Amendments to the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA)

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is revising the Regulations (other than Rules of Practice) Under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) in order to implement legislative changes signed into law by President Clinton. Specifically, the legislative changes phase retailers and grocery wholesalers out of license fee payments over a 3-year period; establish that retailers and grocery wholesalers making an initial application during the 3-year period pay no fee for the renewal of the license for subsequent years; establish a one-time administrative fee for new retailers and grocery wholesalers entering the program after the 3-year phase-out period; and increase license fees from $400 to $550 annually for all other licensees.