Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, March 19, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a Decision and Order Without Hearing by Reason of Default against ZYK Enterprises Inc., doing business as S. I Bukhari/WaQas Muslim Slaughter House (ZYK Enterprises, Inc.) of Duvall, Wash., and Zeeshan Qazi (Mr. Qazi) of Washington, on Dec. 2, 2020, for violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) revealed that from August 13 to Aug. 26, 2018, in three transactions involving one livestock seller, ZYK Enterprises Inc. and Mr. Qazi purchased approximately $100,906 of livestock and failed to pay the full purchase price. ZYK Enterprises Inc. and Mr. Qazi still owe approximately $8,723 for the livestock purchases.
In its complaint, USDA also alleged that from March 11 to July 22, 2018, in 16 transactions involving one livestock seller, ZYK Enterprises Inc. and Mr. Qazi purchased approximately $204,019 of livestock and failed to pay, when due, the full purchase price of livestock. Payments ranged between eight and 28 days late.
Under the Default Decision and Order, ZYK Enterprises, Inc. and Mr. Qazi were ordered to cease and desist from engaging in operations subject to the Act without paying timely for each and every livestock transaction and purchase from sellers of livestock and assessed a $36,000 civil penalty. The full default decision and order is available on the AMS Packers and Stockyards Enforcement page.
The P&S Act requires subject entities to issue the full payment for livestock by the close of the first business day following purchase and transfer of possession. Failure to timely pay for livestock and failure to pay for livestock purchases are both unfair trade practices and violations of the P&S Act.
The P&S Act is a fair trade practice and payment protection law that promotes fair and competitive marketing environments for the livestock, meat, and poultry industries.
For further information about the Packers and Stockyards Act, contact Jeana Harbison, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (202) 720-7051, or by email at Jeana.M.Harbison@usda.gov.
#
Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter
@USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender