The Packers and Stockyards Administration's Regulatory Reform Activities

In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Agriculture's Packers and Stockyards Administration's (P&SA) regulatory reform activities. GAO was particularly interested in the P&SA task force which was established in January 1981 to review and recommend changes in P&SA regulations and policy statements to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on the livestock industry. GAO summarized the P&SA regulatory reform process and discussed the task force's recommended changes in four major areas: (1) bonding requirements, (2) custodial accounts, (3) trade practices, and (4) sales promotion programs.