Shift focus to FSIS’ proposed labeling rule

Once expected to turn the livestock and poultry industry upside down, the USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration’s (GIPSA) December 9 final rule will likely be more remembered for what it does not contain as opposed to what it does.

With the passing of the recent Appropriations Act, USDA was prevented from using any funds to finalize the more controversial regulations originally proposed by the agency. These included regulations that would have: (1) eliminated the requirement to prove competitive injury in P&S cases, (2) required packers to substantiate price deviations, (3) provided examples of unfair practices, (4) established criteria for determining undue preference, and (5) required sample contracts to be provided to GIPSA.