course of business buys a farm product from a seller engaged in farming operations shall take free of a security interest created by the seller, even though the security interest is perfected; and the buyer knows of the existence of such interest.
(e) Purchases subject to security interest 
A buyer of farm products takes subject to a security interest created by the seller if
(1) 
(A) within 1 year before the sale of the farm products, the buyer has received from the secured party or the seller written notice of the security interest organized according to farm products that
(i) is an original or reproduced copy thereof;
(ii) contains,
(I) the name and address of the secured party;
(II) the name and address of the person indebted to the secured party;
(III) the social security number, or other approved unique identifier, of the debtor or, in the case of a debtor doing business other than as an individual, the Internal Revenue Service taxpayer identification number, or other approved unique identifier, of such debtor; and
(IV) a description of the farm products subject to the security interest created by the debtor, including the amount of such products where applicable, crop year, and the name of each county or parish in which the farm products are produced or located;
(iii) must be amended in writing, within 3 months, similarly signed, authorized, or otherwise authenticated and transmitted, to reflect material changes;
(iv) will lapse on either the expiration period of the statement or the transmission of a notice signed, authorized, or otherwise authenticated by the secured party that the statement has lapsed, whichever occurs first; and
(v) contains any payment obligations imposed on the buyer by the secured party as conditions for waiver or release of the security interest; and
(B) the buyer has failed to perform the payment obligations, or
(2) in the case of a farm product produced in a State that has established a central filing system
(A) the buyer has failed to register with the Secretary of State of such State prior to the purchase of farm products; and
(B) the secured party has filed an effective financing statement or notice that covers the farm products being sold; or
(3) in the case of a farm product produced in a State that has established a central filing system, the buyer
(A) receives from the Secretary of State of such State written notice as provided in subsection (c)(2)(E) or (c)(2)(F) that specifies both the seller and the farm product being sold by such seller as being subject to an effective financing statement or notice; and
(B) does not secure a waiver or release of the security interest specified in such effective financing statement or notice from the secured party by performing any payment obligation or otherwise.
(f) Law governing “receipt” 
What constitutes receipt, as used in this section, shall be determined by the law of the State in which the buyer resides.
(g) Commission merchants or selling agents: sales free of or subject to security interest; law governing “receipt” 

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) and notwithstanding any other provision of Federal, State, or local law, a commission merchant or selling agent who sells, in the ordinary course of business, a farm product for others, shall not be subject to a security interest created by the seller in such farm product even though the security interest is perfected and even though the commission merchant or selling agent knows of the existence of such interest.
(2) A commission merchant or selling agent who sells a farm product for others shall be subject to a security interest created by the seller in such farm product if
(A) within 1 year before the sale of such farm product the commission merchant or selling agent has received from the secured party or the seller written notice of the security interest; organized according to farm products, that
(i) is an original or reproduced copy thereof;
(ii) contains,
(I) the name and address of the secured party;
(II) the name and address of the person indebted to the secured party;
(III) the social security number, or other approved unique identifier, of the debtor or, in the case of a debtor doing business other than as an individual, the Internal Revenue Service taxpayer identification number, or other approved unique identifier, of such debtor; and
(IV) a description of the farm products subject to the security interest created by the debtor, including the amount of such products, where applicable, crop year, and the name of each county or parish in which the farm products are produced or located;
(iii) must be amended in writing, within 3 months, similarly signed, authorized, or otherwise authenticated and transmitted, to reflect material changes;
(iv) will lapse on either the expiration period of the statement or the transmission of a notice signed, authorized, or otherwise authenticated by the secured party that the statement has lapsed, whichever occurs first; and
(v) contains any payment obligations imposed on the commission merchant or selling agent by the secured party as conditions for waiver or release of the security interest; and
(B) the commission merchant or selling agent has failed to perform the payment obligations;
(C) in the case of a farm product produced in a State that has established a central filing system
(i) the commission merchant or selling agent has failed to register with the Secretary of State of such State prior to the purchase of farm products; and
(ii) the secured party has filed an effective financing statement or notice that covers the farm products being sold; or
(D) in the case of a farm product produced in a State that has established a central filing system, the commission merchant or selling agent
(i) receives from the Secretary of State of such State written notice as provided in subsection (c)(2)(E) or (c)(2)(F) of this section that specifies both the seller and the farm products being sold by such seller as being subject to an effective financing statement or notice; and
(ii) does not secure a waiver or release of the security interest specified in such effective financing statement or notice from the secured party by performing any payment obligation or otherwise.
(3) What constitutes receipt, as used in this section, shall be determined by the law of the State in which the buyer resides.
(h) Security agreements; identity lists; notice of identity or accounting for proceeds; violations 

(1) A security agreement in which a person engaged in farming operations creates a security interest in a farm product may require the person to furnish to the secured party a list of the buyers, commission merchants, and selling agents to or through whom the person engaged in farming operations may sell such farm product.
(2) If a security agreement contains a provision described in paragraph (1) and such person engaged in farming operations sells the farm product collateral to a buyer or through a commission merchant or selling agent not included on such list, the person engaged in farming operations shall be subject to paragraph (3) unless the person
(A) has notified the secured party in writing of the identity of the buyer, commission merchant, or selling agent at least 7 days prior to such sale; or
(B) has accounted to the secured party for the proceeds of such sale not later than 10 days after such sale.
(3) A person violating paragraph (2) shall be fined $5,000 or 15 per centum of the value or benefit received for such farm product described in the security agreement, whichever is greater.
(i) Regulations 
The Secretary of Agriculture shall prescribe regulations not later than 90 days after December 23, 1985, to aid States in the implementation and management of a central filing system.
(j) Effective date 
This section shall become effective 12 months after December 23, 1985.
[1] So in original. Probably should be “pursuant to subparagraph (D)”.
[2] So in original. Another par. (5) follows par. (11).
[3] So in original. Another par. (5) follows par. (4).

7 USC 1632 - Repealed. Pub. L. 107171, title VII, 7303, May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 455

Section, Pub. L. 99–198, title XIV, § 1436, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1558, related to market expansion research.

7 USC 1632a - Value-added agricultural product market development grants

(a) Definitions 
In this section:
(1) Beginning farmer or rancher 
The term beginning farmer or rancher has the meaning given the term in section 1991 (a) of this title.
(2) Family farm 
The term family farm has the meaning given the term in section 761.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on December 30, 2007).
(3) Mid-tier value chain 
The term mid-tier value chain means local and regional supply networks that link independent producers with businesses and cooperatives that market value-added agricultural products in a manner that
(A) targets and strengthens the profitability and competitiveness of small and medium-sized farms and ranches that are structured as a family farm; and
(B) obtains agreement from an eligible agricultural producer group, farmer or rancher cooperative, or majority-controlled producer-based business venture that is engaged in the value chain on a marketing strategy.
(4) Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher 
The term socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher has the meaning given the term in section 2003 (e) of this title.
(5) Value-added agricultural product 
The term value-added agricultural product means any agricultural commodity or product that
(A) 
(i) has undergone a change in physical state;
(ii) was produced in a manner that enhances the value of the agricultural commodity or product, as demonstrated through a business plan that shows the enhanced value, as determined by the Secretary;
(iii) is physically segregated in a manner that results in the enhancement of the value of the agricultural commodity or product;
(iv) is a source of farm- or ranch-based renewable energy, including E85 fuel; or
(v) is aggregated and marketed as a locally-produced agricultural food product; and
(B) as a result of the change in physical state or the manner in which the agricultural commodity or product was produced, marketed, or segregated
(i) the customer base for the agricultural commodity or product is expanded; and
(ii) a greater portion of the revenue derived from the marketing, processing, or physical segregation of the agricultural commodity or product is available to the producer of the commodity or product.
(b) Grant program 

(1) In general 
From amounts made available under paragraph (7), the Secretary shall award competitive grants
(A) to an eligible independent producer (as determined by the Secretary) of a value-added agricultural product to assist the producer
(i) in developing a business plan for viable marketing opportunities for the value-added agricultural product; or
(ii) in developing strategies that are intended to create marketing opportunities for the producer; and
(B) to an eligible agricultural producer group, farmer or rancher cooperative, or majority-controlled producer-based business venture (as determined by the Secretary) to assist the entity
(i) in developing a business plan for viable marketing opportunities in emerging markets for a value-added agricultural product; or
(ii) in developing strategies that are intended to create marketing opportunities in emerging markets for the value-added agricultural product.
(2) Amount of grant 

