April 14, 2006
Dr. Richard Raymond
Under Secretary for Food Safety
U.S. Department of Agriculture
14th Street & Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Dear Dr. Raymond:
I am writing on behalf of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) to request your immediate attention on a serious situation about funding for the Food Safety Inspection Service’s (FSIS) state cooperative inspection programs.
As you know, FSIS cooperates with the states in administering their meat and poultry inspection programs. FSIS provides up to 50 percent of the cost and other support for the cooperative state programs. These federal matching funds are imperative for basic state inspection activities such as salaries and training.
We have learned that FSIS recently informed the states that their FY06 base funding allocation is being reduced. This is particularly alarming since FSIS only notified the states about the change in funding in mid-March—after half of the current fiscal year has already passed. The budget cuts range from approximately 4 to 25 percent with most of them in the 12 to 20 percent range. How can this be justified?
This sudden reduction in federal matching funds will have a devastating impact on state inspection programs. Many will be unable to provide daily inspection coverage for processing activities. Some states will be forced to lay off inspectors and others may be forced to designate their programs to USDA . Both food safety and food defense responsibililties will be jeopardized.
Although the law allows FSIS to lower the 50 percent funding, the agency has provided funding at the 50 percent level for the past thirty years. Your assistance and direct involvement is needed. We would like to schedule a meeting or conference call at your earliest convenience to discuss this serious situation. If you or your staff have any questions, please contact either Rick Kirchhoff or Charlie Ingram in the NASDA Washington office at (202) 296-9680.
Sincerely,
J. Carlton Courter III
NASDA President
Commissioner, Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services