Agriculture Competition Enhancement Act of 2009

Summary

Agriculture Competition Enhancement Act of 2009 - Establishes in the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice a Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Agricultural Antitrust Matters who shall: (1) be responsible for oversight and coordination of agriculture-related antitrust and related matters; and (2) work in coordination with the Task Force and the Department of Agriculture on all agricultural competition matters. Establishes under the authority of the Attorney General the Agriculture Competition Task Force to examine problems in agricultural competition. Amends the Clayton Act to revise the defendant's burden of proof in agribusiness mergers in which the plaintiff is: (1) the federal or state government; or (2) any other plaintiff. Directs the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to: (1) draft agriculture-specific guidelines to use when reviewing agriculture mergers; and (2) conduct post merger reviews of certain agribusiness mergers five years after approval. Establishes within the Department of Agriculture the Office of Competition and Fair Practices to be headed by a Special Counsel for Competition Matters who shall: (1) analyze mergers within the food and agricultural sectors; and (2) investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921. Provides for agribusiness merger review and enforcement by the Department of Agriculture. Authorizes appropriations for additional staff for the Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration to investigate the competitive implications of structural changes in the meat packing and poultry industries.

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3 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 3 February 2009

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• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 3 February 2009

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 3 February 2009

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