1.Short
title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Competitive and Fair
Agricultural Markets Act of 2006
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of
contents.
TITLE I—Agricultural fair practices
Sec. 101. Agricultural fair practices.
Sec. 102. Application.
TITLE II—Packers and stockyards
Sec. 201. Investigation of live poultry dealers.
Sec. 202. No competitive injury requirement.
Sec. 203. Attorneys fees.
Sec. 204. Appointment of outside counsel.
Sec. 205. Competitive harm.
Sec. 206. Regulations.
<enum>I</enum><header>Agricultural fair
practices</header>
<section id="ID4706C692800141D1B0C9E8419790403B"><enum>101.</enum><header>Agricultural
fair practices</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The
Agricultural Fair Practices Act of 1967 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2301">7 U.S.C. 2301</external-xref> et seq.) is amended to
read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="ID08DF7DF8244141C5BE8E3185F4B0221B">
<section id="ID1D750AC636644B7795C6066BA5638969" section-type="section-one"><enum>1.</enum><header>Short title; table of
contents</header>
<subsection id="ID77A5CD2C55994E62B8753E28459636D1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>This Act may be cited as the <quote>Agricultural Fair
Practices Act of 1967</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID541672D630E2455983CD703C0841C43F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Table of
contents</header><text>The table of contents of this Act is as follows:</text>
<toc>
<toc-entry idref="ID1D750AC636644B7795C6066BA5638969" level="section">Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="IDACE548658DB64DE7B33204D144418D43" level="section">Sec. 2. Definitions.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="IDCB0069D0A57F4B8598C8A4C877EE7084" level="title">TITLE I—Agricultural trade practices</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="ID95F9672E99E346A48BAE8D497E3DAD60" level="section">Sec. 101. Office of Special Counsel for Competition
Matters.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="ID63145F902AE0440BB481F782A352ABA5" level="section">Sec. 102. Report on corporate structure.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="ID9AB9E7E40BFB4623A9BF6508F66536DE" level="title">TITLE II—Unfair or deceptive acts or practices in agricultural
commerce</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="ID789B587381274DE69E61C208CFE57ED7" level="section">Sec. 201. Prohibition on unfair or deceptive acts or practices
in agricultural commerce.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="IDA9897957F60443D3A100869864502490" level="section">Sec. 202. Agricultural contracts.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="IDD70848DA0C1B4DE7B9F28973AF103D55" level="section">Sec. 203. Production contracts.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="ID8D073D24035F4C3E9CF4A437DFB69D2C" level="section">Sec. 204. Authority of Secretary to promulgate rules and
regulations.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="ID3A094AA02E81418DA6D1E99879F8085C" level="section">Sec. 205. Enforcement.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="IDDA561574BCEF4BB9BF4D013D33004286" level="section">Sec. 206. Effect on other laws.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="IDB584BA5854EB4DC583ACE4B301AA8BD5" level="section">Sec. 207. Assignment of association dues and fees.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="IDBE85FA9F9F1E4E138E09D8FF1EC5145B" level="section">Sec. 208. Severability.</toc-entry>
</toc>
</subsection></section><section id="IDACE548658DB64DE7B33204D144418D43"><enum>2.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this Act:</text>
<paragraph id="ID256906208DF84376A61130CDB3A8F195"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Agricultural
Commodity</header><text>The term <term>agricultural commodity</term> has the
meaning given the term in section 102 of the <act-name parsable-cite="ATA78">Agricultural Trade Act of 1978</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/5602">7 U.S.C.
5602</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDD754176E4285421D923F04689EA65101"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Agricultural
contract</header><text>The term <term>agricultural contract</term> means a
marketing contract or a production contract.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID07A9AC6D84044C298CE7A3E21BD225AF"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Agricultural
cooperative</header><text>The term <term>agricultural cooperative</term> means
an association of persons engaged in the production, marketing, or processing
of an agricultural commodity that meets the requirements of the Act entitled
<quote>An Act to authorize association of producers of agricultural
products</quote> (commonly known as the <quote>Capper-Volstead Act</quote>)
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/291">7 U.S.C.
291</external-xref> et seq.).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID831008F9893D4EA7B9F41100A8ABE236"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Association of
producers</header>
<subparagraph id="ID3399C0F0AC2D4D62A6265F9FED4500D6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The term <term>association of producers</term> means an
association of producers of agricultural commodities that engages in the
marketing, bargaining, shipping, or processing of agricultural commodities or
of agricultural services.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDBCE14A9CEBBC4EB5B3A9124700CEB716"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>The
term <term>association of producers</term> includes—</text>
<clause id="ID754cc1d893e440da98d70bca0c2f3f8e"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an organization
dedicated to promoting the common interest and general welfare of producers of
agricultural commodities;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID374C8792195248DE86BADE3EAB3D0000"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a cooperative
association (as defined in section 15(a) of the Agricultural Marketing Act
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/12/1141j(a)">12 U.S.C.
