Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2025
The Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2025 would create a new Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters within the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Led by a Special Investigator appointed by the Secretary, the Office would focus on enforcing the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 with respect to competition and trade practices in the meat and poultry sectors. Key duties include using tools like subpoenas to investigate and prosecute violations, coordinating with the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, and consulting with the Department of Homeland Security on national security and critical infrastructure concerns in the food and agricultural sector. The Special Investigator would have the authority to bring civil or administrative actions under the Packers and Stockyards Act against packers and live poultry dealers, subject to certain limitations and interagency notification requirements. The bill also makes minor conforming and technical amendments to related USDA statutes.
Key Points
- 1Establishment and leadership: Creates the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters within USDA, headed by a Special Investigator for Competition Matters who is a senior career employee appointed by the Secretary.
- 2Core duties: The Special Investigator would investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act by packers and live poultry dealers, use subpoenas, serve as a liaison to DOJ and FTC, consult with DHS on national security and critical infrastructure security in the food/ag sector, maintain an appropriate staff, and coordinate with the USDA General Counsel and the Packers and Stockyards Division of the Agricultural Marketing Service.
- 3Prosecutorial authority: The Special Investigator can bring civil or administrative actions under the Packers and Stockyards Act against regulated entities; for actions in federal court, the Attorney General must be notified; existing subpoena authority of the Secretary under the Packers and Stockyards Act remains intact.
- 4Scope limitation: The Special Investigator may not bring actions against entities not regulated under the Packers and Stockyards Act.
- 5Legislative housekeeping: Adds a conforming amendment to authorize the Secretary to carry out section 217; and makes a technical amendment to rename a USDA liaison section (Food Access Liaison) to section 224A.