The American Meat Freedom Act would allow meat and meat products inspected under state inspection programs to be shipped across state lines, rather than being limited to sales within the state where they were produced. Currently, small and mid-sized ranchers using state-approved inspection programs cannot sell their products in other states, even if those state programs meet federal standards. The bill aims to expand market access for smaller producers and increase competition in the meat processing industry while maintaining food safety by requiring that state inspection programs be equivalent to federal standards, establishments comply with state requirements, products be clearly labeled as state-inspected, and states submit to periodic audits by the Department of Agriculture. The Secretary of Agriculture must issue regulations to implement these changes within 90 days of the bill's enactment, and state inspections must have been approved by the federal government within the 36 months before any interstate shipment occurs.
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