I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2103
To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspec-
tion Act to provide for the eventual removal of intrastate distribution
restrictions on State inspected meat and poultry.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 26, 1997
Mr. THORNBERRY (for himself, Mr. STENHOLM, Mr. THUNE, Mr. COMBEST,
Mr. LIVINGSTON, and Mr. SESSIONS) 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 re-
moval of intrastate distribution restrictions on State in-
spected meat and poultry.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REMOVAL OF INTRASTATE DISTRIBUTION RE-
STRICTIONS ON STATE INSPECTED MEAT
AND POULTRY.
(a) FEDERAL MEAT INSPECTION ACT.—
(1) REMOVAL
OF
INTRASTATE
DISTRIBUTION
LIMITATION.—Section 301 of the Federal Meat In-
spection Act (21 U.S.C. 661) is amended—
(A) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub-
section (e); and
(B) by inserting after subsection (c) the
following new subsection:
‘‘(d) REMOVAL OF INTRASTATE DISTRIBUTION LIMI-
TATION.—
‘‘(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 pol-
icy:’’; and
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘The
Secretary is’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to sub-
section (d), the Secretary is’’.
(b) POULTRY PRODUCTS INSPECTION ACT.—
(1) REMOVAL
OF
INTRASTATE
DISTRIBUTION
LIMITATION.—Section 5 of the Poultry Products In-
spection Act (21 U.S.C. 454) is amended—
(A) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub-
section (e); and
(B) by inserting after subsection (c) the
following new subsection:
‘‘(d) REMOVAL OF INTRASTATE DISTRIBUTION LIMI-
TATION.—
‘‘(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 im-
poses ante mortem and post mortem inspection, reinspec-
tion, 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 pol-
icy:’’; and
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘The
Secretary is’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to sub-
section (d), the Secretary is’’.
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