AVN Monitoring Desk
US Representative Randy Feenstra introduced the Increasing Small-Scale Poultry Processing Opportunities Act, a bill to amend the Poultry Products Inspection Act, which would permit facilities to conduct both regular slaughter and custom-exempt processing of poultry at the same location.
The proposed changes to the Act aim to offer more accessible processing options for Iowa’s poultry producers, who currently face the challenge of traveling long distances due to outdated regulations.
Rep. Feenstra says that this legislation would greatly benefit local farmers by expanding processing options, lowering costs, and supporting Iowa’s agricultural economy. He also underscored the importance of food security and the need to invest in rural communities and the food supply chain.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and representatives from the Iowa Turkey Federation have expressed their strong support for the bill, saying it would increase processing options, stimulate local markets, and enable consumers to buy locally raised poultry directly from farmers.
The bill is viewed as a crucial step toward modernizing poultry processing regulations and enhancing the state’s poultry industry.
