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GIPSA: Vilsack outlines next steps in competition rule-making process

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack met with livestock industry stakeholders on Dec. 13 to discuss the next steps in the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration’s (GIPSA) competition rule making process. USDA published a proposed rule June 22 requesting comments on a regulatory proposal implementing the 2008 Farm Bill, as well as addressing related competition issues under the Packers & Stockyards Act of 1921.

Vilsack indicated that more than 60,000 comments had been received by GIPSA by the Nov. 22 comment deadline.

The next steps in the competition rule process, in the order they are expected to occur, are (1) GIPSA content analysis teams will begin sorting through the comments to determine if USDA needs to conduct additional analysis or studies, (2) a cost-benefit analysis will be conducted by USDA’s chief economist and others, (3) a redrafting of the proposed rule, if it is in order, will be done and submitted to the President’s regulatory reviewers, the Office of Management and Budget, for their approval. The final step would be the publication of a final rule containing any changes to the proposed rule.



Vilsack would not predict the timeline for the steps to occur or be concluded as so much depends on so many variables in the rulemaking process. However, he did assure industry that there would be “no rush to judgment” and that the process would be very deliberative, comprehensive, done right and take as much time as necessary to review the tens of thousands of comments received on the proposed rule.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack met with livestock industry stakeholders on Dec. 13 to discuss the next steps in the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration’s (GIPSA) competition rule making process. USDA published a proposed rule June 22 requesting comments on a regulatory proposal implementing the 2008 Farm Bill, as well as addressing related competition issues under the Packers & Stockyards Act of 1921.



Vilsack indicated that more than 60,000 comments had been received by GIPSA by the Nov. 22 comment deadline.

The next steps in the competition rule process, in the order they are expected to occur, are (1) GIPSA content analysis teams will begin sorting through the comments to determine if USDA needs to conduct additional analysis or studies, (2) a cost-benefit analysis will be conducted by USDA’s chief economist and others, (3) a redrafting of the proposed rule, if it is in order, will be done and submitted to the President’s regulatory reviewers, the Office of Management and Budget, for their approval. The final step would be the publication of a final rule containing any changes to the proposed rule.

Vilsack would not predict the timeline for the steps to occur or be concluded as so much depends on so many variables in the rulemaking process. However, he did assure industry that there would be “no rush to judgment” and that the process would be very deliberative, comprehensive, done right and take as much time as necessary to review the tens of thousands of comments received on the proposed rule.