FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: [email protected]
NMA RESPONDS TO COMMITTEE VOTE FOR NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING
OAKLAND, CA: June 28, 1995-- The House Appropriations Committee voted yesterday by a 26 to 15 margin in favor of the amendment submitted by Congressman Jim Walsh (R-NY) mandating the conversion of current notice and comment rulemaking for the proposed "Mega Reg" to Negotiated Rulemaking.
"We are pleased at the Committee's decision to support Congressman Walsh's amendment." says National Meat Association's Executive Director Rosemary Mucklow. "We believe that this will send a clear signal to the Department of Agriculture about the importance of involving all interested parties in the creation of new meat and poultry regulations; especially regulations of this magnitude and importance."
As stated in NMA's petition for negotiated rulemaking to Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman, submitted June 12, 1995, "Negotiated rulemaking will result in earlier, smoother implementation of a new rule because its interactive process will better permit all concerned parties to participate as solutions are crafted to the various problems that are identified."
NMA supports the use of HACCP and recognizes the need for new methods in determining the safety of meat and poultry. We hope that in partnership will all concerned parties a new proposal will be produced without delay that meets the needs and expectations of those involved in order to make food safer for consumers.
National Meat Association is a non-profit trade association for meat packers and processors, as well as equipment manufacturers and suppliers who provide services to the meat industry. The association, with over 600 members throughout the United States, includes membership in Canada and Mexico.
-30-