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USDA lifts PACA sanctions on NY produce business

usda paca

WASHINGTON, May 9, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Fong Shing International Corp. BB #:271314 satisfied a reparation order in the amount of $53,540 issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) involving unpaid produce transactions.

The Maspeth, N.Y., company has met its obligations and is now free to operate in the produce industry. Minh Thai was listed as the officer, director and/or major stockholder of the business and may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.

PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables.

USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders, may not be employed by, or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.

Once a reparation order is fully satisfied and it is confirmed that there are not any outstanding unpaid awards, USDA lifts the employment restrictions of the previously named, responsibly connected individuals. USDA also requires any unlicensed company that fully satisfies all unpaid reparation awards to obtain a license if it continues to operate in the industry.

For more information, contact John Koller, Chief, Dispute Resolution Branch, at (202) 720-2890 or PACAdispute@usda.gov.

Contact Info
Public Affairs
PA@usda.gov
(202) 720-8998
Release No. 056-22

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