Release No.: 127-18
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2018 – The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Fair Trade Practices Program (FTPP) reached a consent decision with Southeast Mississippi Livestock (A.A.L.) (SE Mississippi), for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.
AMS conducted a review of the operations of SE Mississippi in January 2018. The review disclosed that the auctioneer and scale operator for SE Mississippi were purchasing livestock out of consignment for their own account. Purchase invoices recording these transactions listed false names to conceal the identity of these employees. The regulations issued under the Act prohibit auction markets from allowing their auctioneers or scale operators to purchase livestock for their own account, directly or indirectly.
SE Mississippi signed a consent decision in which it agreed to prohibit its auctioneer and scale operator from purchasing livestock from consignment for their own account, or from creating false or misleading records to conceal the identity of these employees. SE Mississippi also paid a civil penalty of $3,000.
The P&S Act is a fair trade practice and payment protection law that promotes fair and competitive marketing environments for the livestock, meat and poultry industries.
For further information about the Packers and Stockyards Act, contact Stuart Frank, Director, Packers and Stockyards Division, Fair Trade Practices Program, at (515) 323-2586, or by email at Stuart.Frank@usda.gov.
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