(A) In general 
The total amount provided under this subsection to a grant recipient shall not exceed $500,000.
(B) Majority-controlled producer-based business ventures 
The amount of grants provided to majority-controlled producer-based business ventures under paragraph (1)(B) for a fiscal year may not exceed 10 percent of the amount of funds that are used to make grants for the fiscal year under this subsection.
(3) Grantee strategies 
A grantee under paragraph (1) shall use the grant
(A) to develop a business plan or perform a feasibility study to establish a viable marketing opportunity for a value-added agricultural product; or
(B) to provide capital to establish alliances or business ventures that allow the producer of the value-added agricultural product to better compete in domestic or international markets.
(4) Term 
A grant under this subsection shall have a term that does not exceed 3 years.
(5) Simplified application 
The Secretary shall offer a simplified application form and process for project proposals requesting less than $50,000.
(6) Priority 
In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that contribute to increasing opportunities for
(A) beginning farmers or ranchers;
(B) socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; and
(C) operators of small- and medium-sized farms and ranches that are structured as a family farm.
(7) Funding 

(A) Mandatory funding 
On October 1, 2008, of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make available to carry out this subsection $15,000,000, to remain available until expended.
(B) Discretionary funding 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
(C) Reservation of funds for projects to benefit beginning farmers or ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, and mid-tier value chains 

(i) In general The Secretary shall reserve 10 percent of the amounts made available for each fiscal year under this paragraph to fund projects that benefit beginning farmers or ranchers or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
(ii) Mid-tier value chains The Secretary shall reserve 10 percent of the amounts made available for each fiscal year under this paragraph to fund applications of eligible entities described in paragraph (1) that propose to develop mid-tier value chains.
(iii) Unobligated amounts Any amounts in the reserves for a fiscal year established under clauses (i) and (ii) that are not obligated by June 30 of the fiscal year shall be available to the Secretary to make grants under this subsection to eligible entities in any State, as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Agricultural Marketing Resource Center pilot project 

(1) Establishment 
Notwithstanding the limitation on grants in subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall not use more than 5 percent of the funds made available under subsection (b) to establish a pilot project (to be known as the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center) at an eligible institution described in paragraph (2) that will
(A) develop a resource center with electronic capabilities to coordinate and provide to independent producers and processors (as determined by the Secretary) of value-added agricultural commodities and products of agricultural commodities information regarding research, business, legal, financial, or logistical assistance; and
(B) develop a strategy to establish a nationwide market information and coordination system.
(2) Eligible institution 
To be eligible to receive funding to establish the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, an applicant shall demonstrate to the Secretary
(A) the capacity and technical expertise to provide the services described in paragraph (1)(A);
(B) an established plan outlining support of the applicant in the agricultural community; and
(C) the availability of resources (in cash or in kind) of definite value to sustain the Center following establishment.
(d) Matching funds 
A recipient of funds under subsection (a) or (b) shall contribute an amount of non-Federal funds that is at least equal to the amount of Federal funds received.
(e) Limitation 
Funds provided under this section may not be used for
(1) planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or facility (including a processing facility); or
(2) the purchase, rental, or installation of fixed equipment.

7 USC 1632b - Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration Program

(a) Purpose 
The purpose of this section is to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a demonstration program under which agricultural producers are provided
(1) technical assistance, consisting of engineering services, applied research, scale production, and similar services, to enable the agricultural producers to establish businesses to produce value-added agricultural commodities or products;
(2) assistance in marketing, market development, and business planning; and
(3) organizational, outreach, and development assistance to increase the viability, growth, and sustainability of businesses that produce value-added agricultural commodities or products.
(b) Definitions 
In this section:
(1) Program 
The term Program means the Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration Program established under subsection (c).
(2) Secretary 
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(c) Establishment of Program 
The Secretary shall establish a demonstration program, to be known as the Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration Program under which the Secretary shall
(1) make grants to assist eligible entities in establishing Agriculture Innovation Centers to enable agricultural producers to obtain the assistance described in subsection (a); and
(2) provide assistance to eligible entities in establishing Agriculture Innovation Centers through the research and technical services of the Department of Agriculture.
(d) Eligibility requirements 

(1) In general 
An entity shall be eligible for a grant and assistance described in subsection (c) to establish an Agriculture Innovation Center if
(A) the entity
(i) has provided services similar to the services described in subsection (a); or
(ii) demonstrates the capability of providing such services;
(B) the application of the entity for the grant and assistance includes a plan, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary, that outlines
(i) the support for the entity in the agricultural community;
(ii) the technical and other expertise of the entity; and
(iii) the goals of the entity for increasing and improving the ability of local agricultural producers to develop markets and processes for value-added agricultural commodities or products;
(C) the entity demonstrates that adequate resources (in cash or in kind) are available, or have been committed to be made available, to the entity, to increase and improve the ability of local agricultural producers to develop markets and processes for value-added agricultural commodities or products; and
(D) the Agriculture Innovation Center of the entity has a board of directors established in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2) Board of directors 
Each Agriculture Innovation Center of an eligible entity shall have a board of directors composed of representatives of each of the following groups:
(A) The 2 general agricultural organizations with the greatest number of members in the State in which the eligible entity is located.
(B) The department of agriculture, or similar State department or agency, of the State in which the eligible entity is located.
(C) Entities representing the 4 highest grossing commodities produced in the State, determined on the basis of annual gross cash sales.
(e) Grants and assistance 

(1) In general 
Subject to subsection (i), under the Program, the Secretary shall make, on a competitive basis, annual grants to eligible entities.
(2) Maximum amount of grants 
A grant under paragraph (1) shall be in an amount that does not exceed the lesser of
(A) $1,000,000; or
(B) twice the dollar amount of the resources (in cash or in kind) that the eligible entity demonstrates are available, or have been committed to be made available, to the eligible entity in accordance with subsection (d)(1)(C).
(3) Maximum number of grants 

(A) First fiscal year of Program 
In the first fiscal year of the Program, the Secretary shall make grants to not more than 5 eligible entities.
(B) Second fiscal year of Program 
In the second fiscal year of the Program, the Secretary may make grants to
(i) the eligible entities to which grants were made under subparagraph (A); and
(ii) not more than 10 additional eligible entities.
(4) State limitation 

(A) In general 
Subject to subparagraph (B), in the first 3 fiscal years of the Program, the Secretary shall not make a grant under the Program to more than 1 entity in any 1 State.
(B) Collaboration 
Nothing in subparagraph (A) precludes a recipient of a grant under the Program from collaborating with any other institution with respect to activities conducted using the grant.
(f) Use of funds 
An eligible entity to which a grant is made under the Program may use the grant only for the following purposes (but only to the extent that the use is not described in section 1632a (d) of this title):
(1) Applied research.
(2) Consulting services.
(3) Hiring of employees, at the discretion of the board of directors of the Agriculture Innovation Center of the eligible entity.
(4) The making of matching grants, each of which shall be in an amount not to exceed $5,000, to agricultural producers, except that the aggregate amount of all such matching grants made by the eligible entity shall be not more than $50,000.
(5) Legal services.
(6) Any other related cost, as determined by the Secretary.
(g) Research on effects on the agricultural sector 

(1) In general 
Of the amount made available under subsection (i) for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall use $300,000 to support research at a university concerning the effects of projects for value-added agricultural commodities or products on agricultural producers and the commodity markets.
(2) Research elements 
Research under paragraph (1) shall systematically examine, using linked, long-term, global projections of the agricultural sector, the potential effects of projects described in subparagraph (A)[1] on
(A) demand for agricultural commodities;
(B) market prices;
(C) farm income; and
(D) Federal outlays on commodity programs.
(h) Report to Congress 

(1) In general 
Not later than 3 years after the date on which the last of the first 10 grants is made under the Program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on
(A) the effectiveness of the Program in improving and expanding the production of value-added agricultural commodities or products; and
(B) the effects of the Program on the economic viability of agricultural producers.
(2) Required elements 
The report under paragraph (1) shall
(A) include a description of the best practices and innovations found at each of the Agriculture Innovation Centers established under the Program; and
(B) specify the number and type of activities assisted, and the type of assistance provided, under the Program.
(i) Authorization of appropriations 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
[1] So in original. Probably should be “paragraph (1)”.

TITLE 7 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER II - LIVESTOCK MANDATORY REPORTING

Part A - Purpose; Definitions

7 USC 1635 - Purpose

The purpose of this subchapter is to establish a program of information regarding the marketing of cattle, swine, lambs, and products of such livestock that
(1) provides information that can be readily understood by producers, packers, and other market participants, including information with respect to the pricing, contracting for purchase, and supply and demand conditions for livestock, livestock production, and livestock products;
(2) improves the price and supply reporting services of the Department of Agriculture; and
(3) encourages competition in the marketplace for livestock and livestock products.

