Congress Considers Bill to Open Interstate Meat Shipment

Congress will consider legislation that would set aside a 40-year-old law that prohibits the interstate shipment of meat from state-inspected facilities.  Twenty-eight states have state inspection agencies.

NCBA, which has supported similar legislation in the past, supports this bill.  It is seen as a great opportunity for cattle producers and small local businesses to create and market branded beef products and specialty products.

The legislation, “New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act of 2006” (H.R. 6130), could allow beef, pork, poultry and lamb approved by state inspection agencies to be sold in every state.  Reps. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) introduced the legislation Sept. 21 along with 13 co-sponsors.

“The USDA has agreed that state inspection programs are ‘at least equal to’ federal inspections, but a 40-year-old law is keeping state-inspected meat from being marketed across state lines,” Blunt said.  “If we want to open markets for agriculture products, we ought to start at home.”

The 28 state-run inspection programs receive half their funding from USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and must show they are equivalent to federal inspection.