On Dec. 20, 2016, the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) published a three-part rulemaking package, the “Farmer Fair Practices Rules,” in the Federal Register. The controversial rules consist of an interim final rule, slated to go into effect Feb. 21, 2017, and two proposed rules. GIPSA will accept public comment on all three until Feb. 21.
The Interim Final Rule finalizes a 2010 proposal to amend the regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act to clarify that “certain conduct or action can be found to violate sections 202(a) and (b) of the Act without a finding of harm or likely harm to competition.”