1141j(a)</external-xref>)); and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID0EB21D16B3CC458E95CD00DD75497831"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>an association
described in the first section of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to authorize
association of producers of agricultural products</quote> (commonly known as
the <quote>Capper-Volstead Act</quote>) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/291">7 U.S.C. 291</external-xref>).</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID60AAAAD08C6A4FFEA3212E42AE2039F7"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Capital
investment</header><text>The term <term>capital investment</term> means an
investment in—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID43CEB2B3B8E34EB1800470CE3DD69094"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a structure, such
as a building or manure storage structure; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID7535C5A577B841368F2D8D43F4364940"><enum>(B)</enum><text>machinery or
equipment associated with producing an agricultural commodity that has a useful
life of more than 1 year.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID4DD60F8FD1AA4C1DB9FB19B6AF28D72E"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Commission
merchant</header><text>The term <term>commission merchant</term> means any
person engaged in the business of receiving in interstate or foreign commerce
any agricultural commodity for sale on commission.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDB308654234E649B08473DF4CC3B62E67"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Contract
livestock facility</header><text>The term <term>contract livestock
facility</term> means a facility in which livestock or a product of live
livestock is produced under a production contract by a contract
producer.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID5D2269C8F57348B48E74ED35C1F29FAF"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Contractor</header><text>The
term <term>contractor</term> means a person that, in accordance with a
production contract, owns, or will own, an agricultural commodity that is
produced by a contract producer.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID942886A0D88441ECA0C4E8976B1D0471"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Contract
producer</header><text>The term <term>contract producer</term> means a producer
that produces an agricultural commodity under a production contract.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID6EEA725BB6094DD6A97D41BDB21616AE"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Covered
person</header><text>The term <term>covered person</term> means a dealer,
handler, contractor, processor, or commission merchant.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDEA3772B1D5F24276B4E4FC4CFC2912F5"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Crop</header><text>The
term <term>crop</term> means an agricultural commodity produced from a
plant.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDF871F615128B459C9F418BAEE47D3200"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Dealer</header><text>The
term <term>dealer</term> means any person engaged in the business of buying,
selling, or marketing agricultural commodities in interstate or foreign
commerce.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID4FD7AB6B95A447ABBD2485C58CC17B3B"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Department</header><text>The
term <term>Department</term> means the Department of Agriculture.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID8D8399020EFB4B078073973F3F651E5E"><enum>(14)</enum><header>Handler</header><text>The
term <term>handler</term> means any person engaged in the business or practice
of—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDA201D63F22404F999DC36143BB7FA622"><enum>(A)</enum><text>acquiring
agricultural commodities from producers or associations of producers for
processing or sale;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID3A5303583D2E42849244E60005A0E12D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>grading,
packaging, handling, storing, or processing agricultural commodities received
from producers or associations of producers;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID5ACD5D028C6447CD8394B5055ED0CC9D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>contracting or
negotiating contracts or other arrangements, written or oral, with or on behalf
of producers or associations of producers with respect to the production or
marketing of any agricultural commodity; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDB05518A8C856443FA27DDCBA6084EE9C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>acting as an
agent or broker for a handler in the performance of any function or act
described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID055B8EFCB5CE42DFBC7717B1E348FF41"><enum>(15)</enum><header>Investment
requirement</header><text>The term <term>investment requirement</term> means a
provision in a production contract that requires a contract producer to make a
capital investment associated with producing an agricultural commodity that,
but for the production contract, the contract producer would not have
made.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDF89E4BDCD9FC4E5388BC473B41423CB0"><enum>(16)</enum><header>Livestock</header><text>The
term <term>livestock</term> means beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, or
poultry.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID681B6D63A4354D038D605F71F8C2C1B7"><enum>(17)</enum><header>Marketing
contract</header><text>The term <term>marketing contract</term> means a written
agreement between a covered person and a producer for the purchase of an
agricultural commodity produced or raised by the producer.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDF3A5ECB3AAF14F659898627CC92022EA"><enum>(18)</enum><header>Person</header><text>The
term <term>person</term> includes an individual, partnership, corporation,
limited liability company, limited partnership, or association.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDDE0615C346624AD2BACEE07FD86B1100"><enum>(19)</enum><header>Processor</header><text>The
term <term>processor</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDC87900FD700A4E17002E7D6C4B68ABF8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any person (other
than an agricultural cooperative) engaged in the business of handling,
preparing, or manufacturing (including slaughtering) an agricultural commodity
or the products of an agricultural commodity for sale or marketing in
interstate or foreign commerce; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID1223962354B04C0DA69F214B34D327BE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an agricultural
cooperative that handles, prepares, or manufactures (including slaughtering)
agricultural commodities of its members’ own production.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDB56B14FEBCC44DF59CD3EDD09CA926EE"><enum>(20)</enum><header>Produce</header><text>The
term <term>produce</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDA116CD326F494C0B92E100BC5CEC5053"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to provide feed
or services relating to the care and feeding of livestock, including milking
dairy cattle and storing raw milk; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDCB5F5A61926541EDAF243386A31746D7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to plant, raise,
