June 10, 2020

US lawmakers urge USDA to ease meat production regulations

Six Republican members from the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee called on the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ease regulations imposed on meat processors as smaller companies cannot compete against major processors, Reuters reported.

Jim Jordan, the Republican lawmaker who leads the six members called on Sonny Perdue, US Agriculture Secretary to review the regulations that reduces competition and makes it difficult to enter the country's meat processing sector.

The six lawmakers want Perdue to provide more flexibility for smaller processors in addressing issues related to food safety and streamline existing meat label approval processes.

In addition, the lawmakers urged Perdue to lower regulatory burdens for smaller meat processors, so they are able sell meats to other states and lower inspection costs. Meat processors are expected to pay additional costs to inspectors that work overtime.

After major meat processors such as Tyson Foods and JBS USA were forced to temporarily shut down operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers have switched to smaller meat processors to reduce their livestock backlog.

The other Republican members are James Sensenbrenner, Ken Buck, Matt Gaetz, Kelly Armstrong and Gregory Steube.

-      Reuters