October 2, 2007

US may scrap federal inspections of meat crossing state lines

The US Congress may soon eliminate a 40-year-old requirement that require meat and poultry sold across state lines be federally inspected.

A provision in the House farm bill passed in July would give states more authority to inspect meat and poultry and allow state-inspected meat to enter interstate commerce.

While meat producers are jubilant over the news, the move would probably face strong opposition from consumer groups and labour unions who would sound warnings on safety issues, analysts said.