harvest, and store a crop, including preparing soil for planting and applying a
fertilizer, soil conditioner, or pesticide to a crop.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDF3356C05B85645DAA1A2AF245300DC72"><enum>(21)</enum><header>Producer</header><text>The
term <term>producer</term> means a person engaged in the production of an
agricultural commodity as a farmer, planter, rancher, dairyman, poultryman, or
fruit, vegetable, or nut grower.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID45FCEA45FF4244FA948FF47F572C94E5"><enum>(22)</enum><header>Production
contract</header>
<subparagraph id="ID6EAE13EFDD844F118B3EF1EA61B05734"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The term <term>production contract</term> means a written
agreement that provides for—</text>
<clause id="IDDCA4C26220134388BFDA8433618E43C5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the production of
an agricultural commodity by a contract producer; or</text>
</clause><clause id="ID582A313425534AD8904311BFA2C7EA72"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the provision of
a management service relating to the production of an agricultural commodity by
a contract producer.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID470DC85840B44CA5AEA69B0091CE1BC3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>The
term <term>production contract</term> includes—</text>
<clause id="ID6AF6F964EE784615809DE7CD2F650800"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a
contract between a contractor and a contract producer for the production of an
agricultural commodity; and</text>
</clause><clause id="IDE96A3CD375734932B200FEE7232F57F6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a contract
between a contractor and a contract producer for the provision of a management
service in the production of an agricultural commodity.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID9BED1A75C4EA4B7DB9000040C9F08C03"><enum>(23)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The
term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Agriculture.</text>
</paragraph></section><title id="IDCB0069D0A57F4B8598C8A4C877EE7084"><enum>I</enum><header>Agricultural
trade practices</header>
<section id="ID95F9672E99E346A48BAE8D497E3DAD60"><enum>101.</enum><header>Office of
Special Counsel for Competition Matters</header>
<subsection id="ID6B2328650F974BB3BA180574BEB03D00"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header>
<paragraph id="ID04B0423C1C82441EA1628B26BEAAA419"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>There is established within the Department an office to
be known as the <quote>Office of Special Counsel for Competition
Matters</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDD07C55BCB6904AB4ACEBD3E100E725FC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The
Office shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID977855D5E4054F7D93C68765BAAE3FEA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>investigate and
prosecute violations of this Act, the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/181">7 U.S.C.
181</external-xref> et seq.), and any other Act that the Secretary determines
to be appropriate;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDDE08DB1CDE8C450FAA00001849F42243"><enum>(B)</enum><text>serve as a
liaison between the Department and the Department of Justice and the Federal
Trade Commission with respect to competition and trade practices in the food
and agricultural sector; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID9332BE66BB6144FCBE08A451DAC9EE99"><enum>(C)</enum><text>maintain a staff
of attorneys and other professionals with the appropriate expertise.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID9706AEC2DE8C4742990444C500B235C6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Special Counsel
for Competition Matters</header>
<paragraph id="ID5FD06B2F04FF4FEDBF732408F11DE327"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Office shall be headed by the Special Counsel for
Competition Matters, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID97EAC741F3FE44C383E332CFF7F580A5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Prosecutorial
Authority</header><text>Notwithstanding title 28, United States Code, the
Special Counsel for Competition Matters shall have the authority to bring any
civil or administrative action authorized under this Act or any other Act that
the Secretary determines to be appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID63145F902AE0440BB481F782A352ABA5"><enum>102.</enum><header>Report on
corporate structure</header>
<subsection id="ID682E3E1BEAA84EF5A9415500C1FB5C13"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A covered person with annual sales in excess of
$100,000,000 shall annually file with the Secretary a report that describes,
with respect to domestic activities and foreign activities, the strategic
alliances, ownership in other covered persons, joint ventures, subsidiaries,
brand names, and interlocking boards of directors with other covered
persons.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID5AD9E44138594B218DD0AE337F82B258"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Confidentiality</header><text>A
report filed under subsection (a) shall be confidential commercial or financial
information for the purposes of section 552(b)(4) of title 5, United States
Code.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Unfair or
deceptive acts or practices in agricultural commerce</header>
<section id="ID789B587381274DE69E61C208CFE57ED7"><enum>201.</enum><header>Prohibition on
unfair or deceptive acts or practices in agricultural commerce</header>
<subsection id="ID3FE4A3C638CD4EC9906BFE9265333BB5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Unfair or
deceptive acts or practices in agricultural commerce</header><text>Any unfair
or deceptive act or practice in or affecting the marketing, receiving,
purchasing, sale, or contracting for the production of any agricultural
commodity by any covered person shall be unlawful.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDCA5FF0F0ED844F2CA99EC2B786D57D5D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Unfair or
deceptive acts or practices concerning producer
associations</header><text>Subject to subsection (a), it shall be unlawful for
any covered person knowingly—</text>
<paragraph id="ID72FB037305A743B3A81F4CD33BF6321B"><enum>(1)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="ID1B793186C288439B80E5DBE601BBEB57"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to interfere with,
restrain, or coerce any producer in the exercise of the right of the producer
to join and belong to, or to refrain from joining or belonging to, an
association of producers; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDDC591AB885AD4C6CA612F7719740CE7F" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to refuse to deal with any producer
because of the exercise of the right of the producer to join and belong to the
association;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDE1C97902B8C54DB28C2938B9A2572B74"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to discriminate
against any producer with respect to price, quantity, quality, or other terms
of purchase, acquisition, or other handling of an agricultural commodity
because of the membership of the producer in, or the contract of the producer
with, an association of producers;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDBBE29930C1AA44F0963B7FBEC0EF693E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to coerce or
