Interim Report: Competition and Fair Practices in Meat Merchandising

Date
October 10, 2024

On October 8, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) issued “Interim Report: Competition and Fair Practices in Meat Merchandising.”

Executive Order No. 14036 on Promoting Competition in the American Economy directed USDA to prepare a report “on the effect of retail concentration and retailers’ practices on the conditions of competition in the food industries.” Following a multi-year effort to better understand meat markets and potential problems existing within them—with an attention to beef—this report concludes that current practices existing within the meat merchandising industry warrant a renewed focus on enforcement of existing laws.

This interim report summarizes findings from USDA research and investigations authorized by the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S Act). 

Read the Interim Report

Fact Sheet 

Learn more about fair markets at Fair and Competitive Markets on our webpage.

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