Lina M. Kahn, the Director of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), has provided a written comment to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service with regard to the proposed rule entitled “Poultry Growing Tournament Systems: Fairness and Related Concerns Supporting the Prohibition of the System”. In her submission, Ms. Kahn noted that the Packers and Stockyards Act was modeled on the Federal Trade Commission Act. The FTC is concerned over possible unfair practices that can result from market concentration.
Kahn supports mandatory disclosure that is incorporated into the proposed AMS rule, but she asserts that this does not address the alleged lack of competition. She urged USDA to undertake additional policy development to address any existing contract terms and business practices that might be prejudicial to contract growers.