7 USC 1635a - Definitions

In this subchapter:
(1) Base price 
The term base price means the price paid for livestock, delivered at the packing plant, before application of any premiums or discounts, expressed in dollars per hundred pounds of carcass weight.
(2) Basis level 
The term basis level means the agreed-on adjustment to a future price to establish the final price paid for livestock.
(3) Current slaughter week 
The term current slaughter week means the period beginning Monday, and ending Sunday, of the week in which a reporting day occurs.
(4) F.O.B. 
The term F.O.B. means free on board, regardless of the mode of transportation, at the point of direct shipment by the seller to the buyer.
(5) Livestock 
The term livestock means cattle, swine, and lambs.
(6) Lot 
The term lot means a group of one or more livestock that is identified for the purpose of a single transaction between a buyer and a seller.
(7) Marketing 
The term marketing means the sale or other disposition of livestock, livestock products, or meat or meat food products in commerce.
(8) Negotiated purchase 
The term negotiated purchase means a cash or spot market purchase by a packer of livestock from a producer under which
(A) the base price for the livestock is determined by seller-buyer interaction and agreement on a day; and
(B) the livestock are scheduled for delivery to the packer not later than 14 days after the date on which the livestock are committed to the packer.
(9) Negotiated sale 
The term negotiated sale means a cash or spot market sale by a producer of livestock to a packer under which
(A) the base price for the livestock is determined by seller-buyer interaction and agreement on a day; and
(B) the livestock are scheduled for delivery to the packer not later than 14 days after the date on which the livestock are committed to the packer.
(10) Prior slaughter week 
The term prior slaughter week means the Monday through Sunday prior to a reporting day.
(11) Producer 
The term producer means any person engaged in the business of selling livestock to a packer for slaughter (including the sale of livestock from a packer to another packer).
(12) Reporting day 
The term reporting day means a day on which
(A) a packer conducts business regarding livestock committed to the packer, or livestock purchased, sold, or slaughtered by the packer;
(B) the Secretary is required to make information concerning the business described in subparagraph (A) available to the public; and
(C) the Department of Agriculture is open to conduct business.
(13) Secretary 
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
(14) State 
The term State means each of the 50 States.

Part B - Cattle Reporting

7 USC 1635d - Definitions

In this part:
(1) Cattle committed 
The term cattle committed means cattle that are scheduled to be delivered to a packer within the 7-day period beginning on the date of an agreement to sell the cattle.
(2) Cattle type 
The term cattle type means the following types of cattle purchased for slaughter:
(A) Fed steers.
(B) Fed heifers.
(C) Fed Holsteins and other fed dairy steers and heifers.
(D) Cows.
(E) Bulls.
(3) Formula marketing arrangement 
The term formula marketing arrangement means the advance commitment of cattle for slaughter by any means other than through a negotiated purchase or a forward contract, using a method for calculating price in which the price is determined at a future date.
(4) Forward contract 
The term forward contract means
(A) an agreement for the purchase of cattle, executed in advance of slaughter, under which the base price is established by reference to
(i) prices quoted on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange; or
(ii) other comparable publicly available prices; or
(B) such other forward contract as the Secretary determines to be applicable.
(5) Packer 
The term packer means any person engaged in the business of buying cattle in commerce for purposes of slaughter, of manufacturing or preparing meats or meat food products from cattle for sale or shipment in commerce, or of marketing meats or meat food products from cattle in an unmanufactured form acting as a wholesale broker, dealer, or distributor in commerce, except that
(A) the term includes only a cattle processing plant that is federally inspected;
(B) for any calendar year, the term includes only a cattle processing plant that slaughtered an average of at least 125,000 head of cattle per year during the immediately preceding 5 calendar years; and
(C) in the case of a cattle processing plant that did not slaughter cattle during the immediately preceding 5 calendar years, the Secretary shall consider the plant capacity of the processing plant in determining whether the processing plant should be considered a packer under this part.
(6) Packer-owned cattle 
The term packer-owned cattle means cattle that a packer owns for at least 14 days immediately before slaughter.
(7) Terms of trade 
The term terms of trade includes, with respect to the purchase of cattle for slaughter
(A) whether a packer provided any financing agreement or arrangement with regard to the cattle;
(B) whether the delivery terms specified the location of the producer or the location of the packers plant;
(C) whether the producer is able to unilaterally specify the date and time during the business day of the packer that the cattle are to be delivered for slaughter; and
(D) the percentage of cattle purchased by a packer as a negotiated purchase that are delivered to the plant for slaughter more than 7 days, but fewer than 14 days, after the earlier of
(i) the date on which the cattle were committed to the packer; or
(ii) the date on which the cattle were purchased by the packer.
(8) Type of purchase 
The term type of purchase, with respect to cattle, means
(A) a negotiated purchase;
(B) a formula market arrangement; and
(C) a forward contract.

7 USC 1635e - Mandatory reporting for live cattle

(a) Establishment 
The Secretary shall establish a program of live cattle price information reporting that will
(1) provide timely, accurate, and reliable market information;
(2) facilitate more informed marketing decisions; and
(3) promote competition in the cattle slaughtering industry.
(b) General reporting provisions applicable to packers and the Secretary 

(1) In general 
Whenever the prices or quantities of cattle are required to be reported or published under this section, the prices or quantities shall be categorized so as to clearly delineate
(A) the prices or quantities, as applicable, of the cattle purchased in the domestic market; and
(B) the prices or quantities, as applicable, of imported cattle.
(2) Packer-owned cattle 
Information required under this section for packer-owned cattle shall include quantity and carcass characteristics, but not price.
(c) Daily reporting 

(1) In general 
The corporate officers or officially designated representatives of each packer processing plant shall report to the Secretary at least twice each reporting day (including once not later than 10:00 a.m. Central Time and once not later than 2:00 p.m. Central Time) the following information for each cattle type:
(A) The prices for cattle (per hundredweight) established on that day, categorized by
(i) type of purchase;
(ii) the quantity of cattle purchased on a live weight basis;
(iii) the quantity of cattle purchased on a dressed weight basis;
(iv) a range of the estimated live weights of the cattle purchased;
(v) an estimate of the percentage of the cattle purchased that were of a quality grade of choice or better; and
(vi) any premiums or discounts associated with
(I) weight, grade, or yield; or
(II) any type of purchase.
(B) The quantity of cattle delivered to the packer (quoted in numbers of head) on that day, categorized by
(i) type of purchase;
(ii) the quantity of cattle delivered on a live weight basis; and
(iii) the quantity of cattle delivered on a dressed weight basis.
(C) The quantity of cattle committed to the packer (quoted in numbers of head) as of that day, categorized by
(i) type of purchase;
(ii) the quantity of cattle committed on a live weight basis; and
(iii) the quantity of cattle committed on a dressed weight basis.
(D) The terms of trade regarding the cattle, as applicable.
(2) Publication 
The Secretary shall make the information available to the public not less frequently than three times each reporting day.
(d) Weekly reporting 

(1) In general 
The corporate officers or officially designated representatives of each packer processing plant shall report to the Secretary, on the first reporting day of each week, not later than 9:00 a.m. Central Time, the following information applicable to the prior slaughter week:
(A) The quantity of cattle purchased through a forward contract that were slaughtered.
(B) The quantity of cattle delivered under a formula marketing arrangement that were slaughtered.
(C) The quantity and carcass characteristics of packer-owned cattle that were slaughtered.
(D) The quantity, basis level, and delivery month for all cattle purchased through forward contracts that were agreed to by the parties.
(E) The range and average of intended premiums and discounts that are expected to be in effect for the current slaughter week.
(2) Formula purchases 
The corporate officers or officially designated representatives of each packer processing plant shall report to the Secretary, on the first reporting day of each week, not later than 9:00 a.m. Central Time, the following information for cattle purchased through a formula marketing arrangement and slaughtered during the prior slaughter week:
(A) The quantity (quoted in both numbers of head and hundredweights) of cattle.
(B) The weighted average price paid for a carcass, including applicable premiums and discounts.
(C) The range of premiums and discounts paid.
(D) The weighted average of premiums and discounts paid.
(E) The range of prices paid.
(F) The aggregate weighted average price paid for a carcass.
(G) The terms of trade regarding the cattle, as applicable.
(3) Publication 
The Secretary shall make available to the public the information obtained under paragraphs (1) and (2) on the first reporting day of the current slaughter week, not later than 10:00 a.m. Central Time.
(e) Regional reporting of cattle types 

(1) In general 
The Secretary shall determine whether adequate data can be obtained on a regional basis for fed Holsteins and other fed dairy steers and heifers, cows, and bulls based on the number of packers required to report under this section.
(2) Report 
Not later than 2 years after October 22, 1999, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on the determination of the Secretary under paragraph (1).

