1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the
Competitive and Fair Agricultural
Markets Act of 2007
.
(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. Regulations.
<enum>I</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Agricultural fair practices</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4706C692800141D1B0C9E8419790403B" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID08DF7DF8244141C5BE8E3185F4B0221B" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1D750AC636644B7795C6066BA5638969" section-type="section-one"><enum>1.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Short title; table of contents</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID77A5CD2C55994E62B8753E28459636D1"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This Act may be cited as the
<quote>Agricultural Fair Practices Act of 1967</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID541672D630E2455983CD703C0841C43F"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Table of contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:</text>
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="ID1D750AC636644B7795C6066BA5638969" level="section">Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="IDACE548658DB64DE7B33204D144418D43" level="section">Sec. 2. Definitions.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="IDCB0069D0A57F4B8598C8A4C877EE7084" level="title">TITLE I—Agricultural trade practices</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="ID95F9672E99E346A48BAE8D497E3DAD60" level="section">Sec. 101. Office of Special Counsel for Competition
Matters.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="ID9AB9E7E40BFB4623A9BF6508F66536DE" level="title">TITLE II—Prohibitions on any unfair, unjustly discriminatory, or
deceptive act, device, or anti-competitive practice in agricultural
commerce</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="ID789B587381274DE69E61C208CFE57ED7" level="section">Sec. 201. Prohibitions involving crops.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="id7AB3D0BB41F74583B96E222A13F003D0" level="section">Sec. 202. Prohibitions involving producer associations and
production contracts.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="IDA9897957F60443D3A100869864502490" level="section">Sec. 203. Production contracts and marketing
contracts.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="IDD70848DA0C1B4DE7B9F28973AF103D55" level="section">Sec. 204. Production contracts.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="ID8D073D24035F4C3E9CF4A437DFB69D2C" level="section">Sec. 205. Authority of Secretary to promulgate rules and
regulations.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="ID3A094AA02E81418DA6D1E99879F8085C" level="section">Sec. 206. Enforcement.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="IDDA561574BCEF4BB9BF4D013D33004286" level="section">Sec. 207. Effect on other laws.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="IDB584BA5854EB4DC583ACE4B301AA8BD5" level="section">Sec. 208. Assignment of association dues and fees.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="IDBE85FA9F9F1E4E138E09D8FF1EC5145B" level="section">Sec. 209. Severability.</toc-entry>
</toc>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDACE548658DB64DE7B33204D144418D43" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>2.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this Act:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID256906208DF84376A61130CDB3A8F195"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Agricultural commodity</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id88A41C611CB94C15B7DC63F9C4E3B011"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 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>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7EF10795499E46A68123DC9FEDC26D7F"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Exception</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In section 201, the term <term>agricultural
commodity</term>—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF55FC1CBBA9C41CDB805DBF90FADEF9D"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">means a crop; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0A96FCE2C7114FC08D5DE27D84C3FAF4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">does not include a perishable agricultural
commodity, as that term is defined in section 1(b) of the Perishable
Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930 (7 U.S.C. 499a(b)).</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID07A9AC6D84044C298CE7A3E21BD225AF"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Agricultural cooperative</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID831008F9893D4EA7B9F41100A8ABE236"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Association of producers</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3399C0F0AC2D4D62A6265F9FED4500D6"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDBCE14A9CEBBC4EB5B3A9124700CEB716"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Inclusions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>association of
producers</term> includes—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID754cc1d893e440da98d70bca0c2f3f8e"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an organization dedicated to promoting the
common interest and general welfare of producers of agricultural
commodities;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID374C8792195248DE86BADE3EAB3D0000"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0EB21D16B3CC458E95CD00DD75497831"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID60AAAAD08C6A4FFEA3212E42AE2039F7"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Capital investment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>capital investment</term>
means an investment in—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID43CEB2B3B8E34EB1800470CE3DD69094"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a structure, such as a building or manure
storage structure; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7535C5A577B841368F2D8D43F4364940"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">machinery or equipment associated with
producing an agricultural commodity that has a useful life of more than 1
year.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4DD60F8FD1AA4C1DB9FB19B6AF28D72E"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Commission merchant</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB308654234E649B08473DF4CC3B62E67"><enum>(6)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Contract livestock facility</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5D2269C8F57348B48E74ED35C1F29FAF"><enum>(7)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Contractor</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID942886A0D88441ECA0C4E8976B1D0471"><enum>(8)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Contract producer</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>contract producer</term>
means a producer that produces an agricultural commodity under a production
contract.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6EEA725BB6094DD6A97D41BDB21616AE"><enum>(9)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Covered
person</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>covered
person</term> means a dealer, handler, contractor, processor, or commission
