The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reached a consent decision with Kiran Enterprises Inc. (Kiran), doing business as Trenton Halal Meat Packing Company and Mohammed S. Malik of Trenton, N.J., (Malik) for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.

An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) revealed that Kiran failed to pay timely for 25 livestock purchases totaling $393,477. Payments were made from one to 11 days late.

Under the consent decision, Kiran and Malik agreed to cease and desist from failing to pay, when due, the full purchase price of livestock and assessed a $2,350 civil penalty. In addition, Kiran was required to increase its Packers and Stockyards bond coverage to $180,000.

The P&S Act requires subject entities to issue the full payment for livestock by the close of the first business day following purchase and transfer of possession. Failure to timely pay for livestock purchases and failure to issue the full payment for purchases is an unfair trade practice and a violation of the P&S Act.

The P&S Act is a fair-trade practice and payment protection law that promotes fair and competitive marketing environments for the livestock, meat and poultry industries.

For further information about the Packers and Stockyards Act, contact Kraig Roesch, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (303) 375-4291 or by email at kraig.roesch@usda.gov.

Original source can be found here.