intimidate any producer to enter into, maintain, breach, cancel, or terminate a
membership agreement or marketing contract with an association of producers or
a contract with a covered person;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDE0D1A3A1FE624B3FAE68E4A9D71CB768"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to pay or loan
money, give any thing of value, or offer any other inducement or reward to a
producer for refusing to or ceasing to belong to an association of
producers;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID86175AB2612C40BAA61903C41D52CA57"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to make false
reports about the finances, management, or activities of an association of
producers or handlers;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID658661BFBD2C4FC485008227A9A5D6AC"><enum>(6)</enum><text>to conspire,
combine, agree, or arrange with any other person to do, or aid or abet the
performance of, any act made unlawful by this Act;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID7F978D284DED4D1E9F592EAA83B79100"><enum>(7)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="ID84365A9CD9CA4369A5A482A304F7C86B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to interfere with the
formation or administration of any association of producers; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDD7F9370A8FEC400DABA4E4F68CC300D2" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to contribute financial or other
support to an association of producers; or</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID12C694A21D724D079E63AB99EB1EC770"><enum>(8)</enum><text>to fail to
bargain in good faith.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID15A02AAE5B764B79A4C598DADBD00571"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Unfair or
deceptive acts or practices in agricultural contracts</header><text>It shall be
unlawful for a covered person that is a party to an agricultural
contract—</text>
<paragraph id="IDBF612C27250E436185EE94B82415BE5C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to fail to act in
good faith (as defined in applicable State law provisions of the Uniform
Commercial Code) with respect to the performance and enforcement of the
agricultural contract;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDA4BD5B44CD7B44208ECA00988161F4A8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to fail to
include 1 or more cover pages that disclose provisions of the agricultural
contract relating to—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID9CE6F08151EE46D38C831D0253F4D399"><enum>(A)</enum><text>duration;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID0C0AFC221B9443CCA600E73BC09B9C27"><enum>(B)</enum><text>termination;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID0F62D2D08FE144268050965BB50053AC"><enum>(C)</enum><text>renewal and
renegotiation standards;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDB57C1AA72A124508A1C1ABA62E449D4F"><enum>(D)</enum><text>responsibility
for environmental damage;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID23104A92EA1B4D67B5BA7F6DBC3128F4"><enum>(E)</enum><text>factors to be
used in determining payment;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID7E452F498DF246EFA6727B2FA1287F3C"><enum>(F)</enum><text>responsibility
for obtaining and complying with Federal, State, and local permits;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID73CF97A788F24E52BE221C5B33F81C6E"><enum>(G)</enum><text>assignability;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID1A75A7B4E7A544F289431519893CADD3"><enum>(H)</enum><text>the applicable
State law and venue;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDAD2DA0D176AC4656A1FA26BBA1E2DE7D"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the effect of
oral modifications;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID0DB61808F13249FCBD275387DE86EBFE"><enum>(J)</enum><text>remedies for
breach;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID5B37710C4FD94E60A783FBD5E1DA9EED"><enum>(K)</enum><text>in the case of a
livestock or poultry production contract, the minimum number of animals subject
to the contract;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID5AEDDD79B2D6474681CF94CF6B05013C"><enum>(L)</enum><text>other rules or
provisions incorporated in the contract by reference; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDAAD5C6F6C81F414FB3A1B5251E2FE0C2"><enum>(M)</enum><text>any other terms
that the Secretary determines to be appropriate for disclosure; or</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDDECDF94507A84988B9A61D7680855794"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to violate any of
the requirements relating to production contracts under section 203.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID402F272158A54B728878DA77D5F0ED70"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Public policy
considerations</header>
<paragraph id="ID4A6D858EE1FB48489D6B0061E150601D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In determining whether an act or practice is unfair, a
court may consider established public policies as evidence to be considered
with all other evidence.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID8DDD080A95D943EB99D5BAEF95E9276B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>Notwithstanding
paragraph (1), public policy considerations may not serve as a primary basis
for the determination.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="IDA9897957F60443D3A100869864502490"><enum>202.</enum><header>Agricultural
contracts</header>
<subsection id="ID534F1A32EF8F476F9D39F79FBEDEB319"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Confidentiality</header><text>Any
provision of an agricultural contract that requires that the agricultural
contract remain confidential is void, except as the provision applies to a
trade secret to which section 552 of title 5, United States Code,
applies.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID28FB681A86EB42768CD91E8C1943E5C8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Arbitration</header><text>If
a livestock or poultry contract provides for the use of arbitration to resolve
a controversy under the livestock or poultry contract, arbitration may be used
to settle the controversy only if, after the controversy arises, both parties
consent in writing to use arbitration to settle the controversy.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="IDD70848DA0C1B4DE7B9F28973AF103D55"><enum>203.</enum><header>Production
contracts</header>
<subsection id="ID80324D4C7E97419E9C551CA9B3DC3D53"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Right of
contract producers to cancel production contracts</header>
<paragraph id="IDE0537289E9B3442597E22720B7007539"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A contract producer may cancel a production contract by
mailing a cancellation notice to the contractor not later than the later
of—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID8E5BA9B421144BCBAC5463175F7831A1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the date that is
3 business days after the date on which the production contract is executed;
or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID9702F0F8AACD4F20AB73643CE2D41190"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any cancellation
date specified in the production contract.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID1B697EAF618042849B003801944700A7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Disclosure</header><text>A
