USDA Secretary Vilsack announced final voluntary USDA meat labeling rules and new local meat grants at National Farmers Union’s annual convention.
Vilsack says the rule won the support of thousands of stakeholders and consumers and will take effect later, while regulatory labeling guidance takes effect January 1, 2026.
“We are now on record as being for the utilization of that label only, only, when the animal is born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the U.S.”
The “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” label claim under the rule would not need to be pre-approved by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. But an establishment would have to keep documentation on file to support the claim.
Separately, Vilsack announced USDA will award $9.5 million in equipment grants to 42 projects through its Local Meat Capacity or MCap program
“The purpose of this program is to not only expand and diversify meat and poultry processing that are producer owned, but to create jobs in rural places, to create consumer choice, and also to create competition and resiliency.”
The Agricultural Marketing Service will make the grants with American Rescue Plan funds…the first set of awards going to projects in 27 states and Puerto Rico.
And AMS will take new steps to boost transparency and competition in the US seed industry through its Farmer Seed Liaison Initiative…and a nationwide Website Monitoring Program to review Seed Act brand and variety name compliance.
-NAFB