Maine consumers enjoy some of the safest, freshest products in the world, with locally raised meat and poultry slaughtered in state-inspected facilities. The regulatory programs of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources play a critical role in assuring that our food supply is safe, wholesome, unadulterated and properly labeled.

Our state-inspected, locally produced meats are some of the best, highest quality products available. The farms and slaughter plants are small, family-owned businesses. They offer popular products such as sausages, beef jerky, chicken, beef and goat.

The Maine Red Meat and Poultry Inspection Program started a little more than six years ago. Our objective is to assist Maine’s small- and medium-size meat and poultry processors, to build on the success of the current industry, and to promote additional business.

Maine farmers generated about $126 million in cash receipts last year from livestock and poultry operations. Right now, seven facilities are under state inspection, five are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and 14 are small, custom-exempt plants. Last year, state-inspected plants processed more than 1,600 animals, amounting to nearly 600,000 pounds of product. This value-added sector of Maine agriculture constitutes only a portion of the industry. However, it is experiencing strong growth, and it will continue to provide opportunities to an increasing number of farmers across Maine.

Domestically, only meat slaughtered in plants with USDA inspection can be shipped across state lines. An outdated federal law prohibits the sale of state-inspected products (beef, poultry, pork, lamb and goat) across state lines – even though these products must meet or exceed federal inspection standards. Ironically, meat and poultry products from 38 foreign countries can be freely shipped and sold anywhere in the United States. Imports of meat and poultry have increased significantly in recent years, amounting to more than 4.3 billion pounds in 2005. Currently, imported meat products comprise 20 percent of the red meat consumed in our country – more than double that of state-inspected meat.

There are many reasons why the restriction on interstate meat sales doesn’t make sense. No other food commodities inspected by state authorities are prohibited from being shipped across state lines. Other state-inspected food products including perishable items such as milk, cheese, fish, and shellfish, are marketed freely across the country.

Lawmakers in Washington have studied the issue of interstate meat sales for more than a decade. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation to deal with this issue. Similar legislation, with bipartisan support, has been introduced in the U.S. Senate. This legislation would amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to provide for the interstate shipment of meat that is inspected by state agencies. It would level the economic playing field for small producers across the country and allow them the same access to domestic markets currently enjoyed by companies from 38 foreign countries.

It is time for Congress to act. American consumers deserve greater access to safe, nutritious local products from state-inspected meat and poultry processors. Maine’s livestock producers, processors and small businesses deserve to compete in the national marketplace. It’s only common sense, and it’s surely the right thing to do.

Seth H. Bradstreet III is the commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources.