The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration has amended section 201.72(a) (9 CFR 201.72(a)) of the regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921, which provides details for the number and frequency of times that stockyard owners, market agencies, dealers, packers or live poultry dealers that weigh livestock, live poultry or feed must have their scales tested.
The former regulation, which said that the scales must be tested at least twice each calendar year at intervals of approximately six months, has been amended to require regulated entities to complete the first of two scale tests between Jan. 1 and June 30 of the calendar year and the remaining scale test between July 1 and Dec. 31. In addition, a minimum period of 120 days is required between these two tests. More frequent testing would still be required in cases where a scale does not maintain accuracy between tests.
GIPSA has provided an exception for the testing of scales used on a limited seasonal basis. A seasonal scale is one used from either Jan. 1 through June 30 or July 1 through Dec.31, but not during both periods. These scales must be tested once during the calendar year, within the six months prior to use.
That same section of the regulations has been amended to add "swine contractors" to the list of regulated entities to which the section applies.
