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Twenty-eight
food and agriculture groups including the American Meat
Institute, the National Pork Producers Council, the National
Turkey Federation, the National Chicken Council and others
signed a letter to all members of Congress in opposition
to "user fees" proposed by USDA to pay for meat, poultry
and egg products inspection.
"These new food safety taxes will be charged directly to
the meat, poultry and egg products sector, which will be
forced to pass this additional cost onto tax-paying consumers,"
the group wrote. "Furthermore, this proposal to transform
government-funded food safety inspection into an additional
fee system provides less accountability for the government
to manage program costs, results or efficiencies."
The letter also noted that the food safety tax proposal
would also put meat, poultry and egg products at a competitive
disadvantage in the domestic and international marketplace.
"We know of no farm or industry organization that supports
imposing a tax to pay for meat, poultry and egg products
inspection. We urge Congress to continue to oppose proposals
to assess new user fees, either in whole or in part, to
fund federally mandated meat, poultry or egg products inspection,"
the letter concluded.
To view the letter, click
here .
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