October 24, 2007
US producer and consumer groups agree on interstate meat shipment
Producer and consumer groups in the US have announced they have come to an agreement on the interstate shipment of meat and poultry products.
The compromise legislation will be made part of the US Senate farm bill.
Smaller plants in the US have long argued that the law banning them from selling across state lines is unfair and limits their markets.
The consumer, labor and farm group compromise will create a programme for interstate sales and shipment of meat and poultry products from certain small plants. The plants will operate under the requirements of the Federal Meat and Poultry Inspection Acts. Products will bear the USDA inspection seal and can be sold in interstate commerce
The group includes National Farmers Union, Consumer Federation of America, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, American Federation of Government Employees, Food & Water Watch, Center for Science in the Public Interest, National Consumers League, Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention, Government Accountability Project, and United Food and Commercial Workers.
NFU President Tom Buis said it has taken many years to reach this compromise and added that smaller producers will finally have the opportunity to compete on a level playing field with other larger producers.
Consumer Federation of America Distinguished Fellow Carol Tucker Foreman noted that the inspection would continue to require that all products shipped in interstate commerce are subject to the federal meat and poultry inspection acts.
State-inspected, locally-produced meats are some of the best, safest and high quality specialty products in the US, he affirmed.
American livestock producers, processors and small businesses deserve to compete in the national marketplace, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture President Roger Johnson said.
The Act would:
-Create a new, optional programme for companies previously operating under state inspection laws that want to sell in interstate commerce;
-Require companies to operate under the federal meat and poultry inspection laws and provide federal oversight of operations in these plants;
-Encourage states to increase food safety testing by having USDA reimburse states for 100 percent of the costs for testing that exceeds the testing frequency of the federal government;
-Cover establishments with up to 25 employees;
-Direct USDA to develop a procedure for establishments that employ more than 25 employees and want to ship in interstate commerce to help those companies transition to federal inspection;
-Provide for companies in the program to use a federal mark, stamp, tag or label of inspection;
-Reimburse states for not less than 60 percent of the costs of operating the Title V program;
-Establish the position of State Coordinator, a federal employee, who will provide oversight and enforcement; oversee training and inspection activities; assure that plants are in full compliance of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and this Title; and report to the Secretary of USDA on status of the plant operations;
-Establish an inspection training division within the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) to coordinate initiatives to provide outreach, education, and training to small or very small establishments;
-Require USDA's Office of Inspector General to conduct periodic audits to assure plants operating under Title V are complying with federal requirements; and
-Offer states an optional inspection tool. States will continue to maintain their current Title III cooperative agreements with USDA which require state inspection programs to be at least "equal to" federal requirements. USDA will continue their oversight of these programs, which includes an annual review of nine detailed components. States will still be required to implement any regulations, directives, and guidance issued by USDA, including all federal food safety and consumer protection requirements.
