Fiscal Commission Recommends User Fees For Meat Industry

The Co-Chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, established earlier this year to suggest actions to address the national debt, last week recommended that user fees be charged to meat and poultry processing facilities to finance food safety and inspection services. The Co-Chairs estimated the potential cost savings at $900 million.

AMI has long opposed user fees for meat and poultry inspection services, which are mandated by law.

“We continue to stand squarely with consumer organizations and labor unions in our opposition to meat and poultry inspection user fees,” said American Meat Institute President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle. “Meat inspection is a mandated federal program which benefits the public health and should be funded by the federal government.”

The recommendations of the Co-Chairs have to be reviewed and approved by 14 of the 18 members of the commission.

To view the Commission report, click here: http://bit.ly/aJ8oeH

Source: The American Meat Institute

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