President Donald Trump directed the Agriculture Department to expand enforcement against unfair practices in livestock markets and reduce barriers that keep some state-inspected meat products from being sold across state lines.
The executive order calls for more investigations under the Packers and Stockyards Act, new assistance for small processors and a federal loan-guarantee program for regional meat-processing businesses.
Enforcement effort targets market practices
The agriculture secretary must prioritize investigations of potentially unfair, discriminatory or deceptive practices, unreasonable preferences, restraints on commerce and price manipulation by meatpackers and other covered businesses.
USDA is directed to increase staffing and investigative capacity in the Agricultural Marketing Service, Office of General Counsel and Office of Inspector General. The department must coordinate with the Justice Department's Antitrust Division when cases may warrant additional action.
Within 60 days, USDA must report on current enforcement, resource needs and its plan for the coming year. The department must also review regulations and guidance under the Packers and Stockyards Act and consider changes to strengthen deterrence.
State-inspected processors could gain wider access
The order directs USDA to expand participation in federal-state meat inspection programs, create training and technical assistance for small processors and build an online directory of slaughter and processing options.
The department is also told to modernize inspection, focus reporting on core food-safety needs and create a coordinator to connect processors and ranchers with licensing and inspection options.
USDA must identify legal and regulatory barriers preventing state-inspected or custom-exempt meat products from entering interstate commerce. The agency's recommendations are due within 60 days.
Loan program would support regional plants
The order calls for a Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers guaranteed-loan program to help small and regional processors remain open, expand and handle a wider range of animal proteins.
The administration said the measures are intended to increase competition and processing capacity while maintaining food-safety standards. Implementation is subject to existing law and available appropriations.
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