What power does the PACA branch have over a company engaging in unfair trade practices?
The PACA license is the key to enforcement of the PACA statute. If the PACA branch receives a written complaint that a company is violating PACA by engaging in unfair trade practices, PACA will conduct an investigation of the company. PACA may then bring a disciplinary action before an administrative law judge, seeking to have the produce company’s PACA license suspended or revoked. The 1995 amendments to PACA also allowed the PACA branch to impose a civil fine against a PACA violator.