---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 198a"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "198a"
heading: "Swine packer marketing contracts offered to producers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/198a"
units:
  - "Chapter 9 — Packers and Stockyards"
  - "Subchapter II — Packers Generally"
  - "Part B — Swine Packer Marketing Contracts"
---

# §198a. Swine packer marketing contracts offered to producers

- (a) **In general—** Subject to the availability of appropriations to carry out this section, the [Secretary](/usc/7/182.md?p=2) shall establish and maintain a library or catalog of each [type of contract](/usc/7/198.md?p=7) offered by [packers](/usc/7/198.md?p=2) to [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6) producers for the purchase of all or part of the producers’ production of [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6) (including [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6) that are purchased or committed for delivery), including all available noncarcass merit premiums.
- (b) **Availability—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/182.md?p=2) shall make available to [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6) producers and other interested [persons](/usc/7/182.md?p=1) information on the types of contracts described in [subsection (a)](#a), including notice (on a real-time basis if practicable) of the types of contracts that are being offered by each individual [packer](/usc/7/198.md?p=2) to, and are open to acceptance by, producers for the purchase of [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6).
- (c) **Confidentiality—** The reporting requirements under subsections [(a)](#a) and [(b)](#b) shall be subject to the confidentiality protections provided under [section 1636 of this title](/usc/7/1636.md).
- (d) **Information collection—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/182.md?p=2) shall—
    - (A) obtain (by a filing or other procedure required of each individual [packer](/usc/7/198.md?p=2)) information indicating what types of contracts for the purchase of [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6) are available from each [packer](/usc/7/198.md?p=2); and
    - (B) make the information available in a monthly report to [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6) producers and other interested [persons](/usc/7/182.md?p=1).
  - (2) **Contracted swine numbers—** Each [packer](/usc/7/198.md?p=2) shall provide, and the [Secretary](/usc/7/182.md?p=2) shall collect and publish in the monthly report required under [paragraph (1)(B)](#d-1-B), information specifying—
    - (A) the types of existing contracts for each [packer](/usc/7/198.md?p=2);
    - (B) the provisions contained in each contract that provide for expansion in the numbers of [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6) to be delivered under the contract for the following 6-month and 12-month periods;
    - (C) an estimate of the total number of [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6) committed by contract for delivery to all [packers](/usc/7/198.md?p=2) within the 6-month and 12-month periods following the date of the report, reported by reporting region and by [type of contract](/usc/7/198.md?p=7); and
    - (D) an estimate of the maximum total number of [swine](/usc/7/198.md?p=6) that potentially could be delivered within the 6-month and 12-month periods following the date of the report under the provisions described in [subparagraph (B)](#d-2-B) that are included in existing contracts, reported by reporting region and by [type of contract](/usc/7/198.md?p=7).
- (e) **Violations—** It shall be unlawful and a violation of this subchapter for any [packer](/usc/7/198.md?p=2) to willfully fail or refuse to provide to the [Secretary](/usc/7/182.md?p=2) accurate information required under, or to willfully fail or refuse to comply with any requirement of, this section.
- (f) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as necessary to carry out this section.

## Source credit

(Aug. 15, 1921, ch. 64, title II, § 222, as added Pub. L. 106–78, title IX, § 934(2), Oct. 22, 1999, 113 Stat. 1208.)

## Notes

### Termination of Section

For termination of section by section 942 of Pub. L. 106–78, see Livestock Mandatory Reporting note set out under section 1635 of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Termination Date

Section to terminate Mar. 14, 2025, see section 942 of Pub. L. 106–78, set out in a Livestock Mandatory Reporting note under section 1635 of this title.