[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 9, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 9CFR203.17]

[Page 58-59]
 
                  TITLE 9--ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS
 
  CHAPTER II--GRAIN INSPECTION, PACKERS AND STOCKYARDS ADMINISTRATION 
      (PACKERS AND STOCKYARDS PROGRAMS), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 203_STATEMENTS OF GENERAL POLICY UNDER THE PACKERS AND 
STOCKYARDS ACT--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 203.17  Statement of general policy with respect to rates
and charges at posted stockyards.

    (a) Requests have been received from stockyard operators, market 
agencies, and livestock producers urging a reduction of rate regulation 
at posted stockyards. Their requests are based on the belief that 
competition among markets will set a level of rates and charges fair to 
both the market operator and to the livestock producer. Grain 
Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (Packers and 
Stockyards Programs) will accept for filing tariffs containing any level 
of charges after 10 days' notice to the public and to the Secretary as 
required by the Act.
    (b) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (Packers 
and Stockyards Programs) will not investigate the level of rates and 
charges established by stockyard owners and market agencies for 
reasonableness except upon receipt of a valid complaint or under 
compelling circumstances warranting such an investigation. Stockyard 
owners and market agencies will have substantial flexibility in setting 
their own rates and charges.
    (c) Complaints filed about the reasonableness of rates and charges 
will be investigated to determine the validity of such complaints and 
appropriate action taken if warranted.
    (d) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (Packers 
and Stockyards Programs) will continue to insure that the schedules of

[[Page 59]]

rates and charges filed with the Department are applied uniformly and in 
a nondiscriminatory manner.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 
0580-0015)

(7 U.S.C. 203, 204, 207, 217a, 222 and 228)

[49 FR 33004, Aug. 20, 1984, as amended at 68 FR 75388, Dec. 31, 2003]