Meat Inspection Unaffected by US Budget Stalemate
US - Meat inspection in the US has continued as normal this week despite many government officials being laid off following the failure of the Senate and House of Representatives to agree a compromise on the US budget.
3 October 2013
2 minute read
By: While government officials in many organisations including the Department of Agriculture were sent home, contingency plans have allowed meat inspection to continue.
The contingency emergency document says that because meat inspection is not federally funded but funded by the industry inspection will continue.
The USDA guidelines state: “The agency performs reimbursable work for industry (non-federal partners) as authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946; the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), as amended; the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA), as amended; and the Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) as amended.
“None of these reimbursable activities are funded under an appropriation prior to reimbursement, and, therefore, are not affected.
“The agency will continue to offer those services to industry and will maintain the appropriate supervisory, administrative and technical support as necessary.”
