Interstate Shipment of State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Finalized

While California does not have state inspection of meat and poultry as it relies on federal
inspection the following news could impact our local markets.

USDA-FSIS has finalized how the new interstate shipment of state-inspected meat program will work. The original idea, included in the 2008 Farm Bill, was that because cooperative state meat and poultry inspection programs must by law be equal to or exceed the requirements of federal inspection, small (<25 full time employees), state-inspected processors should be able to ship product across state lines.

In a nutshell, here’s how the program will work: first, the state must choose to participate; then state inspection personnel will be trained in enforcement of the federal meat & poultry acts (FMIA & PPIA); and then state-inspected processors can apply to participate. FSIS will
oversee and enforce the program. Meat and poultry products produced under the program will bear the federal mark of inspection for interstate distribution.

According to FSIS, only four states are currently interested in adopting the program: North Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Vermont.

Useful links:

• NMPAN webpage summarizing how the final rule differs from the draft rule
• The rule
• The FSIS press release

Those interested in this program should be cautious about the many restrictions in the rule’s fine print. Processors who aren’t sure they can meet the federal/USDA requirements probably should not even consider the program as an option.

Adapted from the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network (NMPAN).