Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States Act” or the “A–PLUS Act”.
Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States Act
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to amend certain regulations to clarify that livestock auction owners may have an interest in small meatpacking businesses, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Amplifying processing of livestock in the United States (a- plus)
In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall revise section 201.67 of title 9, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on January 1, 2025, to specify that—
market agencies may have an ownership interest in, finance, or participate in the management or operation of, a packer, so long as such packer—
with respect to cattle and sheep, has a cumulative slaughter capacity of less than—
2,000 animals per day; or
700,000 animals per year; and
with respect to hogs, has a cumulative slaughter capacity of less than—
10,000 animals per day; or
3,000,000 animals per year; and
market agencies that have an ownership interest in, finance, or participate in the management or operation of, a packer shall disclose to sellers of livestock the existence of such ownership interest, financial relationship, or participation.
Savings clause— Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as a limitation on the authority of the Secretary to adopt or enforce rules or regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) related to the protection of producers, competition, market integrity, or the prevention of conflicts of interest.