March 15, 2007

US poultry groups oppose fees for safety inspection programmes

A coalition of nearly 40 US poultry groups is banding together in a bid to oppose US president George Bush's proposal for mandated safety inspection programmes.

If implemented, the programme would represent an additional US$96 million tax on consumers, livestock and poultry producers and the meat, poultry and egg processing industries.

The coalition, which includes organisations like the American Meat Institute, National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation, United Egg Association and United Egg Producers said such inspections have been a public health and safety programme funded through tax dollars for the past century.

The proposed user fees would not only raise food prices for consumers, but also harm US exports, the coalition said.

User fees have been proposed in the past, but have been rejected by the US Congress.

The coalition urged Congress to continue to oppose proposals to that would mandate new user fees to fund meat inspections.