73-Member Coalition Urges House to Allow Interstate Shipment of State-Inspected Beef
Source: R-CALF USA
Washington, D.C. (May 22, 2007) – R-CALF USA has joined dozens of organizations to urge the U.S. House of Representatives to support legislation that would allow state-inspected meat and poultry to be sold in the national marketplace.
Two bipartisan bills have been introduced in the House — H.R. 1760 by Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., and H.R. 2315 by Reps. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., and Roy Blunt, R-Mo. Both bills will resolve a basic inequity that has existed since 1967 and allow interstate sales of state-inspected meat and poultry. The reasons to support this legislation are clear and simple:
Meat and poultry products from 34 foreign countries can be freely shipped and sold anywhere in the United States—but our domestic small businesses and processors cannot. This is unfair and wrong. Why are small businesses in the U.S. denied the same market opportunities that are given to companies in foreign countries?
The restriction on interstate meat sales does not apply to "non-amenable" products—such as venison, bison, pheasant, quail, rabbit and others. These products are normally regulated by state inspection programs, yet can be shipped in interstate commerce without restriction. It does not make sense for these products to be sold across state borders while beef, poultry, pork, lamb and goat cannot be shipped across state lines.
No other state-inspected food commodities are prohibited from being shipped across state lines. Other state-inspected food products (milk, dairy products, fruit, vegetables, fish and shellfish) are freely marketed across the country. Why aren't the same market options available for meat and poultry?
"Current law discriminates against U.S. products and favors imports from foreign countries," said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard. "These small, family owned businesses are simply asking for a fair and reasonable chance to expand their markets here at home, across state lines. This reform also is necessary to allow state-inspected meat plants to equitably compete with foreign meat plants that are not similarly restricted from engaging in interstate commerce here."
Note: To view the coalition letter, visit the "Competition Issues" link at www.r-calfusa.com, or contact R-CALF USA Communications Coordinator Shae Dodson at the e-mail address or phone number above.
r-calfusa.com
Source: R-CALF USA
Washington, D.C. (May 22, 2007) – R-CALF USA has joined dozens of organizations to urge the U.S. House of Representatives to support legislation that would allow state-inspected meat and poultry to be sold in the national marketplace.
Two bipartisan bills have been introduced in the House — H.R. 1760 by Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., and H.R. 2315 by Reps. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., and Roy Blunt, R-Mo. Both bills will resolve a basic inequity that has existed since 1967 and allow interstate sales of state-inspected meat and poultry. The reasons to support this legislation are clear and simple:
Meat and poultry products from 34 foreign countries can be freely shipped and sold anywhere in the United States—but our domestic small businesses and processors cannot. This is unfair and wrong. Why are small businesses in the U.S. denied the same market opportunities that are given to companies in foreign countries?
The restriction on interstate meat sales does not apply to "non-amenable" products—such as venison, bison, pheasant, quail, rabbit and others. These products are normally regulated by state inspection programs, yet can be shipped in interstate commerce without restriction. It does not make sense for these products to be sold across state borders while beef, poultry, pork, lamb and goat cannot be shipped across state lines.
No other state-inspected food commodities are prohibited from being shipped across state lines. Other state-inspected food products (milk, dairy products, fruit, vegetables, fish and shellfish) are freely marketed across the country. Why aren't the same market options available for meat and poultry?
"Current law discriminates against U.S. products and favors imports from foreign countries," said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard. "These small, family owned businesses are simply asking for a fair and reasonable chance to expand their markets here at home, across state lines. This reform also is necessary to allow state-inspected meat plants to equitably compete with foreign meat plants that are not similarly restricted from engaging in interstate commerce here."
Note: To view the coalition letter, visit the "Competition Issues" link at www.r-calfusa.com, or contact R-CALF USA Communications Coordinator Shae Dodson at the e-mail address or phone number above.
r-calfusa.com