§1636f Publication of Information on Retail Purchase Prices for Representative Meat Products

Summary

The Secretary must begin, no later than 90 days after October 22, 1999, collecting and publishing retail price information at least once a month (weekly if practical) for typical food items made from beef, pork, chicken, turkey, veal, and lamb. Each report must show the retail price and the total sales quantity for each item, given in both pounds and dollars. For two years after the first report, the Secretary must keep publishing the Meat Price Spreads Report the same way it was done before October 22, 1999. To keep reports accurate, the Secretary must use one or more sources that offer a consistently representative set of retail transactions and include both prices and sales quantities. The Secretary may get data from retailers or commercial sources and may use statistical sampling. Prices may be adjusted for where the food is consumed, where it comes from, distribution costs, and other verifiable factors. Providing data is voluntary, and no one can be penalized or forced to give it.