merchant.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDEA3772B1D5F24276B4E4FC4CFC2912F5"><enum>(10)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Crop</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>crop</term> means an
agricultural commodity produced from a plant.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF871F615128B459C9F418BAEE47D3200"><enum>(11)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Dealer</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4FD7AB6B95A447ABBD2485C58CC17B3B"><enum>(12)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Department</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Department</term> means the
Department of Agriculture.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID8D8399020EFB4B078073973F3F651E5E"><enum>(13)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Handler</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>handler</term> means any
person engaged in the business or practice of—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA201D63F22404F999DC36143BB7FA622"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">acquiring agricultural commodities from
producers or associations of producers for processing or sale;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3A5303583D2E42849244E60005A0E12D"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">grading, packaging, handling, storing, or
processing agricultural commodities received from producers or associations of
producers;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5ACD5D028C6447CD8394B5055ED0CC9D"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB05518A8C856443FA27DDCBA6084EE9C"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID055B8EFCB5CE42DFBC7717B1E348FF41"><enum>(14)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Investment requirement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF89E4BDCD9FC4E5388BC473B41423CB0"><enum>(15)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Livestock</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>livestock</term> has the
meaning given the term in section 602 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C.
1471).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID681B6D63A4354D038D605F71F8C2C1B7"><enum>(16)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Marketing contract</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF3A5ECB3AAF14F659898627CC92022EA"><enum>(17)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Person</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>person</term> includes an
individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, limited
partnership, or association.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDDE0615C346624AD2BACEE07FD86B1100"><enum>(18)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Processor</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>processor</term>
means—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC87900FD700A4E17002E7D6C4B68ABF8"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1223962354B04C0DA69F214B34D327BE"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an agricultural cooperative that handles,
prepares, or manufactures (including slaughtering) agricultural commodities of
its members’ own production.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB56B14FEBCC44DF59CD3EDD09CA926EE"><enum>(19)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Produce</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>produce</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA116CD326F494C0B92E100BC5CEC5053"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDCB5F5A61926541EDAF243386A31746D7"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF3356C05B85645DAA1A2AF245300DC72"><enum>(20)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Producer</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID45FCEA45FF4244FA948FF47F572C94E5"><enum>(21)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Production contract</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6EAE13EFDD844F118B3EF1EA61B05734"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>production contract</term>
means a written agreement that provides for—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDDCA4C26220134388BFDA8433618E43C5"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the production of an agricultural commodity
by a contract producer; or</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID582A313425534AD8904311BFA2C7EA72"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the provision of a management service
relating to the production of an agricultural commodity by a contract
producer.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID470DC85840B44CA5AEA69B0091CE1BC3"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Inclusions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>production contract</term>
includes—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6AF6F964EE784615809DE7CD2F650800"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a contract between a contractor and a
contract producer for the production of an agricultural commodity; or</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDE96A3CD375734932B200FEE7232F57F6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9BED1A75C4EA4B7DB9000040C9F08C03"><enum>(22)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Secretary</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Secretary</term> means the
Secretary of Agriculture.</text>
</paragraph></section><title commented="no" id="IDCB0069D0A57F4B8598C8A4C877EE7084" level-type="subsequent"><enum>I</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Agricultural trade practices</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID95F9672E99E346A48BAE8D497E3DAD60" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Office of Special Counsel for Competition
Matters</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6B2328650F974BB3BA180574BEB03D00"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID04B0423C1C82441EA1628B26BEAAA419"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD07C55BCB6904AB4ACEBD3E100E725FC"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Duties</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Office shall—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID977855D5E4054F7D93C68765BAAE3FEA"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">investigate and prosecute violations of
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.);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDDE08DB1CDE8C450FAA00001849F42243"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">serve as a liaison between, and act in
consultation with, 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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9332BE66BB6144FCBE08A451DAC9EE99"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">maintain a staff of attorneys and other
professionals with the appropriate expertise.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9706AEC2DE8C4742990444C500B235C6"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Special Counsel for Competition
Matters</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5FD06B2F04FF4FEDBF732408F11DE327"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID97EAC741F3FE44C383E332CFF7F580A5"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prosecutorial Authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 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.).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prohibitions on any unfair, unjustly
