Document: 424 U.S. 366 96 S.Ct. 923 47 L.Ed.2d 55 The GREAT ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC TEA COMPANY, INC., Appellant,v.Hugh B. COTTRELL, Health Officer, State of Mississippi. No. 74-1148. Argued Dec. 1, 1975. Decided Feb. 25, 1976. Syllabus A Mississippi regulation provides that milk and products from another may be sold in only if the other accepts or produced processed on a reciprocal basis. Appellant's application for permit to distribute sale at its retail outlets Louisiana processing plant was denied solely ground had not signed reciprocity agreement with as required by regulation. Appellant then brought suit claiming violated Commerce Clause, but three-judge District Court upheld valid exercise state police powers, even though it incidentally burdened interstate commerce. Held: mandatory character regulation's requirement unduly burdens free flow commerce violation Clause cannot justified permissible any power. Pp. 370-381. (a) Only interests substantial importance can save face devastating effect upon practical effect, absolute terms, excluding wholesome Louisiana. Cf. Dean Milk Co. v. Madison, 340 349, 71 295, 95 L.Ed. 329. 372-375. (b) serving Mississippi's vital maintaining State's health standards, Louisiana's standards were lower than Mississippi's, such met permits admitted enters into agreement. And enables assure itself reciprocating are "substantial equivalent" own, has available accomplishing objective alternative, substantially less burdensome commerce, applying own inspection shipments nonreciprocating State. 375-378. (c) Nor an economic "free trade" measure, since is "precisely kind hindrance introduction states . condemned 'unreasonable clog mobility commerce' " 'hostile conception well result.' Polar Ice Cream & Creamery Andrews, 375 361, 377, 84 378, 387, 11 389. 378-381. D.C., 383 F.Supp. 569, reversed remanded. Walter W. Christy, appellant. Heber A. Ladner, Jr., Jackson, Miss., appellee. Mr. Justice BRENNAN delivered opinion Court. 1 Section Regulation Governing Production Sale Products Mississippi, promulgated Board (1967), provides, among things, "(m)ilk (another State) provided regulatory agency (of that) jurisdiction Grade basis."1 question presented this case whether consistently Art. I, § 8, cl. 3, Constitution,2 may, pursuant regulation, constitutionally deny producer right sell satisfying because Southern rejected appellant's challenge, holding "section within limits powers indirectly involves commerce." 575 (1974). We noted probable appeal, 421 961, 1949, 44 448 (1975). reverse.3 2 * Appellant, Great Atlantic Pacific Tea Co., Inc. (A&P), Maryland corporation, owns operates 38 engage products. A&P also Kentwood, La., raw delivery outlets. invested over $1 million Kentwood facilities, intending part dairy facility would supply However, A&P's August 28, 1972, failed submit between 11.4 thereupon action. 3 Evidence stipulated before which conclusively established fully complied requirements all respects received sanitation-compliance ratings excess 90% In following each officials. These published Sanitation Compliance Enforcement Ratings Interstate Shippers, list compiled Public Service Food Drug Administration United States Department Health, Education, Welfare (HEW), includes processors receiving compliance officials who have been certified Service. Further, parties Supervisor Control Program testified, basis reported HEW form, acceptable regulations equivalent meaning 11. Thus lack two prevented appellant marketing outlets.5 II 4 answer challenge reasonable power local affairs, designed distribution healthful people begin our analysis again emphasizing "(t)he very purpose create area trade several States." McLeod J. E. Dilworth 322 327, 330, 64 1023, 1026, 88 1304 (1944). least Cooley Wardens, 12 How. 299, 13 996 (1852), clear "the merely authorization Congress enact laws protection encouragement States, force created interference States. (T)he without implementing legislation limitation Freeman Hewit, 329 249, 252, 67 274, 276, 91 265 (1946). It no true, course, under constitutional scheme retain "broad power" legislate their citizens matters concern public health, H. P. Hood Sons, Du Mond, 336 525, 531-532, 69 657, 661-662, 93 865 (1949), every invalid affects some way supra, U.S., 253, S.Ct., 277; Eisenberg Farm Products, 306 346, 351-352, 59 528, 530-531, 83 752 (1939). Rather, areas where activities legitimate overlap national expressed concurrent absence congressional guidance called make "delicate adjustment conflicting federal claims," 553, 679 (Black, J., dissenting), thereby attempting necessary accommodation needs overriding freedom 277. undertaking task Court, finds challenged serves further interest simultaneously confronted problem balance: 5 "Although criteria determining validity statutes affecting variously stated, general rule emerges phrased follows: Where statute regulates even-handedly effectuate interest, effects incidental, will unless burden imposed clearly excessive relation putative benefits. Huron Cement Detroit, 362 440, 443, 80 813, 816, 852. If found, becomes one degree. extent tolerated course depend nature involved, could promoted lesser impact activities." Pike Bruce Church, Inc., 397 137, 142, 90 844, 847, 25 174 (1970).6 6 Adjudication challenges burdening novel experience See, e. g., 389 (1964); (1951); supra; Baldwin G. F. Seelig, 294 511, 497, 79 1032 (1935). 7 seems concluded while especially pertinent decision provision 11, did require conclusion rendered section violative Clause. disagree. involved Wis., ordinance forbade city pasteurized bottled approved located five miles center city. Although agreeing sanitary originating remote 'matter appropriately regulated safety, well-being communities,' 353, 297, held Madison withstand "even (the city's) unquestioned protect safety people, nondiscriminatory alternatives, adequate conserve interests, available." Id., 354, 298. Inquiry alternatives exist is, important discharge Court's "accommodation" 'realistic' judgment" given action "unreasonably" trespasses must, consider "consequences disallowed." Dowling, Power, 27 Va.L.Rev. 22 (1940). 