The automatic budget cuts resulting from sequestration are scheduled to take effect on March 1.  USDA indicated the action could result in a furlough of meat and poultry inspectors for up to 15 days.  For plants to operate, an inspector must be present. 

P. Scott Shearer, Vice President

February 15, 2013

1 Min Read
Meat Inspectors Face Sequestration, Furloughs

The automatic budget cuts as a result of sequestration are scheduled to take effect on March 1.  USDA has indicated this action could result in a furlough of meat and poultry inspectors for up to 15 days.  For plants to operate, an inspector must be present.  USDA estimates that sequestration and furlough would affect over 6,000 establishments, nationwide, and cost over $10 billion in production losses. Industry workers stand to lose $400 million in wages.  A group of meat and poultry trade associations have written USDA stating their concerns with the possibility of furloughing USDA meat, poultry and egg products inspectors as a result of sequestration.   The groups said that furloughing Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) inspectors would be “inconsistent with the mandates of the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act and the Egg Products Inspection Act, which prohibit the production, processing or interstate distribution of meat, poultry and egg products without federal inspection.”  Those signing the letter included the Food Marketing Institute, Grocery Manufacturers Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Chicken Council, National Pork Producers Council, National Restaurant Association, National Turkey Federation, North American Meat Association and U.S. Meat Export Federation.  USDA has indicated that unless Congress acts to prevent sequestration, it has no choice but to furlough inspectors in order to stay within the budget Congress has given it.

About the Author(s)

P. Scott Shearer

Vice President, Bockorny Group, Inc.

Scott Shearer is vice president of the Bockorny Group Inc., a leading bipartisan government affairs consulting firm in Washington, D.C. With more than 30 years experience in government and corporate relations in state and national arenas, he is recognized as a leader in agricultural trade issues, having served as co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for U.S.-China Trade and co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for Trade Promotion Authority. Scott was instrumental in the passage of China Permanent Normal Trade Relations and TPA. He is past chairman of the USDA-USTR Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products and was a member of the USAID Food Security Advisory Committee. Prior to joining the Bockorny Group, Scott served as director of national relations for Farmland Industries Inc., as well as USDA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (1993-96), serving as liaison for the Secretary of Agriculture and the USDA to Congress.

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