7 U.S.C. § 217a: Fees for inspection of brands…

Summary

The Secretary may allow a State department, agency, or a duly organized livestock association to charge a reasonable, fair fee at a stockyard to inspect brands, marks, or other ID on animals from that State. The group must apply in writing and must register as a market agency before any fee can be charged. Only one authorization may be given for animals from a single State. If more than one group applies, the Secretary will pick the best one based on experience, finances, organization, records, and other ability, and may consider advice from State agriculture officials. The usual stockyard rules about filing, publishing, approving, changing, or suspending rates also apply to these fees. The fee must be collected by the market agency or the person handling the sale money and then paid to the inspecting department, agency, or association. The Secretary can suspend, and after a hearing can revoke, any such authorization and registration if it serves the public interest. Such suspension or revocation cannot be reviewed.

Title 7, §217a

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Authorization by Secretary; registration as market agency

The Secretary may, upon written application made to him, and if he deems it necessary, authorize the charging and collection, at any stockyard subject to the provisions of this chapter, by any department or agency of any State in which branding or marking or both branding and marking livestock as a means of establishing ownership prevails by custom or statute, or by a duly organized livestock association of any such State, of a reasonable and nondiscriminatory fee for the inspection of brands, marks, and other identifying characteristics of livestock originating in or shipped from such State, for the purpose of determining the ownership of such livestock. No charge shall be made under any such authorization until the authorized department, agency, or association has registered as a market agency. No more than one such authorization shall be issued with respect to such inspection of livestock originating in or shipped from any one State. If more than one such application is filed with respect to such inspection of livestock originating in or shipped from any one State, the Secretary shall issue such authorization to the applicant deemed by him best qualified to perform the proposed service, on the basis of (1) experience, (2) financial responsibility, (3) extent and efficiency of organization, (4) possession of necessary records, and (5) any other factor relating to the ability of the applicant to perform the proposed service. The Secretary may receive and consider the recommendations of the commissioner, secretary, or director of agriculture, or other appropriate officer or agency of a State as to the qualifications of any applicant in such State. The decision of the Secretary as to the applicant best qualified shall be final.

(b)Applicability of section (c) Collection and payment of charges

The provisions of this subchapter, relating to the filing, publication, approval, modification, and suspension of any rate or charge for any stockyard service shall apply with respect to charges authorized to be made under this section.

(d)Revocation of authorization or registration

The Secretary may, if he deems it to be in the public interest, suspend, and after hearing, revoke any authorization and registration issued under the provisions of this section or any similar authorization and registration issued under any other provision of law. The order of the Secretary suspending or revoking any such authorization and registration shall not be subject to review.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Former provisions relating to fees for inspection of brands appearing upon livestock were contained in section 231 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Administrative Orders Review ActCourt of appeals exclusive jurisdiction respecting final orders of Secretary of Agriculture under this chapter, except orders issued under section 210(e) of this title and this section, see section 2342 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

§217a Fees for Inspection of Brands or Marks