8 identified serve yet either distant plants officials, reliance obtained localities having high those enforcement verified Service's system checking ratings. This latter alternative reflected recommendation based Model Ordinance proposed Service, Milk, 355, n. 5, 298, "health officer approve points his they ordinance, awarded control rating percent more method." Illinois producer's inspected authorities Chicago method. 9 instant acknowledged "(i)nterestingly enough clause, identical material aspect U. S. Ordinance" discussed Milk. F.Supp., 574. Accordingly, infirmity," "insofar follows Ordinance." 575. clause found HEW's constitute sufficient violate said "enforce through inspections source milk, although out-of-state inspections, agreements ." "(a)s long mutually exchanges states, there trade." "Mississippi adopted avoid expense inspections," id., 576, offers discrimination. 10 fallacy reasoning attached insufficient significance effected too great purported served clause. terms universal bar sales invalidated barrier "in exclude(d) (Mississippi) (Louisiana)." 297.7 milk. contention borders frivolous. does do so sense furthering quality standards. For, according appellee, "s covenants certify them, accept standard below applicable domestic producers forwarding same." Brief Appellee 9. Thus, thus disserves rather promotes higher stand ards. Therefore "burden (interstate) benefits." 847. next argues somehow (here Louisiana's) Mississippi's.8 But premise disputed,9 means and, therefore, teaches view these methods protecting it. assurance sister State, constituted applied, obvious State.10 expressly supported adequacy alternative: "(S)uch readily open hardship charge actual cost importing processors."11 Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport Authority Delta Airlines, 405 707, 92 1349, 31 620 (1972). III apart health-related free-trade provision, advancing 14 argument two-pronged. First, help eliminate "hypertechnical" vary different States.12 Such hypertechnical requiring costly duplicative instances where, truly purposes, "substantially equivalent." recognized beneficial objectives voluntary agreements, existence per se receive benefits conferred complain. See Kane New Jersey, 242 160, 167-168, 37 30, 31-32, 61 222 (1916); cf. Bode Barrett, 344 583, 73 468, 97 567 (1953).13 we acceptance offered see 168, 32, threaten complete isolation offer reciprocity. insist somewhat different, alternative. use threat weapon enter desirable 15 second prong appellee's draws allegations violating refusing admit asserts refused bad faith, fact erected barriers guise regulations. Hence, agreement, argued, seek gain access markets condition allowing agree. 16 extent, any, unconstitutionally erecting enforcing competition regulations, creates reciprocity: pursue remedy court challenging actions 17 Second, legitimately exercising consequently admission deemed good faith quality, privileged judgments level sanitation pain ban However international wholly sovereign nation employed common market Framers Constitution. To allow sign else absolutely foreclosed exporting plainly "invite multiplication preferential destructive Clause." 356, 299. No "parochial legislative polic(y)," 538, 665, precisely calculated door rivalries reprisals meant averted subjecting nation." 522, 500. 18 "The Constitution framed dominion political philosophy parochial range. theory peoples must sink swim together, run prosperity salvation union division." 523, 19 insofar (It is) hostile 387. 20 hold judgment reversed, remanded proceedings consistent opinion. 21 ordered. STEVENS took consideration case. full text: "Milk beyond routine jurisdiction, produced, pasteurized, labeled above made Provided further, (sic ) authority authorized conduct laboratory investigations determine Regulation." Record 102. U.S.Const., provides: shall regulate foreign Nations, Indian Tribes." alleged claim relief Equal Protection Fourteenth Amendment. occasion address claim. attempted obtain authorities. informed entered meet Mississippi-processed 15. makes judged qualified Indeed, appellee reciprocity, subjected on-site currently 15-16, 1. entails "emphasis concrete elements situation concerns both interests. particularities touch special aims scope fulfillment, difficulties seeks adjust, price (P)ractical considerations, however screened doctrine, underlie resolution conflicts power." Frankfurter, Under Marshall, Taney Waite 33-34 (1937). "(I)t interferences (with commerce) forbidden sustained facts circumstances, function, business lead peculiarly infringe across lines." Di Santo Pennsylvania, 273 34, 44, 267, 271, 524 (1927) (Stone, dissenting). net annual incurred inability product consequent sources $195,700. "If give trust loath same procedures, out regard welfare her citizens." sample following: "AN ACCEPTABLE AGREEMENT TO MISSISSIPPI STATE BOARD OF HEALTH REGARDING RECIPROCITY IN THE MOVEMENT GRADE MILK PRODUCTS INTERSTATE SHIPMENT "1. Each responsible inspecting, sampling, apply dairies respective state, state's equivalent. "2. appropriate shipment agency. "3. chemical bacteriological labeling vehicle state. "4. shipment. submitted FDA-PHS included maintained Shippers List spot check supplies satisfactory surveillance being carried All order states. "5. agencies containing stipulations." On record, need decide constitutionality insistence reinspection prompted retaliatory measure refuses adequate. call "each farm, hauler, plant, station, transfer station whose intended consumption Mississippi" issuance permit, periodic thereafter. Miss.Reg. 77. outside six 105 farms purchases Plaintiff's Exhibit represents already pay expenses inspection, 7, evidence appear record. "(W)e say wiser productive picayune problems how many square feet floor space parlor, what temperature when goes cooling truck." Tr. Oral Arg. 20. agrees "laudable goal. Reciprocity, eliminating hyper-technical peculiar aid milk." Jurisdictional Statement point diversionary occasioned (even nondiscriminatory) might impermissible embodied Compact 586, 470, 567; Wharton Wise, 153 155, 171, 783, 787, 669 (1894).

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