production contract shall clearly disclose—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID8B91827300A74E1B8570CAF6E3247140"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the right of the
contract producer to cancel the production contract;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDA8A3CBA72C5740D300A5137E71BDC7DF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the method by
which the contract producer may cancel the production contract; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDEA3DC117EB03441AB0BC06A8113BF7F9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the deadline for
canceling the production contract.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID0A0624F3AA6347089944EB4DC93ECDAD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Production
contract liens</header>
<paragraph id="IDFFD6F463916F4D938E9015CCE6128D68"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition of
lien starting date</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>lien
starting date</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID6AD9632E1366401A008F009DC18D5414"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the case of an
annual crop, the date on which the annual crop is planted;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID371775B1E3F743A99C4012C000D3BB7C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of a
perennial crop, the starting date on which the perennial crop is subject to a
production contract;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID515C0A79AB67420AA990D6A902FF003B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in the case of
livestock, the date on which the livestock arrive at the contract livestock
facility; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDAA4A76A81E1C46FB92D9D7405CE92534"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in the case of
milk or any other product of live livestock, the date on which the milk or
other product is produced.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID01F012F7308F4ED18E79ED1CCD00BCBB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Liens</header><text>Except
as provided in paragraph (8), in the case of a production contract that
provides for the production of an agricultural commodity by a contract
producer, the contract producer shall have a lien in the amount owed to the
contract producer under the production contract on—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDCD47DD5A7E2D4924BEB47D381215BDD7"><enum>(A)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="IDA99CED9D112947A096FEFCBD311B4CEA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the agricultural
commodity until the agricultural commodity is sold or processed (including
slaughtered) by the contractor; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID805B245D3A9248B0ACE893A93054DDAC" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the cash proceeds of the sale of
the agricultural commodity, including any cash provided as part of the sale;
and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID3D85D101C3894F80ADE1882C00FFD5A3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any property of
the contractor that may be subject to a security interest.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID1644061B0E464102ADA9943B5DAD8B5D"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Lien
period</header><text>A lien for the production of an agricultural commodity
under this subsection shall apply during the period—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID54A5FD1677BF4B139F1CC4CE27D3F733"><enum>(A)</enum><text>beginning on the
lien starting date; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID08094C20E38A412AA35398E6D355B408"><enum>(B)</enum><text>ending 1 year
after the agricultural commodity is no longer under the control of the contract
producer.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID7EAA97EB824D4087A0305170F57C6643"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Perfecting of
liens</header><text>To perfect a lien for the production of an agricultural
commodity under this subsection, a contract producer shall file a lien
statement under applicable State law provisions based on Article 9 of the
Uniform Commercial Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDC77E8B8B940447EFB2FD80A50044D1A2"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Priority of
liens</header><text>A lien created under this subsection shall be superior to,
and have priority over, any conflicting lien or security interest in the
agricultural commodity, including a lien or security interest that was
perfected prior to the creation of the lien under this subsection.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID8965B300AE8243A0B526F1F096F178A0"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Enforcement</header>
<subparagraph id="IDC42CBBFD666347458CF6E2357DC88DF8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Control</header><text>Before
an agricultural commodity leaves the control of a contract producer, the
contract producer may foreclose a lien created under this subsection in the
manner provided for the foreclosure of a secured transaction under applicable
State law provisions based on Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDBCC5F1F1C2F94FCA8EA37D8F179F7FB2"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Post-control</header><text>After
an agricultural commodity leaves the control of the contract producer, the
contract producer may enforce the lien in the manner provided under applicable
State law provisions based on Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID2B9CD569B73F405489BBE93E59E3EB3E"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Election of
other remedies</header><text>In lieu of obtaining a lien under this subsection,
a contract producer described in paragraph (2) may seek to collect funds due
under a production contract in accordance with—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID692D3BFE4A77421195C329C7345DF31F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Packers and
Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/181">7 U.S.C. 181</external-xref> et seq.); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDDC024B97377D40D6939FDC00646E5F1F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Perishable
Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/499a">7 U.S.C. 499a</external-xref> et seq.).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id97B6D3BC04C2430AA39B1E7DA3BCA946"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Exemption</header><text>This
subsection does not apply to a contract producer that is an agricultural
cooperative, at least 50 percent of the ownership interests of which are held
by producers.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDB7320FADE8774E609B2EEBF4B34D2934"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Production
contracts involving investment requirements</header>
<paragraph id="ID8695CECD610043708476B44E742642E2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Applicability</header><text>This
subsection applies only to a production contract between a contract producer
and a contractor if, but for the production contract, the contract producer
would not have made a capital investment of $100,000 or more.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID38543B127CFF432985F400D21E7FBB00"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Restrictions on
