7 USC 1636 - General provisions

U.S Code last checked for updates: May 02, 2024

§ 1636.

General provisions

(a)

Confidentiality

The Secretary shall make available to the public information, statistics, and documents obtained from, or submitted by, packers, retail entities, and other persons under this subchapter in a manner that ensures that confidentiality is preserved regarding—

(1)

the identity of persons, including parties to a contract; and

(2)

proprietary business information.

(b)

Disclosure by Federal Government employees

(1)

In general

(2)

Exceptions

Information obtained by the Secretary under this subchapter may be disclosed—

(A)

to agents or employees of the Department of Agriculture in the course of their official duties under this subchapter;

(B)

as directed by the Secretary or the Attorney General, for enforcement purposes; or

(C)

by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(3)

Disclosure under Freedom of Information Act

(c)

Reporting by packers

(d)

Regional reporting and aggregation

The Secretary shall make information obtained under this subchapter available to the public only in a manner that—

(1)

ensures that the information is published on a national and a regional or statewide basis as the Secretary determines to be appropriate;

(2)

ensures that the identity of a reporting person is not disclosed; and

(3)

conforms to aggregation guidelines established by the Secretary.

(e)

Adjustments

(f)

Verification

(g)

Electronic reporting and publishing

(1)

In general

(2)

Improvements and education

(A)

Enhanced electronic publishing

The Secretary shall develop and implement an enhanced system of electronic publishing to disseminate information collected pursuant to this subchapter. Such system shall—

(i)

present information in a format that can be readily understood by producers, packers, and other market participants;

(ii)

adhere to the publication deadlines in this subchapter;

(iii)

present information in charts and graphs, as appropriate;

(iv)

present comparative information for prior reporting periods, as the Secretary considers appropriate; and

(v)

be updated as soon as practicable after information is reported to the Secretary.

(B)

Education

The Secretary shall carry out a market news education program to educate the public and persons in the livestock and meat industries about—

(i)

usage of the system developed under subparagraph (A); and

(ii)

interpreting and understanding information collected and disseminated through such system.

(h)

Reporting of activities on weekends and holidays

(1)

In general

(2)

Limitation on reporting by packers

(i)

Effect on other laws

Nothing in this subchapter, the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999, or amendments made by that Act restricts or modifies the authority of the Secretary to—

(1)

administer or enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.);

(2)

administer, enforce, or collect voluntary reports under this chapter or any other law; or

(3)

access documentary evidence as provided under sections 49 and 50 of title 15.

(Aug. 14, 1946, ch. 966, title II, § 251, as added Pub. L. 106–78, title IX, § 911(2), Oct. 22, 1999, 113 Stat. 1200; amended Pub. L. 110–234, title XI, § 11001(a)(1), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1350; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XI, § 11001(a)(1), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2112.)

cite as: 7 USC 1636