Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

§ 202.119 Rule 19: Fees of witnesses.

Witnesses subpoenaed before the presiding officer, and witnesses whose depositions are taken, shall be entitled to the same fees and mileage as are paid for like services in the courts of the United States. Fees and mileage shall be paid by the party at whose instance the witness appears or the deposition is taken.

§ 202.120 Rule 20: Official notice.

Official notice shall be taken of such matters as are judicially noticed by the courts of the United States and of any other matter of technical or scientific fact of established character: Provided, That the parties shall be given notice of matters so noticed, and shall be given adequate opportunity to show that such facts are erroneously noticed.

$202.121 Rule 21: Intervention.

At any time after docketing of a proceeding and before commencement of a hearing, oral or written, therein, the presiding officer may, upon petition, and for good cause shown, permit any person to intervene therein. The petition shall state with preciseness and particularity: (a) The petitioner's relationship to the matters involved in the proceeding; (b) the nature of the material the petitioner intends to present in evidence; (c) the nature of the argument the petitioner intends to make; and (d) the reasons why the petitioner should be allowed to intervene. Any such petition, and notice of the order thereon, shall be served on the parties and made a part of the record in the proceeding.

§ 202.122 Rule 22: Ex parte communications.

(a) At no stage of the proceeding between its docketing and the issuance of the final decision shall the presiding officer or judicial officer discuss ex parte the merits of the proceeding with any party, or attorney or representative of a party: Provided, That procedural matters shall not be included within this limitation; and Provided further, That the presiding officer or judicial officer may discuss the merits of the case with such a person if all parties to the proceeding or their attor

neys or representatives have been served with notice and an opportunity to participate. A memorandum of any such discussion shall be included in the record.

(b) No party, or attorney or representative of a party, or other person not an employee of the Department, shall make or knowingly cause to be made to the presiding officer or judicial officer an ex parte communication relevant to the merits of the proceeding.

(c) If the presiding officer or judicial officer receives an ex parte communication in violation of this section, the one who receives the communication shall place in the public record of the proceeding:

(1) Such communication if written, or a memorandum stating the substance of such communication if oral; and

(2) A copy of any written response or a memorandum stating the substance of any oral response thereto.

(d) Copies of all such items placed or included in the record, as provided in this section, shall be served on all parties.

(e) For purposes of this section "ex parte communication" means an oral or written communication not on the public record with respect to which reasonable prior notice to all parties is not given, but it shall not include a request for a status report on any matter or the proceeding.

§ 202.123 Rule 23: Action by Secretary.

The Secretary may act in the place and stead of a presiding officer or the judicial officer in any proceeding hereunder, or any matter in connection therewith.

PART 203-STATEMENTS OF GENERAL POLICY UNDER THE PACKERS AND STOCKYARDS ACT

Sec.

203.1 [Reserved]

203.2 Statement of general policy with respect to the giving by meat packers of meat and other gifts to Government employees.

203.3 [Reserved]

203.4 Statement with respect to the disposition of records by packers, live poultry

dealers, stockyard owners, market agencies and dealers.

203.5 Statement with respect to market agencies paying the expenses of livestock buyers.

203.6 [Reserved]

203.7 Statement with respect to meat packer sales and purchase contracts. 203.8-203.9 [Reserved]

203.10 Statement with respect to insolvency; definition of current assets and current liabilities.

203.11 [Reserved]

203.12 Statement with respect to providing services and facilities at stockyards on a reasonable and nondiscriminatory basis. 203.13 [Reserved]

203.14 Statement with respect to advertising allowances and other merchandising payments and services.

203.15 Trust benefits under sections 206 and 207 of the Act.

203.16 Mailing of checks in payment for livestock purchased for slaughter, for cash and not on credit.

203.17 Statement of general policy with respect to rates and charges at posted stockyards.

203.18 Statement with respect to packers engaging in the business of custom feeding livestock.

203.19 Statement with respect to packers engaging in the business of livestock dealers or buying agencies.

AUTHORITY: 7 CFR 2.22 and 2.81.