7 USC 1635f - Mandatory packer reporting of boxed beef sales

(a) Daily reporting 
The corporate officers or officially designated representatives of each packer processing plant shall report to the Secretary at least twice each reporting day (not less than once before, and once after, 12:00 noon Central Time) information on total boxed beef sales, including
(1) the price for each lot of each negotiated boxed beef sale (determined by seller-buyer interaction and agreement), quoted in dollars per hundredweight (on a F.O.B. plant basis);
(2) the quantity for each lot of each sale, quoted by number of boxes sold; and
(3) information regarding the characteristics of each lot of each sale, including
(A) the grade of beef (USDA Choice or better, USDA Select, or ungraded no-roll product);
(B) the cut of beef; and
(C) the trim specification.
(b) Publication 
The Secretary shall make available to the public the information required to be reported under subsection (a) of this section not less frequently than twice each reporting day.

Part C - Swine Reporting

7 USC 1635i - Definitions

In this part:
(1) Affiliate 
The term affiliate, with respect to a packer, means
(A) a person that directly or indirectly owns, controls, or holds with power to vote, 5 percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of the packer;
(B) a person 5 percent or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned, controlled, or held with power to vote, by the packer; and
(C) a person that directly or indirectly controls, or is controlled by or under common control with, the packer.
(2) Applicable reporting period 
The term applicable reporting period means the period of time prescribed by the prior day report, the morning report, and the afternoon report, as required under section 1635j (c) of this title.
(3) Barrow 
The term barrow means a neutered male swine.
(4) Base market hog 
The term base market hog means a barrow or gilt for which no discounts are subtracted from and no premiums are added to the base price.
(5) Boar 
The term boar means a sexually-intact male swine.
(6) Formula price 
The term formula price means a price determined by a mathematical formula under which the price established for a specified market serves as the basis for the formula.
(7) Gilt 
The term gilt means a young female swine that has not produced a litter.
(8) Hog class 
The term hog class means, as applicable
(A) barrows or gilts;
(B) sows; or
(C) boars or stags.
(9) Noncarcass merit premium 
The term noncarcass merit premium means an increase in the base price of the swine offered by an individual packer or packing plant, based on any factor other than the characteristics of the carcass, if the actual amount of the premium is known before the sale and delivery of the swine.
(10) Other market formula purchase 

(A) In general 
The term other market formula purchase means a purchase of swine by a packer in which the pricing mechanism is a formula price based on any market other than the market for swine, pork, or a pork product.
(B) Inclusion 
The term other market formula purchase includes a formula purchase in a case in which the price formula is based on one or more futures or options contracts.
(11) Other purchase arrangement 
The term other purchase arrangement means a purchase of swine by a packer that
(A) is not a negotiated purchase, swine or pork market formula purchase, or other market formula purchase; and
(B) does not involve packer-owned swine.
(12) Packer 
The term packer means any person engaged in the business of buying swine in commerce for purposes of slaughter, of manufacturing or preparing meats or meat food products from swine for sale or shipment in commerce, or of marketing meats or meat food products from swine in an unmanufactured form acting as a wholesale broker, dealer, or distributor in commerce, except that
(A) the term includes only a swine processing plant that is federally inspected;
(B) for any calendar year, the term includes only
(i) a swine processing plant that slaughtered an average of at least 100,000 swine per year during the immediately preceding five calendar years; and
(ii) a person that slaughtered an average of at least 200,000 sows, boars, or any combination thereof, per year during the immediately preceding five calendar years; and
(C) in the case of a swine processing plant or person that did not slaughter swine during the immediately preceding 5 calendar years, the Secretary shall consider the plant capacity of the processing plant or person in determining whether the processing plant or person should be considered a packer under this part.
(13) Packer-owned swine 
The term packer-owned swine means swine that a packer (including a subsidiary or affiliate of the packer) owns for at least 14 days immediately before slaughter.
(14) Packer-sold swine 
The term packer-sold swine means the swine that are
(A) owned by a packer (including a subsidiary or affiliate of the packer) for more than 14 days immediately before sale for slaughter; and
(B) sold for slaughter to another packer.
(15) Pork 
The term pork means the meat of a porcine animal.
(16) Pork product 
The term pork product means a product or byproduct produced or processed in whole or in part from pork.
(17) Purchase data 
The term purchase data means all of the applicable data, including weight (if purchased live), for all swine purchased during the applicable reporting period, regardless of the expected delivery date of the swine, reported by
(A) hog class;
(B) type of purchase; and
(C) packer-owned swine.
(18) Slaughter data 
The term slaughter data means all of the applicable data for all swine slaughtered by a packer during the applicable reporting period, regardless of when the price of the swine was negotiated or otherwise determined, reported by
(A) hog class;
(B) type of purchase; and
(C) packer-owned swine.
(19) Sow 
The term sow means an adult female swine that has produced one or more litters.
(20) Swine 
The term swine means a porcine animal raised to be a feeder pig, raised for seedstock, or raised for slaughter.
(21) Swine or pork market formula purchase 
The term swine or pork market formula purchase means a purchase of swine by a packer in which the pricing mechanism is a formula price based on a market for swine, pork, or a pork product, other than a future or option for swine, pork, or a pork product.
(22) Type of purchase 
The term type of purchase, with respect to swine, means
(A) a negotiated purchase;
(B) other market formula purchase;
(C) a swine or pork market formula purchase; and
(D) other purchase arrangement.

7 USC 1635j - Mandatory reporting for swine

(a) Establishment 
The Secretary shall establish a program of swine price information reporting that will
(1) provide timely, accurate, and reliable market information;
(2) facilitate more informed marketing decisions; and
(3) promote competition in the swine slaughtering industry.
(b) General reporting provisions applicable to packers and the Secretary 

(1) In general 
The Secretary shall establish and implement a price reporting program in accordance with this section that includes the reporting and publication of information required under this section.
(2) Packer-owned swine 
Information required under this section for packer-owned swine shall include quantity and carcass characteristics, but not price.
(3) Packer-sold swine 
If information regarding the type of purchase is required under this section, the information shall be reported according to the numbers and percentages of each type of purchase comprising
(A) packer-sold swine; and
(B) all other swine.
(4) Additional information 

(A) Review 
The Secretary shall review the information required to be reported by packers under this section at least once every 2 years.
(B) Outdated information 
After public notice and an opportunity for comment, subject to subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall promulgate regulations that specify additional information that shall be reported under this section if the Secretary determines under the review under subparagraph (A) that
(i) information that is currently required no longer accurately reflects the methods by which swine are valued and priced by packers; or
(ii) packers that slaughter a significant majority of the swine produced in the United States no longer use backfat or lean percentage factors as indicators of price.
(C) Limitation 
Under subparagraph (B), the Secretary may not require packers to provide any new or additional information that
(i) is not generally available or maintained by packers; or
(ii) would be otherwise unduly burdensome to provide.
(c) Daily reporting; barrows and gilts 

(1) Prior day report 

(A) In general 
The corporate officers or officially designated representatives of each packer processing plant that processes barrows or gilts shall report to the Secretary, for each business day of the packer, such information as the Secretary determines necessary and appropriate to
(i) comply with the publication requirements of this section; and
(ii) provide for the timely access to the information by producers, packers, and other market participants.
(B) Reporting deadline and plants required to report 
A packer required to report under subparagraph (A) shall
(i) not later than 7:00 a.m. Central Time on each reporting day, report information regarding all barrows and gilts purchased or priced, and
(ii) not later than 9:00 a.m. Central Time on each reporting day, report information regarding all barrows and gilts slaughtered,

during the prior business day of the packer.

