(EMAILWIRE.COM, September 04, 2007 ) San Angelo, TX -- The U. S. House of Representatives has passed a farm bill with reforms in many areas, including one that will help level the playing field for small farm-to-finish enterprises, such as those run by emu farmers. The House approved farm bill would allow state inspected meats to be shipped in interstate commerce as are USDA inspected meats. The American Emu Association (AEA) has been supporting revision of the policy prohibiting interstate shipment of state inspected meats and poultry products since 1996. With the addition of ratites to the list of amenable species in 2000, it became even more important to the fledgling industry.

The 1967 Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and the 1968 Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) established the state federal cooperative inspection program which requires state inspection programs to be “at least equal to” the federal inspection program. Unfortunately, these laws also limit products receiving state inspection to distribution solely within that state. The states run the programs cooperatively with USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which provides 50 percent of the funds for operating them.

The American Emu Association understands food safety issues, but feels that the restriction is unwarranted. “Currently, "nonamenable” meats such as venison, elk, bear, pheasant, quail, rabbit or alligator regulated by the state inspection program can be shipped in interstate commerce without restriction,” stated Joylene Reavis, the AEA Agriculture Chair. “For foreign meats to come into the United States, their inspection program must meet U. S. federal standards, as do state inspection programs. The difference is, the imported meats can be shipped interstate but the state inspected meats cannot. The new bill would foster the participation of smaller state inspected establishments in food production and help them grow” states Reavis. On August 9th Reavis attended a Farm Bill roundtable discussion in Madison, Wisconsin and met with Senator Kohl and Wisconsin Ag Secretary, Rod Nilsestuen, to let them know that the emu industry supports "State Inspection equivalent to USDA."

The Senate is expected to produce a similar version of the farm bill this fall. According to USDA, there are over 5,000 emu farms in the United States. It is hoped, with Senate approval, these farm-to-finish operations will soon have a level playing field.

The American Emu Association is a non-profit trade association representing the emu industry. The emu industry is an alternative agricultural industry, dominated by the small farmer, who is devoted to humane and environmentally positive practices that will produce beneficial products for society. For more information about the American Emu Association (AEA) or the emu industry visit http://www.aea-emu.org or call 541-332-0675.

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