USDAFinal Rule

Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment

AgricultureFinance & Banking

Summary

The USDA is increasing the dollar amounts of fines it can impose on people and companies that violate its rules, adjusting them for inflation so penalties keep pace with rising costs. This means violations that were fined $1,000 a decade ago might now result in larger fines to maintain the same deterrent effect.

Key Points

  • 1The USDA updates its penalty amounts annually to reflect inflation, ensuring fines remain meaningful over time
  • 2Companies and individuals who break USDA regulations will face higher monetary penalties going forward
  • 3This affects agriculture businesses, food producers, and others regulated by the USDA across the country
  • 4The penalty increases apply to various violations including food safety, animal welfare, and agricultural program violations
  • 5These adjustments are required by federal law and help prevent violations by keeping penalties proportional to their economic impact

Key Dates

Published

May 29, 2025

This summary is for informational purposes only. It may not capture all nuances of the regulation. Always refer to the official text for authoritative information.

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