§ 203.1 [Reserved]

§ 203.2 Statement of general policy with respect to the giving by meat packers of meat and other gifts to Government employees.

(a) In recent months, the Department has received information, confirmed by investigation, that a number of packers subject to the Packers and Stockyards Act have made gifts of meat to Government employees responsible for conducting service activities of the Department. Such gifts have the implications of fraud, even if not made specifically for the purpose of influencing these employees in the performance of their duties.

(b) It is a violation of the Meat Inspection Act for any person, firm, or corporation to give to any employee of the Department performing duties under such act anything of value with intent to influence such employee in the discharge of his duties, or for such employee to receive from any person, firm, or corporation engaged in inter

state or foreign commerce any gift given with any intent or purpose whatsoever (21 U.S.C. 90). Under the Federal meat grading regulations, the giving or attempting to give by a packer of anything of value to any employee of the Department authorized to perform any function under such regulations is a basis for the withdrawal of Federal meat grading service (7 CFR 53.13). The receiving by an employee of the Department of any gift from any person for whom grading, inspection, or other service work is performed is specifically prohibited by Departmental regulations.

(c) Upon the basis of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, it is the view of the Department that it is an unfair and deceptive practice in violation of section 202(a) of the Packers and Stockyards Act (7 U.S.C. 192(a)) for any person subject to the provisions of Title II of said Act to give or offer to give meat, money, or anything of value to any Government employee who performs inspection, grading, reporting, or regulatory duties directly relating to the purchase or sale of livestock or the preparation or distribution of meats, meat food products, livestock products in unmanufactured form, poultry or poultry products.

(Sec. 407, 42 Stat. 169; 7 U.S.C. 228; 9 CFR 201.3)

[26 FR 710, Jan. 25, 1961; 29 FR 4081, Mar. 28, 1964]

§ 203.3 [Reserved]

§ 203.4 Statement with respect to the disposition of records by packers, live poultry dealers, stockyard owners, market agencies and dealers. (a) Records to be kept. Section 401 of the Packers and Stockyards Act (7 U.S.C. 221) provides, in part, that every packer, live poultry dealer, stockyard owner, market agency, and dealer shall keep such accounts, records, and memoranda as fully and correctly disclose all transactions involved in his business, including the true ownership of such business by stockholding or otherwise. In order to properly administer the P&S Act, it is necessary that records be retained for such periods of time as may be required to permit the

Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (Packers and Stockyards Programs) a reasonable opportunity to examine such records. Section 401 of the Act does not, however, provide for the destruction or disposal of records. Therefore, the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (Packers and Stockyards Programs) has formulated this policy statement to provide guidance as to the periods of time after which records may be disposed of or destroyed.

(b) Records may be disposed of after two years except as otherwise provided. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, each packer, live poultry dealer, stockyard owner, market agency, and dealer may destroy or dispose of accounts, records, and memoranda which contain, explain, or modify transactions in its business subject to the Act after such accounts, records, and memoranda have been retained for a period of two full years; Provided, That the following records made or kept by a packer may be disposed of after one year: cutting tests; departmental transfers; buyers' estimates; drive sheets; scale tickets received from others; inventory and products in storage; receiving records; trial balances; departmental overhead or expense recapitulations; bank statements, reconciliations and deposit slips; production or sale tonnage reports (including recapitulations and summaries of routes, branches, plants, etc.); buying or selling pricing instructions and price lists; correspondence; telegrams; teletype communications and memoranda relating to matters other than contracts, agreements, purchase or sales invoices, or claims or credit memoranda; and Provided further, That microfilm copies of records may be substituted for and retained in lieu of the actual records.

(c) Retention for longer periods may be required. The periods specified in paragraph (b) of this section shall be extended if the packer, live poultry dealer, stockyard owner, market agency, or dealer is notified in writing by the Administrator that specified records should be retained for a longer period pending the completion of any investigation or proceedings under the Act.