discriminatory, or deceptive act, device, or anti-competitive practice in
agricultural commerce</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID789B587381274DE69E61C208CFE57ED7" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prohibitions involving crops</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3FE4A3C638CD4EC9906BFE9265333BB5"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prohibition on any unfair, unjustly
discriminatory, or deceptive act, device, or anti-competitive
practice</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any unfair, unjustly
discriminatory, or deceptive act, device, or anti-competitive 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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF01C45AF66CB4C62932BA2A9022A8DB5"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Other unlawful acts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It shall be unlawful for any covered
person—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7BF8F0C3F2F5416B98BDCFA3CFB94F70"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to make or give any undue or unreasonable
preference or advantage to any particular person or locality in any respect, or
subject any particular person or locality to any undue or unreasonable
prejudice or disadvantage in any respect;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2F7E5FFCD7324031B815605E4E08CBA9"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to sell or otherwise transfer to or for any
other person, or buy or otherwise receive from or for any other person, any
article for the purpose or with the effect of manipulating or controlling
prices, or of creating a monopoly in the acquisition of, buying, selling, or
dealing in, any article, or of restraining commerce;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1D6837E1FF50461E9BBB48D91C8070A7"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to engage in any course of business or do
any act for the purpose or with the effect or manipulating or controlling
prices, or of creating a monopoly in the acquisition of, buying, selling, or
dealing in, any article, or of restraining commerce;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID8A5773C73A4D4DAEBCDE4FDEB5565205"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to conspire, combine, agree, or arrange
with any other person—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id317E51A43893454CA2CADB6473940CDC"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to apportion territory for carrying on
business;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD70D616259DE4F0285C27532516B38C4"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to apportion purchases or sales of any
article; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAED81D748CB24C8BA138E272387F9ADE"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to manipulate or control prices; or</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID74868C23D264484C94B7B4F3C327B539"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to conspire, combine, agree, or arrange
with any other person to do, or aid or abet the doing of, any act made unlawful
by paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id012AE9140420449D8AB8536A67BF8685"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Public policy considerations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In determining whether an act, device, or
anti-competitive practice described in subsection (a) is unfair, a court may
consider whether—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id460A929466A14D3DB18A0D2D79A7DD01"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a reasonable person would consider the act,
device, or practice unfair under the circumstances, whether or not the act,
device, or practice has previously been found unlawful; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5D8052FE50BD481C87F01D47FD8A3FCB"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the act, device, or practice may violate
standards established by Federal or State law (including common law and
regulations).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7AB3D0BB41F74583B96E222A13F003D0" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>202.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prohibitions involving producer
associations and production contracts</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDCA5FF0F0ED844F2CA99EC2B786D57D5D"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any unlawful act involving producer
associations and production contracts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It shall be unlawful for any covered
person—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID72FB037305A743B3A81F4CD33BF6321B"><enum>(1)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="ID1B793186C288439B80E5DBE601BBEB57"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDDC591AB885AD4C6CA612F7719740CE7F" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDE1C97902B8C54DB28C2938B9A2572B74"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDBBE29930C1AA44F0963B7FBEC0EF693E"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDE0D1A3A1FE624B3FAE68E4A9D71CB768"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID86175AB2612C40BAA61903C41D52CA57"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to make false reports about the finances,
management, or activities of an association of producers or covered
persons;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID658661BFBD2C4FC485008227A9A5D6AC"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7F978D284DED4D1E9F592EAA83B79100"><enum>(7)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="ID84365A9CD9CA4369A5A482A304F7C86B"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to interfere with the formation or
administration of any association of producers; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD7F9370A8FEC400DABA4E4F68CC300D2" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to
contribute financial or other support to an association of producers; or</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID12C694A21D724D079E63AB99EB1EC770"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to fail to bargain in good faith with an
association of producers.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID15A02AAE5B764B79A4C598DADBD00571"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any unlawful act in production
contracts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It shall be
unlawful for a covered person that is a party to a production contract—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDBF612C27250E436185EE94B82415BE5C"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to fail to act in good faith with respect
to the performance and enforcement of the production contract;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA4BD5B44CD7B44208ECA00988161F4A8"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to fail to include 1 or more cover pages
that disclose provisions of the production contract relating to—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9CE6F08151EE46D38C831D0253F4D399"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">duration;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0C0AFC221B9443CCA600E73BC09B9C27"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">termination;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0F62D2D08FE144268050965BB50053AC"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">renewal and renegotiation standards;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB57C1AA72A124508A1C1ABA62E449D4F"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">responsibility for environmental
