Bill Would Allow State-inspected Meat Sales Across State Lines

New legislation introduced in the House of Representatives would allow state-inspected meat sales across state lines through e-commerce. The bill was introduced last week by South Dakota Republican Representative Dusty Johnson and Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar(quay-are). The bill allows small producers and processors more options to directly market to consumers. The legislation, according to Johnson, "cuts through red tape" and allows sales of normal retail quantities of state-inspected meat online to consumers across state lines. The bill also allows new direct-to-consumer options for producers, processors and small meat markets, and maintains traceability of sales easily accessed in the event of a recall. The bill is supported by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Sheep Industry Association, and the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association. NCBA President Marty Smith says the bill "helps make it easier for the American cattle producer to meet the growing demand of the American consumer to purchase safe and delicious U.S. beef.”