Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 1/25/11

USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) has amended a section of the Packers and Stockyards Act that requires stockyard owners, market agencies, dealers, packers or live poultry dealers that weigh livestock, live poultry or feed to have their scales tested at least twice each calendar year at intervals of about six months.

Under the amendment, the time period is no longer approximate. The rule specifically requires completion of the first of the two scale tests between Jan. 1 and June 30 of the calendar year.

Therefore, the scale test for the first half of calendar year 2011 must be completed by June 30, 2011. The remaining scale test must be completed between July 1 and Dec. 31 of the calendar year. In addition, a minimum period of 120 days is required between these two tests. More frequent testing still would be required when a scale does not maintain accuracy between tests.

GIPSA exempts scales used on a limited seasonal basis from the testing requirement. A seasonal scale is one used from either Jan. 1 through June 30, or July 1 through Dec. 31, but not during both periods. GIPSA will require that these scales be tested once during the calendar year, within the six months prior to use.

That same section of the regulations has been amended to add swine contractors to the list of regulated entities.

“GIPSA believes that these changes will facilitate GIPSA’s ability to regulate the business operations of stockyard owners, swine contractors, market agencies, dealers, packers or live poultry dealers through the effective enforcement of the P&S Act,” the agency said in a news release.

The final rule was published in the Jan. 20, 2011, Federal Register and is posted on GIPSA’s web site.

The Packers and Stockyards Act is a fair trade practice and payment protection law that promotes fair and competitive marketing environments for the livestock, meat and poultry industries.

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