(d) Unauthorized disposal of records. If it is found that any person subject to the Act has disposed of accounts, records, and memoranda which are necessary to fully and correctly disclose all transactions in its business prior to the periods specified in this statement, consideration will be given to the issuance of a complaint charging a violation of section 401 of the Act and seeking an appropriate order. The administrative proceeding initiated will be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Practice Governing Formal Adjudicatory Proceedings Instituted by the Secretary (7 CFR 1.130 et seq.).

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 0580-0015)

(7 U.S.C. 228, 7 U.S.C. 222, and 15 U.S.C. 46) [49 FR 6085, Feb. 17, 1984, as amended at 54 FR 16357, Apr. 24, 1989; 68 FR 75388, Dec. 31, 2003]

§ 203.5 Statement with respect to market agencies paying the expenses of livestock buyers.

ex

It has become a practice in certain areas of the country for market agencies, engaged in the business of selling consigned livestock on a commission basis, to pay certain of the business or personal expenses incurred by buyers attending livestock sales conducted by such market agencies, such as, penses for meals, lodging, travel, entertainment and long distance telephone calls. Investigation by the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (Packers and Stockyards Programs), discloses that this practice tends to become a method of competition between similarly engaged market agencies and results in undue and unreasonable cost burdens on such market agencies and the livestock producers who sell their livestock through such market agencies.

It is the view of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (Packers and Stockyards Programs) that it constitutes violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as amended (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), for any market agency engaged in the business of selling consigned livestock on a commission basis, to pay, directly or indirectly, any personal or business expenses of livestock buyers attending

sales conducted by such market agency. In the future, if any market agency engages in such practice, consideration will be given by the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (Packers and Stockyards Programs) to the issuance of a complaint charging the market agency with violation of the Act. In the formal administrative proceeding initiated by any such complaint, the Judicial Officer of the Department will determine, after full hearing, whether the market agency has violated the Act and should be ordered to cease and desist from continuing such violation, and whether the registration of such market agency should be suspended for a reasonable period of time.

(Secs. 407, 4, 42 Stat. 169, 72 Stat. 1750; 7 U.S.C. 228. Interprets or applies secs. 304, 307, 312, 42 Stat. 164, 165, 167; 7 U.S.C. 205, 208, 213) [29 FR 311, Jan. 14, 1964: 29 FR 3304, Mar. 12, 1964, as amended at 32 FR 7700, May 26, 1967]

§ 203.6 [Reserved]

§ 203.7 Statement with respect to meat packer sales and purchase contracts.

(a) The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (Packers and Stockyards Programs) receives numerous complaints concerning the failure or refusal of buyers to pay the full purchase price for, or to accept delivery of, their purchases of meat and meat food products and sellers failing to meet contractual specifications. Most such complaints arise out of disputes concerning condition, grade, weight, or shipping instructions.

(b) It is believed that both seller and buyer should take the following points into consideration when selling and buying meat and meat food products:

(1) Terms of shipment and time of arrival. Terms and conditions of shipment and delivery should be specified in the contract and both parties should understand fully all terms and conditions of the contract. Any deviation from normal practices, such as a guaranty by the shipper as to the date of arrival at destination, or a deviation from the normal meaning of terms, should also be fully understood and made a part of the contract.

(2) Quality and condition. (i) A seller has the responsibility of making certain that the meat and meat food products shipped are in accordance with the terms of the contract specifications.

(ii) When a buyer believes that the shipment does not meet the terms of the contract, he should immediately contact the seller or the seller's agent and advise him of the nature of the complaint. This affords the seller an opportunity to renegotiate the contract, to personally inspect the meat or meat food products, or to have an impartial party inspect or examine the meat or meat food products. Inspection and examination service of this type is available nationally through the USDA meat grading service and locally through various impartial persons or agencies.

(iii) All terms of a transaction should be made clear in the contract, whether written or verbal. If there is any chance of misunderstanding, a written confirmation should be exchanged between the parties. In any case where a contract dispute cannot be settled between the parties and either party intends to file a complaint, such complaint should be brought to the attention of the nearest Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (Packers and Stockyards Programs) area office as soon as possible. However, a concerted effort on the part of both buyer and seller to negotiate clear and complete contracts will greatly reduce misunderstandings which can result in the filing of complaints with the Administration.

