US cattle producers support interstate meat shipments

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) in the US is supporting a proposal to allow the interstate shipping of certain meat and poultry products.

 

The suggestion would establish a new cooperative state programme--as directed under section 11015 of the 2008 Farm Bill--to permit the sale and shipment of meat across state lines.

 

According to NCBA, the programme will help small producers increase their businesses and open up new opportunities for cattle producers to do business at the local level.

 

Currently, meat processors operating under cooperative state inspection programmes are prohibited from selling their products out of state.

 

Kristina Butts, NCBA's director for legislative affairs said the programme is a great opportunity to grow local demand for beef and increase competition. She said NCBA fought for this provision in the 2008 Farm Bill and the group is pleased that USDA is finally working toward its implementation.

 

NCBA is asking the US Department of Agriculture to clarify guidance for establishments in states that could potentially become ineligible to participate.

 

According to NCBA, the proposed rule states that once an establishment applies to participate, it would have to transition and become federally inspected if it were ever deselected from the programme.

 

But NCBA said it's unclear what would happen to establishments participating in the voluntary programme in the event its respective state was to become ineligible to participate.

 

It could be devastating to local markets if a plant had to shut down because it's not allowed to revert back to being a regular state-inspected plant, said Butts.

 

NCBA is also asking USDA to notify states and establishments of the training opportunities to produce the safest products possible.