contract termination</header>
<subparagraph id="IDB637E203376D4EE48193CA3700BB1BBD"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Notice of
termination</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (C), a contractor
shall not terminate or cancel a production contract unless the contractor
provides the contract producer with written notice of the intention of the
contractor to terminate or cancel the production contract at least 180 days
before the effective date of the termination or cancellation.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID411EEA89CE21418CA35F1F3DDC25C921"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The
written notice required under subparagraph (A) shall include alleged causes of
the termination.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID62B56DEDBB674B41A0D80700CCE200AD"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><text>A
contractor may terminate or cancel a production contract without notice as
required under subparagraph (A) if the basis for the termination or
cancellation is—</text>
<clause id="IDD9B2E5526278494C8352C3CCEDF71709"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a
voluntary abandonment of the contractual relationship by the contract producer,
such as a complete failure of the contract producer to perform under the
production contract;</text>
</clause><clause id="IDD45E2E9B1FE24CB10000D9A26531631D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the conviction
of the contract producer of an offense of fraud or theft committed against the
contractor; or</text>
</clause><clause id="IDD400F60D5BBC425BAC41C8946F5BB36E"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the natural end
of the production contract in accordance with the terms of the production
contract.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID175B2960BD7E44F9A956458D713D1BA9"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Right to
cure</header>
<clause id="ID7DABA2A982E442FFB2D2A34F6BBCEFA7"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If, not later than 180 days after the date on which the
contract producer receives written notice under subparagraph (A), the contract
producer remedies each cause of the breach of contract alleged in the written
notice, the contractor may not terminate or cancel a production contract under
this paragraph.</text>
</clause><clause id="ID7107530FE81D4F9A88619232EA2F8D89"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>No admission
of breach</header><text>The remedy or attempt to remedy the causes for the
breach of contract by the contract producer under clause (i) does not
constitute an admission of breach of contract.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDF769BC7B19B5485E9C1033BE00C682FD"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Additional
capital investments in production contracts</header>
<paragraph id="IDD5A64260636248E281A5C5598609F3B9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A covered person shall not require a contract producer to
make additional capital investments in connection with a production contract
that exceed the initial investment requirements of the production
contract.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID5A022EB82FF64C5C813C834903D8EA44"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><text>Notwithstanding
paragraph (1), a covered person may require additional capital investments
if—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDFD33EA41AE854FE4BFB51DC7E515E987"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the additional
capital investments are offset by reasonable additional consideration,
including compensation or a modification to the terms of the production
contract; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID020C23A35F4A45C0BDC8528F74EEB8C4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the contract
producer agrees in writing that there is acceptable and satisfactory
consideration for the additional capital investment.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID8D073D24035F4C3E9CF4A437DFB69D2C"><enum>204.</enum><header>Authority of
Secretary to promulgate rules and regulations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary, acting through the Special
Counsel for Competition Matters, may promulgate such rules and regulations as
are necessary to carry out this Act and the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/181">7 U.S.C.
181</external-xref> et seq.), including rules and regulations—</text>
<paragraph id="IDA591AE836DA74FC9865D1C584970E528"><enum>(1)</enum><text>relating to
unfair or deceptive acts or practices in agriculture;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID7AD2B4CCF26F4DE9AC882D24A14682C0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>that define with
specificity acts or practices that are to be prohibited as unfair or deceptive
acts or practices in agriculture under section 201; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID18842B1A14E647D8A0439E64D7DC4BC0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to prevent unfair
or deceptive acts or practices from occurring in agriculture.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="ID3A094AA02E81418DA6D1E99879F8085C"><enum>205.</enum><header>Enforcement</header>
<subsection id="ID372723A6BB964B4E8278CB1C0350F26F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Civil actions
by the Secretary against covered persons</header><text>In any case in which the
Secretary has reasonable cause to believe that any covered person has engaged
in any act or practice that violates this Act, the Secretary may bring a civil
action in the United States district court of the jurisdiction of residence of
the covered person by filing a complaint requesting preventive relief,
including an application for a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining
order, or other order, against the covered person.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID7276F5AF77FB4318AF25741FA2D3BF62"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Civil actions
against covered persons</header>
<paragraph id="ID23431F94CA454A6E87BECE8933E4DCA5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Preventive
relief</header>
<subparagraph id="ID76550693C6B74B86A1454174D1612CBB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In any case in which any covered person has engaged, or
there are reasonable grounds to believe that any covered person is about to
engage, in any act or practice prohibited by this Act, a civil action for
preventive relief, including an application for a permanent or temporary
injunction, restraining order, or other order, may be instituted by the person
aggrieved in the United States district court of the jurisdiction of residence
of the aggrieved person.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID9CEF73F14D7B4EE899CF1CB6EE5F41CF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Security</header><text>The
court may provide that no restraining order or preliminary injunction shall
issue unless security is provided by the applicant, in such sum as the court
determines to be appropriate, for the payment of such costs and damages as may
be incurred or suffered by any party that is found to have been wrongfully
enjoined or restrained.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDAE16A9071F7E469F9D14EE35015197D4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Damages</header>
<subparagraph id="ID4858B957A13A4AE8960728ABAC77EDF5"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Any person injured in the business or property of the