damage;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID23104A92EA1B4D67B5BA7F6DBC3128F4"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">factors to be used in determining
payment;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7E452F498DF246EFA6727B2FA1287F3C"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">responsibility for obtaining and complying
with Federal, State, and local permits;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID73CF97A788F24E52BE221C5B33F81C6E"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assignability;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1A75A7B4E7A544F289431519893CADD3"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the applicable State law and venue;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDAD2DA0D176AC4656A1FA26BBA1E2DE7D"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the effect of oral modifications;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0DB61808F13249FCBD275387DE86EBFE"><enum>(J)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">remedies for breach;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5B37710C4FD94E60A783FBD5E1DA9EED"><enum>(K)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of a livestock or poultry
production contract, the minimum number of animals subject to the
contract;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5AEDDD79B2D6474681CF94CF6B05013C"><enum>(L)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">other rules or provisions incorporated in
the contract by reference; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDAAD5C6F6C81F414FB3A1B5251E2FE0C2"><enum>(M)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other terms that the Secretary
determines to be appropriate for disclosure; or</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDDECDF94507A84988B9A61D7680855794"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to violate any of the requirements relating
to production contracts under section 204.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID402F272158A54B728878DA77D5F0ED70"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Public policy considerations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In determining whether an act, device, or
anti-competitive practice described in section 201(a), with respect to the
production of an agricultural commodity, is unfair, a court may consider
whether—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBCAB2F42438B4A48943CED362267133C"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a reasonable person would consider the act,
device, or practice unfair under the circumstances, whether or not the act,
device, or practice has previously been found unlawful; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBB7440EDAB8B4F358225DFAD068E0630"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the act, device, or practice may violate
standards established by Federal or State law (including common law and
regulations).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA9897957F60443D3A100869864502490" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>203.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Production contracts and marketing
contracts</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID534F1A32EF8F476F9D39F79FBEDEB319"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Confidentiality</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any provision of a production contract or a
marketing contract that requires that the production contract or marketing
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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID28FB681A86EB42768CD91E8C1943E5C8"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Arbitration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a livestock or poultry contract or
marketing contract provides for the use of arbitration to resolve a controversy
under the livestock or poultry contract or marketing 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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD70848DA0C1B4DE7B9F28973AF103D55" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>204.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Production contracts</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID80324D4C7E97419E9C551CA9B3DC3D53"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Right of contract producers To cancel
production contracts</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDE0537289E9B3442597E22720B7007539"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A contract producer may cancel a production
contract by mailing a cancellation notice to the contractor not later than the
later of—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID8E5BA9B421144BCBAC5463175F7831A1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the date that is 3 business days after the
date on which the production contract is executed; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9702F0F8AACD4F20AB73643CE2D41190"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any cancellation date specified in the
production contract.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1B697EAF618042849B003801944700A7"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Disclosure</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A production contract shall clearly
disclose—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID8B91827300A74E1B8570CAF6E3247140"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the right of the contract producer to
cancel the production contract;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA8A3CBA72C5740D300A5137E71BDC7DF"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the method by which the contract producer
may cancel the production contract; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDEA3DC117EB03441AB0BC06A8113BF7F9"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the deadline for canceling the production
contract.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB7320FADE8774E609B2EEBF4B34D2934"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Production contracts involving investment
requirements</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID8695CECD610043708476B44E742642E2"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Applicability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID38543B127CFF432985F400D21E7FBB00"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Restrictions on contract
termination</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB637E203376D4EE48193CA3700BB1BBD"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notice of termination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID411EEA89CE21418CA35F1F3DDC25C921"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The written notice required under
subparagraph (A) shall include alleged causes of the termination.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID62B56DEDBB674B41A0D80700CCE200AD"><enum>(C)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Exceptions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD9B2E5526278494C8352C3CCEDF71709"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD45E2E9B1FE24CB10000D9A26531631D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the conviction of the contract producer of