(C) Information required 
The information from the prior business day of a packer required under this paragraph shall include
(i) all purchase data, including
(I) the total number of
(aa) barrows and gilts purchased; and
(bb) barrows and gilts scheduled for delivery; and
(II) the base price and purchase data for slaughtered barrows and gilts for which a price has been established;
(ii) all slaughter data for the total number of barrows and gilts slaughtered, including
(I) information concerning the net price, which shall be equal to the total amount paid by a packer to a producer (including all premiums, less all discounts) per hundred pounds of carcass weight of barrows and gilts delivered at the plant
(aa) including any sum deducted from the price per hundredweight paid to a producer that reflects the repayment of a balance owed by the producer to the packer or the accumulation of a balance to later be repaid by the packer to the producer; and
(bb) excluding any sum earlier paid to a producer that must later be repaid to the packer;
(II) information concerning the average net price, which shall be equal to the quotient (stated per hundred pounds of carcass weight of barrows and gilts) obtained by dividing
(aa) the total amount paid for the barrows and gilts slaughtered at a packing plant during the applicable reporting period, including all premiums and discounts, and including any sum deducted from the price per hundredweight paid to a producer that reflects the repayment of a balance owed by the producer to the packer, or the accumulation of a balance to later be repaid by the packer to the producer, less all discounts; by
(bb) the total carcass weight (in hundred pound increments) of the barrows and gilts;
(III) information concerning the lowest net price, which shall be equal to the lowest net price paid for a single lot or a group of barrows or gilts slaughtered at a packing plant during the applicable reporting period per hundred pounds of carcass weight of barrows and gilts;
(IV) information concerning the highest net price, which shall be equal to the highest net price paid for a single lot or group of barrows or gilts slaughtered at a packing plant during the applicable reporting period per hundred pounds of carcass weight of barrows and gilts;
(V) the average carcass weight, which shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing
(aa) the total carcass weight of the barrows and gilts slaughtered at the packing plant during the applicable reporting period, by
(bb) the number of the barrows and gilts described in item (aa), adjusted for special slaughter situations (such as skinning or foot removal), as the Secretary determines necessary to render comparable carcass weights;
(VI) the average sort loss, which shall be equal to the average discount (in dollars per hundred pounds carcass weight) for barrows and gilts slaughtered during the applicable reporting period, resulting from the fact that the barrows and gilts did not fall within the individual packers established carcass weight or lot variation range;
(VII) the average backfat, which shall be equal to the average of the backfat thickness (in inches) measured between the third and fourth from the last ribs, 7 centimeters from the carcass split (or adjusted from the individual packers measurement to that reference point using an adjustment made by the Secretary) of the barrows and gilts slaughtered during the applicable reporting period;
(VIII) the average lean percentage, which shall be equal to the average percentage of the carcass weight comprised of lean meat for the barrows and gilts slaughtered during the applicable reporting period, except that when a packer is required to report the average lean percentage under this subclause, the packer shall make available to the Secretary the underlying data, applicable methodology and formulae, and supporting materials used to determine the average lean percentage, which the Secretary may convert to the carcass measurements or lean percentage of the barrows and gilts of the individual packer to correlate to a common percent lean measurement; and
(IX) the total slaughter quantity, which shall be equal to the total number of barrows and gilts slaughtered during the applicable reporting period, including all types of purchases and barrows and gilts that qualify as packer-owned swine; and
(iii) packer purchase commitments, which shall be equal to the number of barrows and gilts scheduled for delivery to a packer for slaughter for each of the next 14 calendar days.
(D) Publication 

(i) In general The Secretary shall publish the information obtained under this paragraph in a prior day report
(I) in the case of information regarding barrows and gilts purchased or priced, not later than 8:00 a.m. Central Time, and
(II) in the case of information regarding barrows and gilts slaughtered, not later than 10:00 a.m. Central Time,

on the reporting day on which the information is received from the packer.

(ii) Price distributions The information published by the Secretary under clause (i) shall include a distribution of net prices in the range between and including the lowest net price and the highest net price reported. The publication shall include a delineation of the number of barrows and gilts at each reported price level or, at the option of the Secretary, the number of barrows and gilts within each of a series of reasonable price bands within the range of prices.
(2) Morning report 

(A) In general 
The corporate officers or officially designated representatives of each packer processing plant that processes barrows or gilts shall report to the Secretary not later than 10:00 a.m. Central Time each reporting day
(i) the packers best estimate of the total number of barrows and gilts, and barrows and gilts that qualify as packer-owned swine, expected to be purchased throughout the reporting day through each type of purchase;
(ii) the total number of barrows and gilts, and barrows and gilts that qualify as packer-owned swine, purchased up to that time of the reporting day through each type of purchase;
(iii) the base price paid for all base market hogs purchased up to that time of the reporting day through negotiated purchases; and
(iv) the base price paid for all base market hogs purchased through each type of purchase other than negotiated purchase up to that time of the reporting day, unless such information is unavailable due to pricing that is determined on a delayed basis.
(B) Publication 
The Secretary shall publish the information obtained under this paragraph in the morning report as soon as practicable, but not later than 11:00 a.m. Central Time, on each reporting day.
(3) Afternoon report 

(A) In general 
The corporate officers or officially designated representatives of each packer processing plant that processes barrows or gilts shall report to the Secretary not later than 2:00 p.m. Central Time each reporting day
(i) the packers best estimate of the total number of barrows and gilts, and barrows and gilts that qualify as packer-owned swine, expected to be purchased throughout the reporting day through each type of purchase;
(ii) the total number of barrows and gilts, and barrows and gilts that qualify as packer-owned swine, purchased up to that time of the reporting day through each type of purchase;
(iii) the base price paid for all base market hogs purchased up to that time of the reporting day through negotiated purchases; and
(iv) the base price paid for all base market hogs purchased up to that time of the reporting day through each type of purchase other than negotiated purchase, unless such information is unavailable due to pricing that is determined on a delayed basis.
(B) Publication 
The Secretary shall publish the information obtained under this paragraph in the afternoon report as soon as practicable, but not later than 3:00 p.m. Central Time, on each reporting day.
(d) Daily reporting; sows and boars 

(1) Prior day report 
The corporate officers or officially designated representatives of each packer of sows and boars shall report to the Secretary, for each business day of the packer, such information reported by hog class as the Secretary determines necessary and appropriate to
(A) comply with the publication requirements of this section; and
(B) provide for the timely access to the information by producers, packers, and other market participants.
(2) Reporting 
Not later than 9:30 a.m. Central Time, or such other time as the Secretary considers appropriate, on each reporting day, a packer required to report under paragraph (1) shall report information regarding all sows and boars purchased or priced during the prior business day of the packer.
(3) Information required 
The information from the prior business day of a packer required under this subsection shall include all purchase data, including
(A) the total number of sows purchased and the total number of boars purchased, each divided into at least three reasonable and meaningful weight classes specified by the Secretary;
(B) the number of sows that qualify as packer-owned swine;
(C) the number of boars that qualify as packer-owned swine;
(D) the average price paid for all sows;
(E) the average price paid for all boars;
(F) the average price paid for sows in each weight class specified by the Secretary under subparagraph (A);
(G) the average price paid for boars in each weight class specified by the Secretary under subparagraph (A);
(H) the number of sows and the number of boars for which prices are determined, by each type of purchase;
(I) the average prices for sows and the average prices for boars for which prices are determined, by each type of purchase; and
(J) such other information as the Secretary considers appropriate to carry out this subsection.
(4) Price calculations without packer-owned swine 
A packer shall omit the prices of sows and boars that qualify as packer-owned swine from all average price calculations, price range calculations, and reports required by this subsection.
(5) Reporting exception: public auction purchases 
The information required to be reported under this subsection shall not include purchases of sows or boars made by agents of the reporting packer at a public auction at which the title of the sows and boars is transferred directly from the producer to such packer.
(6) Publication 
The Secretary shall publish the information obtained under this paragraph in a prior day report not later than 11:00 a.m. Central Time on the reporting day on which the information is received from the packer.
(7) Electronic submission of information 
The Secretary of Agriculture shall provide for the electronic submission of any information required to be reported under this subsection through an Internet website or equivalent electronic means maintained by the Department of Agriculture.
(e) Weekly noncarcass merit premium report 

(1) In general 
Not later than 4:00 p.m. Central Time on the first reporting day of each week, the corporate officers or officially designated representatives of each packer processing plant shall report to the Secretary a noncarcass merit premium report that lists
(A) each category of standard noncarcass merit premiums used by the packer in the prior slaughter week; and
(B) the amount (in dollars per hundred pounds of carcass weight) paid to producers by the packer, by category.
(2) Premium list 
A packer shall maintain and make available to a producer, on request, a current listing of the dollar values (per hundred pounds of carcass weight) of each noncarcass merit premium used by the packer during the current or the prior slaughter week.
(3) Availability 
A packer shall not be required to pay a listed noncarcass merit premium to a producer that meets the requirements for the premium if the need for swine in a given category is filled at a particular point in time.
(4) Publication 
The Secretary shall publish the information obtained under this subsection as soon as practicable, but not later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time, on the first reporting day of each week.

Part D - Lamb Reporting

7 USC 1635m - Mandatory reporting for lambs

(a) Establishment 
The Secretary may establish a program of mandatory lamb price information reporting that will
(1) provide timely, accurate, and reliable market information;
(2) facilitate more informed marketing decisions; and
(3) promote competition in the lamb slaughtering industry.
(b) Notice and comment 
If the Secretary establishes a mandatory price reporting program under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall provide an opportunity for comment on proposed regulations to establish the program during the 30-day period beginning on the date of the publication of the proposed regulations.

