U.S. BEEF IMPORTERS ORDERED TO CONTINUE PAYING PROMOTIONAL FEE
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled that U.S. beef importers must continue to pay a product promotional fee to the federal government while an appeal is pending.
A June 21 decision by a South Dakota District Court ruled that the Beef Promotion and Research Act was unconstitutional and ordered the end of fee collections from beef importers by July 15.
The Justice Department, on behalf of the USDA, requested that the government continue collecting the fee during the appeals process. A final decision on the constitutionality of the fee could take a year or longer.
“Producers and importers who fail to pay the assessment may be subject to late payment charges and civil penalties of not more than $5,500 per violation,” the USDA said.