an offense of fraud or theft committed against the contractor; or</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD400F60D5BBC425BAC41C8946F5BB36E"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the natural end of the production contract
in accordance with the terms of the production contract.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID175B2960BD7E44F9A956458D713D1BA9"><enum>(D)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Right to cure</header>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7DABA2A982E442FFB2D2A34F6BBCEFA7"><enum>(i)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7107530FE81D4F9A88619232EA2F8D89"><enum>(ii)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">No admission of breach</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF769BC7B19B5485E9C1033BE00C682FD"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Additional capital investments in
production contracts</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD5A64260636248E281A5C5598609F3B9"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5A022EB82FF64C5C813C834903D8EA44"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Exceptions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a covered
person may require additional capital investments if—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDFD33EA41AE854FE4BFB51DC7E515E987"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID020C23A35F4A45C0BDC8528F74EEB8C4"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the contract producer agrees in writing
that there is acceptable and satisfactory consideration for the additional
capital investment.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID8D073D24035F4C3E9CF4A437DFB69D2C" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>205.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA591AE836DA74FC9865D1C584970E528"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">relating to unfair, unjustly
discriminatory, or deceptive acts, devices, or anti-competitive practices in
agriculture;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7AD2B4CCF26F4DE9AC882D24A14682C0"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that define with specificity any act,
device, or practice that is to be prohibited as unfair, unjustly
discriminatory, or any deceptive act, device, or anti-competitive practice in
agriculture under section 201 or 202; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID18842B1A14E647D8A0439E64D7DC4BC0"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to prevent any unfair, unjustly
discriminatory, or deceptive act, device, or anti-competitive practice from
occurring in agriculture.</text>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3A094AA02E81418DA6D1E99879F8085C" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>206.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Enforcement</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID372723A6BB964B4E8278CB1C0350F26F"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Civil actions by the Secretary against
covered persons</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7276F5AF77FB4318AF25741FA2D3BF62"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Civil actions against covered
persons</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID23431F94CA454A6E87BECE8933E4DCA5"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Preventive relief</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID76550693C6B74B86A1454174D1612CBB"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9CEF73F14D7B4EE899CF1CB6EE5F41CF"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Security</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDAE16A9071F7E469F9D14EE35015197D4"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Damages</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4858B957A13A4AE8960728ABAC77EDF5"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID268595E933A94319855EC155871500FF"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">damages sustained by the person as a result
of the violation; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID79D6102AFFF249C897F57552EE259B10"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any additional penalty that the court may
allow, but not more than $1,000 per violation.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA178CD22CCE644549C508DDF7D888551"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Limitation on actions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A civil action under subparagraph (A) shall
be barred unless commenced within 4 years after the cause of action
accrues.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID81832DC025FA49DFB9EF94008F64D0E4"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Attorneys' fees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In any action commenced under paragraph (1)
or (2), the court may allow the prevailing party the costs of the litigation,
including reasonable attorneys' fees.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6B29BABEACA5429385C3F846C93399BF"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Jurisdiction of district
courts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 4 years
after the date on which a violation of this Act occurs, an action to enforce
this Act may be brought in—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDFD930B09C7DF45E8B766E1C549000031"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3DB2462822BE4E0D8700743C2CC51F97"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other court of competent jurisdiction
in the State of residence of the aggrieved person.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6FF4E1F738F34A8288BA1745E1991111"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Choice of law, jurisdiction, and
venue</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD3A050D45507449784637FB0F92CC0B7"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Choice of law</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any provision in a production 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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDAFC735E7B3C44453AC41C53F62EAF7AE"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Jurisdiction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A covered person that enters into a
production contract with a producer shall be subject to personal jurisdiction
in the State in which the producer resides.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDFFE9C861310E43A7BE956B8554D86D48"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Venue</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Venue shall be determined on the basis of
the residence of the producer.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4BEF568F26EC4F04984DD4E601A2AAA0"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Liability for acts of agents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDDA561574BCEF4BB9BF4D013D33004286" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>207.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effect on other laws</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID71E979C173FD425BB352F03400019E20"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">State laws</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4963DD32EBE4472FB68D8BEC492F5F34"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID83DB5DCE4A1742FFA909DB08008BA587"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Exception</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDBA9599C5879B4E18A575511F5FA8F8FB"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID10FE04C845E24F279DCACBB972AF1F55"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Inconsistency</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID63AADF717A444758A35351FCABD67E25"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">State courts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This Act does not deprive a State court of