person by reason of any violation of, or combination or conspiracy to violate,
this Act may bring a civil action in the United States district court of the
jurisdiction of residence of the injured person or any State court of competent
jurisdiction to recover—</text>
<clause id="ID268595E933A94319855EC155871500FF"><enum>(i)</enum><text>damages sustained
by the person as a result of the violation; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID79D6102AFFF249C897F57552EE259B10"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any additional
penalty that the court may allow, but not more than $1,000 per
violation.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDA178CD22CCE644549C508DDF7D888551"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitation on
actions</header><text>A civil action under subparagraph (A) shall be barred
unless commenced within 2 years after the cause of action accrues.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID81832DC025FA49DFB9EF94008F64D0E4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Attorney’s
fees</header><text>In any action commenced under paragraph (1) or (2), the
court may allow the prevailing party a reasonable attorney’s fee as part of the
costs.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID6B29BABEACA5429385C3F846C93399BF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Jurisdiction of
district courts</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date on which a
violation of this Act occurs, an action to enforce this Act may be brought
in—</text>
<paragraph id="IDFD930B09C7DF45E8B766E1C549000031"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the United States
district court of the jurisdiction of residence of the aggrieved person,
notwithstanding the fact that an aggrieved person has not exhausted all
administrative or other remedies provided by law; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID3DB2462822BE4E0D8700743C2CC51F97"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any other court
of competent jurisdiction in the State of residence of the aggrieved
person.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID6FF4E1F738F34A8288BA1745E1991111"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Choice of law,
jurisdiction, and venue</header>
<paragraph id="IDD3A050D45507449784637FB0F92CC0B7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Choice of
law</header><text>Any provision in an agricultural contract requiring the
application of the law of a State other than the State in which the producer
resides is void and unenforceable.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDAFC735E7B3C44453AC41C53F62EAF7AE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Jurisdiction</header><text>A
covered person that enters into an agricultural contract with a producer shall
be subject to personal jurisdiction in the State in which the producer
resides.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDFFE9C861310E43A7BE956B8554D86D48"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Venue</header><text>Venue
shall be determined on the basis of the residence of the producer.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID4BEF568F26EC4F04984DD4E601A2AAA0"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Liability for
acts of agents</header><text>In the construction and enforcement of this Act,
the act, omission, or failure of any officer, agent, or person acting for or
employed by any other person within the scope of the employment or office of
the officer, agent, or person, shall be considered to be the act, omission, or
failure of the other person.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="IDDA561574BCEF4BB9BF4D013D33004286"><enum>206.</enum><header>Effect on
other laws</header>
<subsection id="ID71E979C173FD425BB352F03400019E20"><enum>(a)</enum><header>State
laws</header>
<paragraph id="ID4963DD32EBE4472FB68D8BEC492F5F34"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), this Act does not annul, alter,
or affect, or exempt any person subject to this Act from complying with, the
law of any State with respect to trade practices in agriculture.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID83DB5DCE4A1742FFA909DB08008BA587"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exception</header>
<subparagraph id="IDBA9599C5879B4E18A575511F5FA8F8FB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>This Act annuls, alters, or affects, or exempts a person
from, a State law referred to in paragraph (1) to the extent the State law is
inconsistent with this Act.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID10FE04C845E24F279DCACBB972AF1F55"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inconsistency</header><text>For
the purposes of this paragraph, a State law is not inconsistent with this Act
if the protection that the law affords any producer is greater than the
protection provided to a producer by this Act.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID63AADF717A444758A35351FCABD67E25"><enum>(b)</enum><header>State
courts</header><text>This Act does not deprive a State court of jurisdiction
under a State law dealing with the same subject as this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="IDB584BA5854EB4DC583ACE4B301AA8BD5"><enum>207.</enum><header>Assignment of
association dues and fees</header>
<subsection id="ID5F167E11139F419BA300099079394FDA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A producer of an agricultural commodity or service may
execute, as a clause in an agricultural contract, an assignment of dues or fees
to, or the deduction of a sum to be retained by, an association of producers
authorized by contract to represent the producer, under which assignment a
covered person shall—</text>
<paragraph id="ID89AB238BC7CD4A09A7C5EDF9A46C2331"><enum>(1)</enum><text>deduct a portion
of the amount to be paid for products or services of the producer under a
production contract; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID231E2F63B7AA4B86A34EB3ADD513085E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>pay, on behalf of
the producer, the portion over to the association as dues or fees or a sum to
be retained by the association.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDC799DAE99F9A4569A0CAD81882641B26"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Duty of covered
person</header><text>After a covered person receives notice from a producer of
an assignment under subsection (a), the covered person shall—</text>
<paragraph id="ID2C9D8F7A3C7746E28BB813DDF2057D4B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>deduct the amount
authorized by the assignment from the amount paid for any agricultural
commodity sold by the producer or for any service rendered under any production
contract; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDC61E80A476B24B9B9FC7B11D4458487C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>on payment to
producers for the product or service, pay the amount over to the association or
the assignee of the association.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="IDBE85FA9F9F1E4E138E09D8FF1EC5145B"><enum>208.</enum><header>Severability</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">If any provision of this Act or application
of any provision of this Act is held invalid, the remainder of this Act and the
application of the provision to other persons and circumstances shall not be
affected by the
invalidity.</text>
</section>.
