S. 1496: New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act of 2025

• State-inspected poultry can be shipped and sold in other states.
• Like with meat, states are not allowed to impose restrictions on the sale of poultry products that have been inspected and approved for interstate commerce.

3. State Programs and Regulations

Under the proposed law, the Secretary of Agriculture would have the authority to allow interstate shipments of state-inspected products. This change emphasizes the approval from state meat and poultry inspection programs while ensuring that federal regulations are upheld. Key points include:

• The Secretary's discretion to ensure safety and compliance with federal standards.
• Providing clearer guidelines on how states can set up their inspection programs while integrating with federal rules.

4. Certain Provisions Remain Applicable

While the bill facilitates the interstate sale of state-inspected products, it maintains that inspections must meet federal standards. Some responsibilities include:

• The Secretary of Agriculture is tasked with ensuring that state programs are effective and compliant.
• A requirement for reporting and documentation to ensure transparency and safety in the inspection process.

5. Definition of State

The bill includes amendments to the definitions used in the context of state inspections, likely to clarify the roles of different state agencies in the inspection process.

Relevant Companies

• TSN (Tyson Foods, Inc.): As a major processor of chicken and beef products, Tyson could see increased competition from state-inspected products being sold across state lines.
• PPC (Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation): This poultry producer might be affected by changes in market dynamics due to the introduction of state-inspected poultry products being allowed in their markets.
• HRL (Hormel Foods Corporation): Hormel could potentially face more competition from state-inspected meats, which may alter its market share in certain regions.