jurisdiction under a State law dealing with the same subject as this
Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id24211C8B960D41778943E1BC69674BA5"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Relationship to other laws</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7
U.S.C. 181 et seq.) and the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930 (7
U.S.C. 499a et seq.) shall control if there is a conflict between those Acts
and section 206.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB584BA5854EB4DC583ACE4B301AA8BD5" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>208.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Assignment of association dues and
fees</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5F167E11139F419BA300099079394FDA"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A producer of an agricultural commodity or
service may execute, as a clause in a production contract or a marketing
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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID89AB238BC7CD4A09A7C5EDF9A46C2331"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">deduct a portion of the amount to be paid
for products or services of the producer under a production contract or a
marketing contract; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID231E2F63B7AA4B86A34EB3ADD513085E"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC799DAE99F9A4569A0CAD81882641B26"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Duty of covered person</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">After a covered person receives notice from
a producer of an assignment under subsection (a), the covered person
shall—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2C9D8F7A3C7746E28BB813DDF2057D4B"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 or marketing
contract; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC61E80A476B24B9B9FC7B11D4458487C"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDBE85FA9F9F1E4E138E09D8FF1EC5145B" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>209.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 display-inline="yes-display-inline">Packers and stockyards</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID543B49EF4A854D499C8778CA503286FB" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Investigation of live poultry
dealers</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDEBA4609D0F7C4C57BED9DEBA50760167"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Removal of poultry slaughter requirement
from definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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>(a)), is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA413EAA7E1F8432000285E25F34FEF09"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking paragraph (8) and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA78CFB9CADB44BF9AC182D339F9FC662" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0461579563FE4F08A6D14761EFD5A1FD"><enum>(8)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Poultry grower</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFB0D62A604AF411BA1946B54943EABF7"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6419285CFAD3461DAA26245D33FA7828"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Exclusion</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>poultry grower</term> does
not include an employee of the owner of live poultry described in subparagraph
(A).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID331A2F797A43407AB3C01C69DB465D41"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC15F843A8FD4475AAB787C3EC0114BB2"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC6973B1601B84B2993971E7BA3096DD4"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Administrative enforcement authority over
live poultry dealers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID88F57804562C44A6B8D5E31FA12CCFC2"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authority To request temporary injunction
or restraining order</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA5A719C735194397A74573E62019A000"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Violations by live poultry dealers</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id90EEF2C2718F45DCB1182EE1A86AF860"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Penalty</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 203(b) of the Packers and
Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 193(b)) is amended in the third sentence by
striking <quote>$10,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$22,000</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCA4C83FF4ED0478A869335647E750D7E"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Repeals</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sections 411, 412, and 413 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>, 228b–3, 228b–4)),
are repealed.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4EF920E78DE84ADAB474032EC74F1CFC" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>202.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">No competitive injury
requirement</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 202 of the
Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 192), is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1210197B6A414C968E3EAC3B02E83407"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a), 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 and regardless of any alleged business justification for the
practice or device</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id33B1943BBEFD4009B7FD6DC07CDA827F"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (e), by inserting after
<quote>commerce</quote> the following: <quote>, regardless of whether the
course of business or act causes a competitive injury or otherwise adversely
affects competition and regardless of any alleged business justification for
the course of business or act</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7E0C0BAEB7F74E2EBA2692D24B7AA054" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>203.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 costs of the litigation, including
reasonable attorneys' fees</quote>.</text>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID691248177BF8457B81BDA5C881A96CC3" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>204.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8EE4AFDE23D441A3BF4295B570FD68F0" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>205.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Regulations</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id379F4E1D45BD4095B1954D572A5B8379"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4D0A32E494654B91A1700D68CB1F9E45"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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>