Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a complaint against ZYK Enterprises Inc., doing business as S. I Bukhari/WaQas Muslim Slaughter House of Duvall, Washington and Zeeshan Qazi (Qazi) of Washington, on Sept. 2, 2020, for alleged violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.
An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) revealed that from August 13 to Aug. 26, 2018, in three transactions involving one livestock seller, ZYK Enterprises Inc. and Qazi purchased approximately $100,906 of livestock and failed to pay the full purchase price. ZYK Enterprises Inc. and Qazi still owe approximately $8,723 for the livestock purchases.
In addition, the investigation revealed that from March 11 to July 22, 2018, in 16 transactions involving one livestock seller, ZYK Enterprises Inc. and Qazi purchased approximately $204,019 of livestock and failed to pay, when due, the full purchase price of livestock. Payments ranged between eight and 28 days late.
The P&S Act requires subject entities to issue the full payment for livestock by the close of the first business day following purchase and transfer of possession. Failure to timely pay for livestock and failure to pay for livestock purchases are both unfair trade practices and violations of the P&S Act.
The P&S Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to assess civil penalties up to $29,270 per violation against any person after notice and opportunity for hearing on the record. If the allegations are admitted or proven in an oral hearing, ZYK Enterprises Inc. and Zeeshan Qazi may be ordered to cease and desist from continuing violations of the P&S Act and jointly assessed a civil penalty.
The P&S Act is a fair trade practice and payment protection law that promotes fair and competitive marketing environments for the livestock, meat and poultry industries.
For further information about the Packers and Stockyards Act, contact Jeana Harbison, Packers and Stockyards Division, at (202) 720-7051, or by email at Jeana.M.Harbison@usda.gov.
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