Food safety is a critical concern in the United States and meat processing plays a major role in this endeavor. The processing of livestock- which includes animals such as cattle, sheep, swine, and goats- is governed on a national level by the Federal Meat Inspection Act. Similarly, the processing of poultry, including chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese is governed by the Poultry Products Inspection Act. In those laws, USDA-FSIS is given primary authority for oversight of meat products that will be offered for sale. Food safety and animal welfare are important areas within this authority. That authority, however, may be designated to a state agency in those states that chose to apply for such authority, as long as the state requirements are “at least equal to” those enforced by USDA-FSIS. As a result, state meat inspection programs, in those states that have implemented them, add another layer of laws and regulations to meat slaughter and processing requirements.

Free Webinar on April 7th, 10 am MST

The National Agricultural Law Center’s next free webinar will be held on Wednesday, April 7th at 12 p.m. EST/11 a.m. CST, and will provide an outline of the current regulatory structure as well as highlighting some federal and state policy proposals that would change the requirements, standards, and oversight of slaughter and processing facilities.

Specifically, this webinar will discuss the regulatory authority for slaughter and processing of meat and poultry, effective differences between state and federal processing oversight- including custom exempt slaughter- and legislation that might change processing requirements in the United States.

Join us as Elizabeth Rumley, Senior Staff Attorney at the National Agricultural Law Center discusses this relevant topic.

Register Today

For more information or to register for this webinar, click here.