102.The amendment made by section 101 applies to
any contract entered into on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
<enum>II</enum><header>Packers and
stockyards</header>
<section id="ID543B49EF4A854D499C8778CA503286FB"><enum>201.</enum><header>Investigation
of live poultry dealers</header>
<subsection id="IDEBA4609D0F7C4C57BED9DEBA50760167"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Removal of
poultry slaughter requirement from definitions</header><text>Section 2(a) of
the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/182">7 U.S.C. 182</external-xref>), is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="IDA413EAA7E1F8432000285E25F34FEF09"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
paragraph (8) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="IDA78CFB9CADB44BF9AC182D339F9FC662">
<paragraph id="ID0461579563FE4F08A6D14761EFD5A1FD"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Poultry
grower</header><text>The term <term>poultry grower</term> means any person
engaged in the business of raising or caring for live poultry under a poultry
growing arrangement, regardless of whether the poultry is owned by the person
or by another
person;</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID331A2F797A43407AB3C01C69DB465D41"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (9),
by striking <quote>and cares for live poultry for delivery, in accord with
another’s instructions, for slaughter</quote> and inserting <quote>or cares for
live poultry in accordance with the instructions of another person</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDC15F843A8FD4475AAB787C3EC0114BB2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in paragraph
(10), by striking <quote>for the purpose of either slaughtering it or selling
it for slaughter by another</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDC6973B1601B84B2993971E7BA3096DD4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Administrative
enforcement Authority over live poultry dealers</header><text>Sections 203,
204, and 205 of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/193">7 U.S.C. 193</external-xref>, 194,
195), are amended by inserting <quote>or live poultry dealer</quote> after
<quote>packer</quote> each place it appears.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID88F57804562C44A6B8D5E31FA12CCFC2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authority to
request temporary injunction or restraining order</header><text>Section 408 of
the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/228a">7 U.S.C. 228a</external-xref>), is amended in the
first sentence by striking <quote>on account of poultry</quote> and inserting
<quote>on account of poultry or poultry care</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDA5A719C735194397A74573E62019A000"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Violations by
live poultry dealers</header><text>Section 411 of the Packers and Stockyards
Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/228b-2">7 U.S.C.
228b–2</external-xref>), is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="ID2D1020D927FF46D6AACBE7B89F6E3257"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the first
sentence of subsection (a), by striking <quote>any provision of section 207 or
section 410 of</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID6728CEA571584C52001F98CFD0BDDD84"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the first
sentence of subsection (b), by striking <quote>any provisions of section 207 or
section 410</quote> and inserting <quote>any provision</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id4EF920E78DE84ADAB474032EC74F1CFC"><enum>202.</enum><header>No competitive
injury requirement</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
202(a) of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 192), is amended by
inserting after <quote>device</quote> the following: <quote>, regardless of
whether the practice or device causes a competitive injury or otherwise
adversely affects competition</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="id7E0C0BAEB7F74E2EBA2692D24B7AA054"><enum>203.</enum><header>Attorneys
fees</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 308(a) of the
Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 209(a)) is amended by inserting
before the period at the end the following: <quote>and for the cost of the
litigation, including reasonable attorneys' fees</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="ID691248177BF8457B81BDA5C881A96CC3"><enum>204.</enum><header>Appointment of
outside counsel</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 407(a)
of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/228(a)">7 U.S.C. 228(a)</external-xref>), is amended by
inserting <quote>obtain the services of attorneys who are not employees of the
Federal Government,</quote> before <quote>and make such
expenditures</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="ID7813bad1c0fa4452a7f48d3515d086ac"><enum>205.</enum><header>Competitive
harm</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Title IV of the Packers
and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 221 et seq.), is amended by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1A5355D7BE1A4F92AEC4E36D15D0222F" style="OLC">
<section id="IDa6cfe7405f504769b55ce8ceea6465fe"><enum>417.</enum><header>Competitive
harm</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">A person affected by an
unfair practice under section 202(a) or 312(a) shall not be required to prove
predatory intent, competitive injury, or likelihood of
injury.</text>
</section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="id8EE4AFDE23D441A3BF4295B570FD68F0"><enum>206.</enum><header>Regulations</header>
<subsection id="id379F4E1D45BD4095B1954D572A5B8379"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture
shall promulgate regulations to implement the amendments made by this Act,
including providing a definition of the term <term>unreasonable preference or
advantage</term> for purposes of section 202(b) of the Packers and Stockyards
Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 192(b)).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id4D0A32E494654B91A1700D68CB1F9E45"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>Regulations
promulgated under subsection (a) shall strictly prohibit any preferences or
price differences based on volume except for preferences or price differences
that reflect actual, verifiable lower costs of acquiring livestock from larger
volume producers.</text>
</subsection></section>