To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection
Act to provide for the eventual removal of intrastate distribution restrictions
on State inspected meat... (Introduced in the House)
HR 1617 IH
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1617
To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection
Act to provide for the eventual removal of intrastate distribution restrictions
on State inspected meat and poultry.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 28, 1999
Mr. THORNBERRY (for himself, Mr. STENHOLM, Mrs. CUBIN, and Mr. THUNE) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
A BILL
To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection
Act to provide for the eventual removal of intrastate distribution restrictions
on State inspected meat and poultry.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REMOVAL OF INTRASTATE DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTIONS ON STATE INSPECTED
MEAT AND POULTRY.
(a) FEDERAL MEAT INSPECTION ACT-
(1) REMOVAL OF INTRASTATE DISTRIBUTION LIMITATION- Section 301 of the
Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 661) is amended--
(A) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
(B) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection:
`(d) REMOVAL OF INTRASTATE DISTRIBUTION LIMITATION-
`(1) PERMANENT REMOVAL- Effective January 25, 2000, the limitation
in subsection (a)(1) that restricts State inspected meat and meat food
products to intrastate distribution shall no longer apply.
`(2) EARLY WAIVER AUTHORITY- Before the date specified in paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall waive the intrastate distribution limitation in
subsection (a)(1) with regard to a State if the Secretary determines that
the meat inspection agency for the State enforces a State meat inspection
law that imposes mandatory ante mortem and post mortem inspection, reinspection,
and sanitation requirements that are at least equal to those under title
I and IV of this Act, with respect to persons engaged in the State in slaughtering
cattle, sheep, swine, goats, or equines, or preparing the carcasses, parts
thereof, meat or meat food products, of any such animals for use as human
food.'.
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS- Subsection (a) of such section is amended--
(A) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking `this policy--'
and inserting `this policy:'; and
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking `The Secretary is' and inserting
`Subject to subsection (d), the Secretary is'.
(b) POULTRY PRODUCTS INSPECTION ACT-
(1) REMOVAL OF INTRASTATE DISTRIBUTION LIMITATION- Section 5 of the
Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 454) is amended--
(A) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
(B) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection:
`(d) REMOVAL OF INTRASTATE DISTRIBUTION LIMITATION-
`(1) PERMANENT REMOVAL- Effective January 25, 2000, the limitation
in subsection (a)(1) that restricts State inspected poultry and poultry
products to intrastate distribution shall no longer apply.
`(2) EARLY WAIVER AUTHORITY- Before the date specified in paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall waive the intrastate distribution limitation in
subsection (a)(1) with regard to a State if the Secretary determines that
the poultry product inspection agency for the State enforces a mandatory
State poultry product inspection law that imposes ante mortem and post
mortem inspection, reinspection, and sanitation requirements that are at
least equal to those under this Act, with respect to persons engaged in
the State in slaughtering poultry or processing poultry products for use
as human food.'.
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS- Subsection (a) of such section is amended--
(A) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking `this policy--'
and inserting `this policy:'; and
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking `The Secretary is' and inserting
`Subject to subsection (d), the Secretary is'.