Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns: USDA to host public meeting on animal-raising claims

TSCRA Daily News Update, Oct. 10, 2008

USDA to host public meeting on animal raising claims

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) will host a public meeting on Oct. 14 to discuss and review policies on the use of animal raising claims in the labeling of meat and poultry products.

FSIS evaluates animal raising claims by considering information on animal production practices submitted by companies as part of their label approval requests. However, recent events concerning labeling claims related to the use of antibiotics in the raising of poultry have led the Agency to question its ability to verify that labels of meat and poultry products that contain animal raising claims are truthful and not misleading.

Therefore, FSIS and AMS will solicit public input and review its policies on claims related to the use of antibiotics in poultry and on animal raising claims in general.

The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. and adjourn at 12:30 p.m. It will be held at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, 480 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C.

An agenda will be available for review on FSIS' Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/meetings_&_events/index.asp.