Part E - Administration

7 USC 1636 - General provisions

(a) Confidentiality 
The Secretary shall make available to the public information, statistics, and documents obtained from, or submitted by, packers, retail entities, and other persons under this subchapter in a manner that ensures that confidentiality is preserved regarding
(1) the identity of persons, including parties to a contract; and
(2) proprietary business information.
(b) Disclosure by Federal Government employees 

(1) In general 
Subject to paragraph (2), no officer, employee, or agent of the United States shall, without the consent of the packer or other person concerned, divulge or make known in any manner, any facts or information regarding the business of the packer or other person that was acquired through reporting required under this subchapter.
(2) Exceptions 
Information obtained by the Secretary under this subchapter may be disclosed
(A) to agents or employees of the Department of Agriculture in the course of their official duties under this subchapter;
(B) as directed by the Secretary or the Attorney General, for enforcement purposes; or
(C) by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(3) Disclosure under Freedom of Information Act 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no facts or information obtained under this subchapter shall be disclosed in accordance with section 552 of title 5.
(c) Reporting by packers 
A packer shall report all information required under this subchapter on an individual lot basis.
(d) Regional reporting and aggregation 
The Secretary shall make information obtained under this subchapter available to the public only in a manner that
(1) ensures that the information is published on a national and a regional or statewide basis as the Secretary determines to be appropriate;
(2) ensures that the identity of a reporting person is not disclosed; and
(3) conforms to aggregation guidelines established by the Secretary.
(e) Adjustments 
Prior to the publication of any information required under this subchapter, the Secretary may make reasonable adjustments in information reported by packers to reflect price aberrations or other unusual or unique occurrences that the Secretary determines would distort the published information to the detriment of producers, packers, or other market participants.
(f) Verification 
The Secretary shall take such actions as the Secretary considers necessary to verify the accuracy of the information submitted or reported under part B, C, or D of this subchapter.
(g) Electronic reporting and publishing 

(1) In general 
The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, provide for the reporting and publishing of the information required under this subchapter by electronic means.
(2) Improvements and education 

(A) Enhanced electronic publishing 
The Secretary shall develop and implement an enhanced system of electronic publishing to disseminate information collected pursuant to this subchapter. Such system shall
(i) present information in a format that can be readily understood by producers, packers, and other market participants;
(ii) adhere to the publication deadlines in this subchapter;
(iii) present information in charts and graphs, as appropriate;
(iv) present comparative information for prior reporting periods, as the Secretary considers appropriate; and
(v) be updated as soon as practicable after information is reported to the Secretary.
(B) Education 
The Secretary shall carry out a market news education program to educate the public and persons in the livestock and meat industries about
(i) usage of the system developed under subparagraph (A); and
(ii) interpreting and understanding information collected and disseminated through such system.
(h) Reporting of activities on weekends and holidays 

(1) In general 
Livestock committed to a packer, or purchased, sold, or slaughtered by a packer, on a weekend day or holiday shall be reported by the packer to the Secretary (to the extent required under this subchapter), and reported by the Secretary, on the immediately following reporting day.
(2) Limitation on reporting by packers 
A packer shall not be required to report actions under paragraph (1) more than once on the immediately following reporting day.
(i) Effect on other laws 
Nothing in this subchapter, the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999, or amendments made by that Act restricts or modifies the authority of the Secretary to
(1) administer or enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.);
(2) administer, enforce, or collect voluntary reports under this chapter or any other law; or
(3) access documentary evidence as provided under sections 49 and 50 of title 15.

7 USC 1636a - Unlawful acts

It shall be unlawful and a violation of this subchapter for any packer or other person subject to this subchapter (in the submission of information required under part B, C, or D of this subchapter, as determined by the Secretary) to willfully
(1) fail or refuse to provide, or delay the timely reporting of, accurate information to the Secretary (including estimated information);
(2) solicit or request that a packer, the buyer or seller of livestock or livestock products, or any other person fail to provide, as a condition of any transaction, accurate or timely information required under this subchapter;
(3) fail or refuse to comply with this subchapter; or
(4) report estimated information in any report required under this subchapter in a manner that demonstrates a pattern of significant variance in accuracy when compared to the actual information that is reported for the same reporting period, or as determined by any audit, oversight, or other verification procedures of the Secretary.

7 USC 1636b - Enforcement

(a) Civil penalty 

(1) In general 
Any packer or other person that violates this subchapter may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of not more than $10,000 for each violation.
(2) Continuing violation 
Each day during which a violation continues shall be considered to be a separate violation.
(3) Factors 
In determining the amount of a civil penalty to be assessed under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider the gravity of the offense, the size of the business involved, and the effect of the penalty on the ability of the person that has committed the violation to continue in business.
(4) Multiple violations 
In determining whether to assess a civil penalty under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider whether a packer or other person subject to this subchapter has engaged in a pattern of errors, delays, or omissions in violation of this subchapter.
(b) Cease and desist 
In addition to, or in lieu of, a civil penalty under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary may issue an order to cease and desist from continuing any violation.
(c) Notice and hearing 
No penalty shall be assessed, or cease and desist order issued, by the Secretary under this section unless the person against which the penalty is assessed or to which the order is issued is given notice and opportunity for a hearing before the Secretary with respect to the violation.
(d) Finality and judicial review 

(1) In general 
The order of the Secretary assessing a civil penalty or issuing a cease and desist order under this section shall be final and conclusive unless the affected person files an appeal of the order of the Secretary in United States district court not later than 30 days after the date of the issuance of the order.
(2) Standard of review 
A finding of the Secretary under this section shall be set aside only if the finding is found to be unsupported by substantial evidence.
(e) Enforcement 

(1) In general 
If, after the lapse of the period allowed for appeal or after the affirmance of a penalty assessed under this section, the person against which the civil penalty is assessed fails to pay the penalty, the Secretary may refer the matter to the Attorney General who may recover the penalty by an action in United States district court.
(2) Finality 
In the action, the final order of the Secretary shall not be subject to review.
(f) Injunction or restraining order 

(1) In general 
If the Secretary has reason to believe that any person subject to this subchapter has failed or refused to provide the Secretary information required to be reported pursuant to this subchapter, and that it would be in the public interest to enjoin the person from further failure to comply with the reporting requirements, the Secretary may notify the Attorney General of the failure.
(2) Attorney General 
The Attorney General may apply to the appropriate district court of the United States for a temporary or permanent injunction or restraining order.
(3) Court 
When needed to carry out this subchapter, the court shall, on a proper showing, issue a temporary injunction or restraining order without bond.
(g) Failure to obey orders 

(1) In general 
If a person subject to this subchapter fails to obey a cease and desist or civil penalty order issued under this subsection after the order has become final and unappealable, or after the appropriate United States district court has entered a final judgment in favor of the Secretary, the United States may apply to the appropriate district court for enforcement of the order.
(2) Enforcement 
If the court determines that the order was lawfully made and duly served and that the person violated the order, the court shall enforce the order.
(3) Civil penalty 
If the court finds that the person violated the cease and desist provisions of the order, the person shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each offense.

7 USC 1636c - Fees

The Secretary shall not charge or assess a user fee, transaction fee, service charge, assessment, reimbursement, or any other fee for the submission or reporting of information, for the receipt or availability of, or access to, published reports or information, or for any other activity required under this subchapter.

7 USC 1636d - Recordkeeping

(a) In general 
Subject to subsection (b) of this section, each packer required to report information to the Secretary under this subchapter shall maintain, and make available to the Secretary on request, for 2 years
(1) the original contracts, agreements, receipts and other records associated with any transaction relating to the purchase, sale, pricing, transportation, delivery, weighing, slaughter, or carcass characteristics of all livestock; and
(2) such records or other information as is necessary or appropriate to verify the accuracy of the information required to be reported under this subchapter.
(b) Limitations 
Under subsection (a)(2) of this section, the Secretary may not require a packer to provide new or additional information if
(1) the information is not generally available or maintained by packers; or
(2) the provision of the information would be unduly burdensome.
(c) Purchases of cattle or swine 
A record of a purchase of a lot of cattle or a lot of swine by a packer shall evidence whether the purchase occurred
(1) before 10:00 a.m. Central Time;
(2) between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Central Time; or
(3) after 2:00 p.m. Central Time.

7 USC 1636e - Voluntary reporting

The Secretary shall encourage voluntary reporting by packers (as defined in section 191 of this title) to which the mandatory reporting requirements of this subchapter do not apply.

