Source:  Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 12/22/09

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association submitted comments this week to USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service in support of a proposed rule to allow the interstate shipping of certain meat and poultry products, according to a news release on the organization's Web site.

"This program is a great opportunity to grow local demand for beef and increase competition," Kristina Butts, NCBA's director of legislative affairs, said in the release. "NCBA fought for this provision in the 2008 Farm Bill, and we're pleased that USDA is finally working toward its implementation."

The proposal would establish a new cooperative state program — as directed under section 11015 of the 2008 Farm Bill — to permit the sale and shipment of meat across state lines. The program will help small establishments grow their businesses and open up new opportunities for cattle producers to do business at the local level. Currently, meat processors operating under cooperative state inspection programs are prohibited from selling their products out of state.

On the other hand, NCBA is asking FSIS to clarify guidance for establishments in states that potentially become ineligible to participate. The proposed rule states that once an establishment applies to participate, it would have to transition and become federally inspected if it were ever deselected from the program. It's unclear, the group says, what would happen to establishments participating in the voluntary program in the event its respective state was to become ineligible to participate.

The proposed rule would allow states to apply for transition grants to reimburse selected establishments for the cost of employee Hazardous Analysis Critical Control Point training and the development of sanitation standard operating procedures. In order to encourage broad participation, NCBA said it is asking FSIS to notify states and establishments of the training opportunities to produce the safest products possible.

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