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Committee recommends adopting latest federal meat-inspection rules into state law
Summary
House Bill 1085, which updates North Dakota statute to adopt the most recent federal meat inspection regulations, earned a unanimous Do Pass recommendation. The update includes an appeal process for facilities affected by inspector actions and some poultry-parameter updates that the state said do not affect current operations.
The House Agriculture Committee voted unanimously to recommend Do Pass on House Bill 1085, a bill to adopt the most recent federal meat inspection regulations into state law.
Todd Erickson, meat inspection manager for the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, testified in support and said adopting the most current federal rules is the most effective way for the state program to maintain an "equal to" status under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, which allows states to operate inspection programs that match federal standards. Erickson noted the updated federal regulations include an appeal process that gives a facility 30 days to appeal an adverse action or inspector decision.
Erickson also said some of the recent federal updates revise poultry parameters, but North Dakota currently has no official poultry slaughter facilities under its state program so those changes do not apply to current in-state operations. The committee approved the bill on a roll-call vote and assigned a bill carrier for floor action.
Supporters said the change ensures state regulations track federal standards and maintains the ability of the state program to operate under a federally equivalent inspection framework.
