WASHINGTON — A group of US senators reintroduced the New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act, which is designed to allow businesses that are working with Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs to sell products across state lines.

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) noted in his proposal how state programs are limited to the state markets even though inspection at a state facility can meet or exceed federal inspection standards.

“Iowa produces some of the best meat and poultry in the world,” Grassley said. “High-quality Iowa products that have already passed a rigorous inspection process shouldn’t require additional inspection to sell across state lines. Our commonsense legislation would remove this regulatory overreach and provide consumers with more options at the meat counter.”

The legislation pointed out that 29 states have their own inspection programs.

The last time Grassley and others previously introduced a version of this bill was in 2023.

Additional cosponsors include Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Senators Angus King (I-Maine), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.).

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