Bill Summary
This legislation, called the "Expanding Markets for State-Inspected Meat Processors Act of 2021," aims to amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to allow meat inspected by individual states to be sold across state lines. It also requires that states include a state-assigned official number on the labeling of their meat products and submit a list of their establishments to the Secretary. The act also outlines the procedures for revoking a state's designation and exceptions to inspection requirements.
Possible Impacts
1. This Act may affect people who work in the meat industry, specifically those who work at state-inspected meat processing facilities. It may allow these individuals to sell their products in interstate commerce, expanding their market and potentially increasing their business.
2. The Act may also affect consumers who purchase meat products. With the expansion of state-inspected meat sales, consumers may have access to a wider variety of products and potentially lower prices, as competition between different states may drive down prices.
3. The Act may also affect state governments, as they are responsible for designating and enforcing state meat inspection programs. The Act may require these governments to update and provide lists of approved establishments, and may also require them to cooperate with the federal government in enforcing food safety regulations.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5246 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5246
To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to allow the interstate sale
of State-inspected meat, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 14, 2021
Ms. Cheney (for herself and Mrs. Miller of West Virginia) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to allow the interstate sale
of State-inspected meat, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Expanding Markets for State-
Inspected Meat Processors Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. STATE-INSPECTED MEAT.
Section 301 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 661) is
amended--
(1) by striking the section designation and inserting the
following:
``SEC. 301. SALE OF INSPECTED MEAT AND MEAT FOOD PRODUCTS.'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``In furtherance of this policy''
in the matter preceding paragraph (1) and all that
follows through ``(1) The Secretary'' in paragraph (1)
and inserting the following:
``(B) State programs.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary'';
(B) by striking ``(a) It is'' and inserting the
following:
``(a) State Meat Inspection Program.--
``(1) In general.--
``(A) Policy.--It is''; and
(C) in paragraph (1)(B) (as so designated)--
(i) in clause (i) (as so designated), by
striking ``solely for distribution within such
State'' and inserting ``for distribution''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) Interstate commerce.--
``(I) In general.--Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Act, the
Secretary may allow, subject to
subclause (III), the shipment in
interstate commerce of carcasses, parts
of carcasses, meat, and meat food
products inspected under the State meat
inspection program described in clause
(i).
``(II) Acceptance of interstate
shipments of meat and meat food
products.--Notwithstanding any
provision of State law, a State or
local government shall not prohibit or
restrict the movement or sale of meat
or meat food products that have been
inspected and passed in accordance with
this Act for interstate commerce.
``(III) State-assigned official
number.--
``(aa) In general.--Any
establishment designated by a
State to ship meat and meat
food products pursuant to
subclause (I) shall include in
the labeling of such products
the State-assigned official
number that identifies the
establishment and the State.
``(bb) Updated list.--Each
State with a State meat
inspection program described in
clause (i) shall submit, and
update as necessary, to the
Secretary a list of each such
establishment and the
corresponding State-assigned
official number for such
establishment.'';
(3) in subsection (b), by striking ``(b) The appropriate''
and inserting the following:
``(b) Cooperation of State Agency.--The appropriate'';
(4) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking ``(c)(1) If the Secretary'' and
inserting the following:
``(c) Enforcement of Federal Requirements.--
``(1) Designation of states.--
``(A) In general.--If the Secretary'';
(B) in paragraph (1) (as so designated)--
(i) in subparagraph (A) (as so
designated)--
(I) in the first sentence, by
striking ``solely for distribution
within such State'' and inserting ``for
distribution''; and
(II) in the second sentence, by
striking ``If the Secretary'' and
inserting the following:
``(B) Designation of states.--
``(i) In general.--Except as provided under
clause (ii), if the Secretary'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B) (as so
designated)--
(I) in clause (i) (as so
designated)--
(aa) in the first sentence,
by striking ``wholly''; and
(bb) by striking ``State;
Provided, That if'' and
inserting the following:
``State.
``(ii) Exception.--If''; and
(II) in clause (ii) (as so
designated)--
(aa) in the first
sentence--
(AA) by striking
``such designation''
and inserting ``a
designation made under
clause (i)''; and
(BB) by striking
``he'' each place it
appears and inserting
``the Secretary''; and
(bb) in the second
sentence, by striking ``The
Secretary shall'' and inserting
the following:
``(C) Publication of designation.--The Secretary
shall'';
(iii) in subparagraph (C) (as so
designated)--
(I) in the first sentence--
(aa) by striking ``if
such''; and
(bb) by striking ``were''
after ``transactions''; and
(II) in the second sentence, by
striking ``Thereafter, upon request''
and inserting the following:
``(D) Revocation of designation.--On request'';
(iv) in subparagraph (D) (as so
designated)--
(I) in the first sentence, by
striking ``such designation'' and
inserting ``a designation made under
subparagraph (B)(i)''; and
(II) by striking ``title IV of this
Act: And provided further, That,
notwithstanding''; and inserting the
following: ``title IV.
``(E) Adulterated meat or meat food product.--
``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding''; and
(v) in subparagraph (E) (as so
designated)--
(I) in clause (i) (as so
designated)--
(aa) in the first
sentence--
(AA) by striking
``within such State'';
and
(BB) by striking
``section 301 of the
Act'' and inserting
``this section''; and
(bb) in the second
sentence, by striking ``If the
State'' and inserting the
following:
``(ii) Enforcement.--If the State''; and
(II) in clause (ii) (as so
designated), by striking ``as though
engaged in commerce'';
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``(2) The
provisions'' and inserting the following:
``(2) Exceptions to inspection.--The provisions'';
(D) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by striking ``(3) Whenever'' and
inserting the following:
``(3) Termination of designation.--If''; and
(ii) by striking ``he'' and inserting ``the
Secretary''; and
(E) in paragraph (4), by striking ``(4) The
Secretary'' and inserting the following:
``(4) Report.--The Secretary''; and
(5) in subsection (d), by striking ``(d) As used in'' and
inserting the following:
``(d) Definition of State.--In''.
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