SUPPORT INTERSTATE MEAT SALES - CALL CONGRESS - SEPT. 25-29
HOUSE DISTRICT OFFICE LISTING - SENATE DISTRICT OFFICE LISTING - PETITION
INTERSTATE MEAT SHIPMENT BILL
Group Launches National Grassroots Campaign to Support Passage
Contact: Charlie Ingram,
(202) 296-9680
Washington, D.C. – September 22, 2006 - The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) is urging Congress to take prompt action on bipartisan legislation introduced September 21 that would allow interstate sales of state-inspected meat and poultry products. H.R. 6130, the New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act, was introduced by House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (MO) and thirteen original cosponsors.
State agriculture officials said the legislation will resolve a basic inequity which has existed since 1967. Removing the current ban on interstate sales will level the economic playing field for small business, spur more competition in the marketplace, and create a more uniform inspection system. NASDA is also leading a national grassroots campaign to support passage of the bill.
Rick Kirchhoff, NASDA Executive Vice President and CEO, said that “allowing interstate meat sales is just plain common sense—no other food commodities inspected by state authorities are prohibited from being shipped across state lines.” The 1967 and 1968 Meat and Poultry Acts prohibit state-inspected products (beef, poultry, pork, lamb, and goat) from being sold in interstate commerce, even though they must equal or exceed federal inspection standards. However, the prohibition does not apply to “non-amenable” products—such as venison, pheasant, quail, rabbit, and a host of others. These products are normally regulated by state inspection programs, yet can be shipped in interstate commerce without restriction. Kirchhoff noted “it does not make sense to allow these products to be shipped across state borders while beef, poultry, pork, lamb and goat products cannot be shipped interstate. Where is the logic in this?”
State and local agriculture officials have also pointed out that the legislation would ensure fairness in trade. Foreign-produced meat and poultry products can be freely shipped and sold anywhere in the U.S. as long as that foreign country’s inspection program is equivalent to U.S. federal standards—in practice the same standard which state meat inspection programs must meet. “This is unfair and wrong,” said Kirchhoff. “Do thirty-four foreign countries that are currently eligible to export meat to the U.S. have better inspection programs than we do? H.R. 6130 just makes sense and would provide small businesses in the U.S. with the same marketing opportunities given to companies in foreign countries.”
Three USDA advisory committees have recommended that the outdated ban on interstate sales be removed because it would create jobs and stimulate rural economic development. H.R. 6130 would expand marketing opportunities for farmers and ranchers which they never had before. “We hope Congress will act this year because this legislation will improve competition, and benefit farmers, ranchers, and consumers. It’s the right thing to do” said Kirchhoff.
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COALITION MEMBERS
American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP)
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Meat Goat Association
Association of West Virginia Livestock Auction Markets
American Sheep Industry Association (ASI)
Center for Rural Affairs
Eastern Regional Conference of The Council of State Governments
Georgia Livestock Marketing Association
Illinois Association of Meat Processors
Indiana Meat Packers and Processors Association
Iowa Livestock Auction Markets Association
Kansas Livestock Association
Kansas Meat Processors Association
Livestock Marketing Association (LMA)
Midwestern Legislative Conference of The Council of State Governments
Missouri Association of Meat Processors
Missouri Livestock Marketing Association
Montana Association of Livestock Auction Markets
Montana Chamber of Commerce
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA)
National Association of State Meat & Food Inspection Directors (NASMFID)
National Bison Association
National Farmers Union
National Grange
New Mexico Livestock Marketing Association
North American Deer Farmers Association
North Carolina Livestock Auction Markets Association
North Dakota Meat Processors Association
North Dakota Stockmen’s Association
Ohio Association of Meat Processors
Northeast States Association for Agricultural Stewardship (NSAAS)
Ohio Cattlemen’s Association
R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America
South Carolina Association of Meat Processors
South Carolina Livestock Marketing Association
Texas Association of Business
Virginia Livestock Markets Association
Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors
Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE)
MEMBERS ONLY SECTION
NEWS
AGRICULTURE COALITION URGES ACTION ON INTERSTATE MEAT SALES BILL
Blunt to introduce measure to allow state inspected meat to be sold nationally
Dailey Supports Interstate Meat Shipment Bill
CSG-E Resolution in Support Interstate Sale of State-inspected Meat
CSG-M Resolution in Support Interstate Sale of State-inspected Meat
PRESS COVERAGE
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RESOURCES
Legislation
H.R. 6130
Agriculture Small Business Opportunity and Enhancement Act of 2006
S. 3519 (summary)
S. 3519 (legislation text)
Sponsors
HATCH STATEMENT
General
Background & History On Interstate Sales of State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Products and Meat and Poultry Inspection Programs (April 2006)
Map: Number of State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Plants
Issue Papers
Interstate Meat Sales: More Competitive Markets
Interstate Meat Sales: Expands Small Business and Rural Development
Interstate Meat Sales: History of Support from USDA and Congress
Interstate Meat Sales: Fairness in Trade
Interstate Meat Sales Creates a More Uniform Inspection System