The Division’s policies and procedures manual outlines the processes for investigating potential antitrust violations. Officials from the Division, FTC, and USDA said that their agencies maintain a cooperative working relationship with regard to anticompetitive matters in the agriculture industry. For example, 4 of the 165 complaints and leads the Division received during fiscal years 1997 through 1999 were referred to FTC. Appendix I: Objectives, Scope and Methodology

Our objectives were to (1) describe the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division’s (Division) interaction with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with regard to antitrust matters in the agriculture industry, (2) provide information on the number of complaints and leads in the agriculture industry received by the Division for fiscal years 1997 through 1999, and (3) provide information on the number and type of closed matters in the agriculture industry for fiscal years 1997 through 1999. 1.)
Why GAO Did This Study

This report reviews the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division's overall policies and procedures for carrying out its statutory responsibilities, particularly as they apply to the agriculture industry. GAO describes (1) the Division's interaction with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) with regard to antitrust matters in the agriculture industry, (2) the number of complaints and leads in the agriculture industry received by the Division for fiscal years 1997 through 1999, and (3) the number and types of closed matters in the agriculture industry for fiscal years 1997 through 1999. GAO also describes the Division's policies for and procedures for investigating potential anti-trust violations.

What GAO Found

GAO found that the Division (1) maintains a cooperative working relationship with regard to anticompetitive matters in the agriculture industry with FTC and USDA, (2) received an estimated 165 complaints and leads related to the agriculture industry in fiscal years 1997 through 1999, (3) closed 1,050 matters during that period.