I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1617
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
APRIL 28, 1999
Mr. THORNBERRY (for himself, Mr. STENHOLM, Mrs. CUBIN, and Mr.
THUNE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee 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 Janu-
ary 25, 2000, the limitation in subsection (a)(1) that
restricts State inspected meat and meat food prod-
ucts 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 sub-
section (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 im-
poses mandatory ante mortem and post mortem in-
spection, 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 Janu-
ary 25, 2000, the limitation in subsection (a)(1) that
restricts State inspected poultry and poultry prod-
ucts 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 sub-
section (a)(1) with regard to a State if the Secretary
determines that the poultry product inspection agen-
cy for the State enforces a mandatory State poultry
product inspection law that imposes ante mortem
and post mortem inspection, reinspection, and sani-
tation requirements that are at least equal to those
under this Act, with respect to persons engaged in
the State in slaughtering poultry or processing poul-
try 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’’.
Æ