Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 5/2/11

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service today published a final rule on interstate shipment of meat and poultry products.

The regulation establishes a new voluntary cooperate program under which state-inspected plants with 25 or fewer employees can ship meat and poultry products over state lines, subject to federal inspection standards.

The new rule will be effective July 1, 2011.