(c) If the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (Packers and Stockyards Programs) has rea

son

to believe that any packer

unjustifiably (1) has refused to pay the contractual price for meat or meat food products purchased, (2) has refused to accept a shipment of meat or meat food products, or (3) has failed to ship meat or meat food products in accordance with the terms of the contract specifications, consideration will be given to the issuance of a complaint charging the packer with violation of section 202 of the Act. In the formal administrative proceeding initiated by any such complaint, the Judicial Officer of the Department will determine,

upon the basis of the record in the proceeding, whether the packer has violated the Act and should be ordered to cease and desist from continuing such violation.

(Secs. 407(a), 4, 42 Stat. 169, 72 Stat. 1750; 7 U.S.C. 228(a). Interprets or applies sec. 202, 42 Stat. 161 et seq., as amended; 7 U.S.C. 192)

[30 FR 14966, Dec. 3, 1965, as amended at 32 FR 7701, May 26, 1967]

§§ 203.8-203.9 [Reserved]

§ 203.10 Statement with respect to insolvency; definition of current assets and current liabilities.

(a) Under the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as amended and supplemented (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), the principal test of insolvency is to determine whether a person's current liabilities exceed his current assets. This current ratio test of insolvency under the Act has been reviewed and affirmed by a United States Court of Appeals. Bowman v. United States Department of Agriculture, 363 F. 2d 81 (5th Cir. 1966).

(b) For the purposes of the administration of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, the following terms shall be construed, respectively, to mean:

(1) Current assets means cash and other assets or resources commonly identified as those which are reasonably expected to be realized in cash or sold or consumed during the normal operating cycle of the business, which is considered to be one year.

(2) Current liabilities means obligations whose liquidation is reasonably expected to require the use of existing resources principally classifiable as current assets or the creation of other current liabilities during the one year operating cycle of the business.

(c) The term current assets generally includes: (1) Cash in bank or on hand; (2) sums due a market agency from a custodial account for shippers' proceeds; (3) accounts receivable, if collectable; (4) notes receivable and portions of long-term notes receivable within one year from date of balance sheet, if collectable; (5) inventories of livestock acquired for purposes of resale or for purposes of market support; (6) feed inventories and other inventories which are intended to be sold or consumed in the normal operating

cycle of the business; (7) accounts due from employees, if collectable; (8) accounts due from officers of a corporation, if collectable; (9) accounts due from affiliates and subsidiaries of corporations if the financial position of such subsidiaries and affiliates justifies such classification; (10) marketable securities representing cash available for current operations and not otherwise pledged as security; (11) accured interest receivable; and (12) prepaid expenses.

(d) The term current assets generally excludes: (1) Cash and claims to cash which are restricted as to withdrawal, such as custodial funds for shippers' proceeds and current proceeds receivable from the sale of livestock sold on a commission basis; (2) investments in securities (whether marketable or not) or advances which have been made for the purposes of control, affiliation, or other continuing business advantage; (3) receivables which are not expected to be collected within 12 months; (4) cash surrender value of life insurance policies; (5) land and other natural resources; and (6) depreciable assets.

(e) The term current liabilities generally includes: (1) Bank overdrafts (per books); (2) amounts due a custodial account for shippers' proceeds; (3) accounts payable within one year from date of balance sheet; (4) notes payable or portions thereof due and payable within one year from date of balance sheet; (5) accruals such as taxes, wages, social security, unemployment compensation, etc., due and payable as of the date of the balance sheet; and (6) all other liabilities whose regular and ordinary liquidation is expected to occur within one year.

(Sec. 407(a), 42 Stat. 169, 72 Stat. 1750; 7 U.S.C. 228(a). Interprets or applies secs. 202, 307, 312, 502, 505; 42 Stat. 161 et seq., as amended; 7 U.S.C. 192, 208, 213, 218a, 218d) [32 FR 6901, May 5, 1967]

[blocks in formation]
« AnteriorContinuar »