PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Two U.S. representatives are introducing legislation they say will make business easier for small farms by giving individual states more freedom about intrastate distribution of meat.
Representatives Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Chellie Pingree of Maine say the Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act would allow states to permit intrastate distribution of “custom-slaughtered” meat such as beef, pork and lamb. They say the bill is an effort to revive local meat processing.
Massie says federal regulations make it difficult for consumers to purchase food from local farmers. Pingree says current regulations result in farmers and ranchers sending their animals hundreds of miles away to slaughterhouses.
Massie and Pingree are both involved in grass-fed meat production. Massie is a Republican and Pingree is a Democrat.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