7 USC 1636f - Publication of information on retail purchase prices for representative meat products

(a) In general 
Beginning not later than 90 days after October 22, 1999, the Secretary shall compile and publish at least monthly (weekly, if practicable) information on retail prices for representative food products made from beef, pork, chicken, turkey, veal, or lamb.
(b) Information 
The report published by the Secretary under subsection (a) of this section shall include
(1) information on retail prices for each representative food product described in subsection (a) of this section; and
(2) information on total sales quantity (in pounds and dollars) for each representative food product.
(c) Meat Price Spreads Report 
During the period ending 2 years after the initial publication of the report required under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall continue to publish the Meat Price Spreads Report in the same manner as the Report was published before October 22, 1999.
(d) Information collection 

(1) In general 
To ensure the accuracy of the reports required under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall obtain the information for the reports from one or more sources including
(A) a consistently representative set of retail transactions; and
(B) both prices and sales quantities for the transactions.
(2) Source of information 
The Secretary may
(A) obtain the information from retailers or commercial information sources; and
(B) use valid statistical sampling procedures, if necessary.
(3) Adjustments 
In providing information on retail prices under this section, the Secretary may make adjustments to take into account differences in
(A) the geographic location of consumption;
(B) the location of the principal source of supply;
(C) distribution costs; and
(D) such other factors as the Secretary determines reflect a verifiable comparative retail price for a representative food product.
(e) Administration 
The Secretary
(1) shall collect information under this section only on a voluntary basis; and
(2) shall not impose a penalty on a person for failure to provide the information or otherwise compel a person to provide the information.

7 USC 1636g - Suspension authority regarding specific terms of price reporting requirements

(a) In general 
The Secretary may suspend any requirement of this subchapter if the Secretary determines that application of the requirement is inconsistent with the purposes of this subchapter.
(b) Suspension procedure 

(1) Period 
A suspension under subsection (a) of this section shall be for a period of not more than 240 days.
(2) Action by Congress 
If an Act of Congress concerning the requirement that is the subject of the suspension under subsection (a) of this section is not enacted by the end of the period of the suspension established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall implement the requirement.

7 USC 1636h - Federal preemption

In order to achieve the goals, purposes, and objectives of this chapter on a nationwide basis and to avoid potentially conflicting State laws that could impede the goals, purposes, or objectives of this chapter, no State or political subdivision of a State may impose a requirement that is in addition to, or inconsistent with, any requirement of this subchapter with respect to the submission or reporting of information, or the publication of such information, on the prices and quantities of livestock or livestock products.

7 USC 1636i - Termination of authority

The authority provided by this subchapter terminates on September 30, 2010.

TITLE 7 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER III - DAIRY PRODUCT MANDATORY REPORTING

7 USC 1637 - Purpose

The purpose of this subchapter is to establish a program of information regarding the marketing of dairy products that
(1) provides information that can be readily understood by producers and other market participants, including information with respect to prices, quantities sold, and inventories of dairy products;
(2) improves the price and supply reporting services of the Department of Agriculture; and
(3) encourages competition in the marketplace for dairy products.

7 USC 1637a - Definitions

In this subchapter:
(1) Dairy products 
The term dairy products means
(A) manufactured dairy products that are used by the Secretary to establish minimum prices for Class III and Class IV milk under a Federal milk marketing order issued under section 608c of this title; and
(B) substantially identical products designated by the Secretary.
(2) Manufacturer 
The term manufacturer means any person engaged in the business of buying milk in commerce for the purpose of manufacturing dairy products.
(3) Secretary 
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.

7 USC 1637b - Mandatory reporting for dairy products

(a) Establishment 
The Secretary shall establish a program of mandatory dairy product information reporting that will
(1) provide timely, accurate, and reliable market information;
(2) facilitate more informed marketing decisions; and
(3) promote competition in the dairy product manufacturing industry.
(b) Requirements 

(1) In general 
In establishing the program, the Secretary shall only
(A) 
(i) subject to the conditions described in paragraph (2), require each manufacturer to report to the Secretary information concerning the price, quantity, and moisture content of dairy products sold by the manufacturer; and
(ii) modify the format used to provide the information on the day before November 22, 2000, to ensure that the information can be readily understood by market participants; and
(B) require each manufacturer and other person storing dairy products to report to the Secretary, at a periodic interval determined by the Secretary, information on the quantity of dairy products stored.
(2) Conditions 
The conditions referred to in paragraph (1)(A)(i) are that
(A) the information referred to in paragraph (1)(A)(i) is required only with respect to those package sizes actually used to establish minimum prices for Class III or Class IV milk under a Federal milk marketing order;
(B) the information referred to in paragraph (1)(A)(i) is required only to the extent that the information is actually used to establish minimum prices for Class III or Class IV milk under a Federal milk marketing order;
(C) the frequency of the required reporting under paragraph (1)(A)(i) does not exceed the frequency used to establish minimum prices for Class III or Class IV milk under a Federal milk marketing order; and
(D) the Secretary may exempt from all reporting requirements any manufacturer that processes and markets less than 1,000,000 pounds of dairy products per year.
(c) Administration 

(1) In general 
The Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to ensure compliance with, and otherwise carry out, this subchapter.
(2) Confidentiality 

(A) In general 
Except as otherwise directed by the Secretary or the Attorney General for enforcement purposes, no officer, employee, or agent of the United States shall make available to the public information, statistics, or documents obtained from or submitted by any person under this subchapter other than in a manner that ensures that confidentiality is preserved regarding the identity of persons, including parties to a contract, and proprietary business information.
(B) Relation to other requirements 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no facts or information obtained under this subchapter shall be disclosed in accordance with section 552 of title 5.
(3) Verification 

(A) In general 
The Secretary shall take such actions as the Secretary considers necessary to verify the accuracy of the information submitted or reported under this subchapter.
(B) Quarterly audits 
The Secretary shall quarterly conduct an audit of information submitted or reported under this subchapter and compare such information with other related dairy market statistics.
(4) Enforcement 

(A) Unlawful act 
It shall be unlawful and a violation of this subchapter for any person subject to this subchapter to willfully fail or refuse to provide, or delay the timely reporting of, accurate information to the Secretary in accordance with this subchapter.
(B) Order 
After providing notice and an opportunity for a hearing to affected persons, the Secretary may issue an order against any person to cease and desist from continuing any violation of this subchapter.
(C) Appeal 

(i) In general The order of the Secretary under subparagraph (B) shall be final and conclusive unless an affected person files an appeal of the order of the Secretary in United States district court not later than 30 days after the date of the issuance of the order.
(ii) Findings A finding of the Secretary under this paragraph shall be set aside only if the finding is found to be unsupported by substantial evidence.
(D) Noncompliance with order 

(i) In general If a person subject to this subchapter fails to obey an order issued under this paragraph after the order has become final and unappealable, or after the appropriate United States district court has entered a final judgment in favor of the Secretary, the United States may apply to the appropriate United States district court for enforcement of the order.
(ii) Enforcement If the court determines that the order was lawfully made and duly served and that the person violated the order, the court shall enforce the order.
(iii) Civil penalty If the court finds that the person violated the order, the person shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each offense.
(5) Fees 
The Secretary shall not charge or assess a user fee, transaction fee, service charge, assessment, reimbursement fee, or any other fee under this subchapter for
(A) the submission or reporting of information;
(B) the receipt or availability of, or access to, published reports or information; or
(C) any other activity required under this subchapter.
(6) Recordkeeping 
Each person required to report information to the Secretary under this subchapter shall maintain, and make available to the Secretary, on request, original contracts, agreements, receipts, and other records associated with the sale or storage of any dairy products during the 2-year period beginning on the date of the creation of the records.
(d) Electronic reporting 

(1) In general 
Subject to the availability of funds under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall establish an electronic reporting system to carry out this section.
(2) Frequency of reports 
After the establishment of the electronic reporting system in accordance with paragraph (1), the Secretary shall increase the frequency of the reports required under this section.
(3) Authorization of appropriations 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this subsection.
(e) Authorization of appropriations 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.

