Senate panel approves state-inspected meat provision in Farm Bill

摘要

USDA would have 18 months to implement a new optional inspection program for state-inspected meat plants under a compromise provision in the Senate Agriculture Committee's version of the 2007 Farm Bill, which was approved last week. The compromise would end a decades-long battle over allowing meat from these small plants to be shipped across state lines. Roger JoOOson, president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, said the compromise was reached after a flurry of meetings in recent days with consumer, labor and farm groups and lawmakers.