AMI Opposes Meat Inspection Fees

WASHINGTON - Feb 8/05 - SNS -- The 2006 fiscal budget for the United States contains proposals to charge "user fees" for USDA meat inspection services.

The concept is opposed by the American Meat Institute (AMI), which describes it as a "food safety tax.

"Meat and poultry inspection programs are a public health function, as evidenced by federal laws mandating and funding these programs for nearly a century," the AMI said in a press statement.

"By implying that these are 'user fees' one would be ignoring the fact that consumers, who already fund inspection programs through federal taxes, would bear the cost, along with farmers and meat, poultry and egg processors, through higher costs and slowed production."

The group said, "This additional tax proposal comes at a time when farmers, producers and processors are still feeling the impact of rising production costs and unpredictable export markets. Further, meat and poultry products would be subject to a competitive disadvantage in the marketplace, compared with other food products that would not be subject to such a tax.

"We know of no consumer, farm, labor or industry organization that supports imposing a tax to pay for meat, poultry and egg products inspection. We are hopeful that history will repeat itself, and that this user fee proposal will be rejected."