TITLE 7 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER IV - COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING

7 USC 1638 - Definitions

In this subchapter:
(1) Beef 
The term beef means meat produced from cattle (including veal).
(2) Covered commodity 

(A) In general 
The term covered commodity means
(i) muscle cuts of beef, lamb, and pork;
(ii) ground beef, ground lamb, and ground pork;
(iii) farm-raised fish;
(iv) wild fish;
(v) a perishable agricultural commodity;
(vi) peanuts; and[1]
(vii) meat produced from goats;
(viii) chicken, in whole and in part;
(ix) ginseng;
(x) pecans; and
(xi) macadamia nuts.
(B) Exclusions 
The term covered commodity does not include an item described in subparagraph (A) if the item is an ingredient in a processed food item.
(3) Farm-raised fish 
The term farm-raised fish includes
(A) farm-raised shellfish; and
(B) fillets, steaks, nuggets, and any other flesh from a farm-raised fish or shellfish.
(4) Food service establishment 
The term food service establishment means a restaurant, cafeteria, lunch room, food stand, saloon, tavern, bar, lounge, or other similar facility operated as an enterprise engaged in the business of selling food to the public.
(5) Lamb 
The term lamb means meat, other than mutton, produced from sheep.
(6) Perishable agricultural commodity; retailer 
The terms perishable agricultural commodity and retailer have the meanings given the terms in section 499a (b) of this title.
(7) Pork 
The term pork means meat produced from hogs.
(8) Secretary 
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Agricultural Marketing Service.
(9) Wild fish 

(A) In general 
The term wild fish means naturally-born or hatchery-raised fish and shellfish harvested in the wild.
(B) Inclusions 
The term wild fish includes a fillet, steak, nugget, and any other flesh from wild fish or shellfish.
(C) Exclusions 
The term wild fish excludes net-pen aquacultural or other farm-raised fish.
[1] So in original. The word “and” probably should not appear.

7 USC 1638a - Notice of country of origin

(a) In general 

(1) Requirement 
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a retailer of a covered commodity shall inform consumers, at the final point of sale of the covered commodity to consumers, of the country of origin of the covered commodity.
(2) Designation of country of origin for beef, lamb, pork, chicken, and goat meat 

(A) United States country of origin 
A retailer of a covered commodity that is beef, lamb, pork, chicken, or goat meat may designate the covered commodity as exclusively having a United States country of origin only if the covered commodity is derived from an animal that was
(i) exclusively born, raised, and slaughtered in the United States;
(ii) born and raised in Alaska or Hawaii and transported for a period of not more than 60 days through Canada to the United States and slaughtered in the United States; or
(iii) present in the United States on or before July 15, 2008, and once present in the United States, remained continuously in the United States.
(B) Multiple countries of origin 

(i) In general A retailer of a covered commodity that is beef, lamb, pork, chicken, or goat meat that is derived from an animal that is
(I) not exclusively born, raised, and slaughtered in the United States,
(II) born, raised, or slaughtered in the United States, and
(III) not imported into the United States for immediate slaughter,

may designate the country of origin of such covered commodity as all of the countries in which the animal may have been born, raised, or slaughtered.

(ii) Relation to general requirement Nothing in this subparagraph alters the mandatory requirement to inform consumers of the country of origin of covered commodities under paragraph (1).
(C) Imported for immediate slaughter 
A retailer of a covered commodity that is beef, lamb, pork, chicken, or goat meat that is derived from an animal that is imported into the United States for immediate slaughter shall designate the origin of such covered commodity as
(i) the country from which the animal was imported; and
(ii) the United States.
(D) Foreign country of origin 
A retailer of a covered commodity that is beef, lamb, pork, chicken, or goat meat that is derived from an animal that is not born, raised, or slaughtered in the United States shall designate a country other than the United States as the country of origin of such commodity.
(E) Ground beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and goat 
The notice of country of origin for ground beef, ground pork, ground lamb, ground chicken, or ground goat shall include
(i) a list of all countries of origin of such ground beef, ground pork, ground lamb, ground chicken, or ground goat; or
(ii) a list of all reasonably possible countries of origin of such ground beef, ground pork, ground lamb, ground chicken, or ground goat.
(3) Designation of country of origin for fish 

(A) In general 
A retailer of a covered commodity that is farm-raised fish or wild fish may designate the covered commodity as having a United States country of origin only if the covered commodity
(i) in the case of farm-raised fish, is hatched, raised, harvested, and processed in the United States; and
(ii) in the case of wild fish, is
(I) harvested in the United States, a territory of the United States, or a State, or by a vessel that is documented under chapter 121 of title 46 or registered in the United States; and
(II) processed in the United States, a territory of the United States, or a State, including the waters thereof, or aboard a vessel that is documented under chapter 121 of title 46 or registered in the United States.
(B) Designation of wild fish and farm-raised fish 
The notice of country of origin for wild fish and farm-raised fish shall distinguish between wild fish and farm-raised fish.
(4) Designation of country of origin for perishable agricultural commodities, ginseng, peanuts, pecans, and macadamia nuts 

(A) In general 
A retailer of a covered commodity that is a perishable agricultural commodity, ginseng, peanut, pecan, or macadamia nut may designate the covered commodity as having a United States country of origin only if the covered commodity is exclusively produced in the United States.
(B) State, region, locality of the United States 
With respect to a covered commodity that is a perishable agricultural commodity, ginseng, peanut, pecan, or macadamia nut produced exclusively in the United States, designation by a retailer of the State, region, or locality of the United States where such commodity was produced shall be sufficient to identify the United States as the country of origin.
(b) Exemption for food service establishments 
Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to a covered commodity if the covered commodity is
(1) prepared or served in a food service establishment; and
(2) 
(A) offered for sale or sold at the food service establishment in normal retail quantities; or
(B) served to consumers at the food service establishment.
(c) Method of notification 

(1) In general 
The information required by subsection (a) of this section may be provided to consumers by means of a label, stamp, mark, placard, or other clear and visible sign on the covered commodity or on the package, display, holding unit, or bin containing the commodity at the final point of sale to consumers.
(2) Labeled commodities 
If the covered commodity is already individually labeled for retail sale regarding country of origin, the retailer shall not be required to provide any additional information to comply with this section.
(d) Audit verification system 

(1) In general 
The Secretary may conduct an audit of any person that prepares, stores, handles, or distributes a covered commodity for retail sale to verify compliance with this subchapter (including the regulations promulgated under section 1638c (b) of this title).
(2) Record requirements 

(A) In general 
A person subject to an audit under paragraph (1) shall provide the Secretary with verification of the country of origin of covered commodities. Records maintained in the course of the normal conduct of the business of such person, including animal health papers, import or customs documents, or producer affidavits, may serve as such verification.
(B) Prohibition on requirement of additional records 
The Secretary may not require a person that prepares, stores, handles, or distributes a covered commodity to maintain a record of the country of origin of a covered commodity other than those maintained in the course of the normal conduct of the business of such person.
(e) Information 
Any person engaged in the business of supplying a covered commodity to a retailer shall provide information to the retailer indicating the country of origin of the covered commodity.
(f) Certification of origin 

(1) Mandatory identification 
The Secretary shall not use a mandatory identification system to verify the country of origin of a covered commodity.
(2) Existing certification programs 
To certify the country of origin of a covered commodity, the Secretary may use as a model certification programs in existence on May 13, 2002, including
(A) the carcass grading and certification system carried out under this chapter;
(B) the voluntary country of origin beef labeling system carried out under this chapter;
(C) voluntary programs established to certify certain premium beef cuts;
(D) the origin verification system established to carry out the child and adult care food program established under section 1766 of title 42; or
(E) the origin verification system established to carry out the market access program under section 5623 of this title.

7 USC 1638b - Enforcement

(a) Warnings 
If the Secretary determines that a retailer or person engaged in the business of supplying a covered commodity to a retailer is in violation of section 1638a of this title, the Secretary shall
(1) notify the retailer[1] of the determination of the Secretary; and
(2) provide the retailer[1] a 30-day period, beginning on the date on which the retailer[1] receives the notice under paragraph (1) from the Secretary, during which the retailer[1] may take necessary steps to comply with section 1638a of this title.
(b) Fines 
If, on completion of the 30-day period described in subsection (a)(2), the Secretary determines that the retailer or person engaged in the business of supplying a covered commodity to a retailer has
(1) not made a good faith effort to comply with section 1638a of this title, and
(2) continues to willfully violate section 1638a of this title with respect to the violation about which the retailer or person received notification under subsection (a)(1),

after providing notice and an opportunity for a hearing before the Secretary with respect to the violation, the Secretary may fine the retailer or person in an amount of not more than $1,000 for each violation.

[1] So in original. Probably should be “retailer or person”.

7 USC 1638c - Regulations

(a) Guidelines 
Not later than September 30, 2002, the Secretary shall issue guidelines for the voluntary country of origin labeling of covered commodities based on the requirements of section 1638a of this title.
(b) Regulations 
Not later than September 30, 2004, the Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to implement this subchapter.
(c) Partnerships with States 
In promulgating the regulations, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, enter into partnerships with States with enforcement infrastructure to assist in the administration of this subchapter.

7 USC 1638d - Applicability

This subchapter shall apply to the retail sale of a covered commodity beginning September 30, 2008, except for farm-raised fish and wild fish which shall be September 30, 2004.