Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Inspection Reform Act of 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Inspection and Labeling of Livestock, Poultry,

Seafood, and Their Products

Subtitle A: Inspection Requirements

Subtitle B: Labeling Requirements

Subtitle C: International Commerce

Subtitle D: Miscellaneous

Title II: Related Industries

Title III: Federal and State Cooperation

Title IV: Auxiliary Provisions

Title V: Public Education

Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions

Title VII: Repeal of Superseded Laws

Title VIII: Effective Date

Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Inspection Reform Act of 1996 - Transfers seafood inspection jurisdiction from the Food and Drug Administration to the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture (Department).

Title I: Inspection and Labeling of Livestock, Poultry, Seafood, and Their Products - Subtitle A: Inspection Requirements - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to provide for: (1) slaughtering facility ante- and post- mortem inspection and verification of livestock, poultry, and seafood; and (2) inspection and verification of processing facility meat, poultry, and seafood products. Authorizes facility self-inspection. Provides for facility sanitation and night inspections.

(Sec. 106) Sets forth prohibited and exempt activities (personal or custom slaughtering or processing).

(Sec. 108) Authorizes appropriate microbiological testing.

Subtitle B: Labeling Requirements - Requires receptacle, carcass, and product labeling, including derivation labeling where appropriate.

(Sec. 123) Sets forth prohibited acts of misbranding.

Subtitle C: International Commerce - Subjects imported meat, poultry, and seafood to domestic inspection and verification requirements or their equivalents. Provides for enforcement through inspection and sampling, or certification by the Secretary of foreign standards. Provides exceptions for: (1) Canada and Mexico under specified conditions; and (2) personal use.

(Sec. 132) Requires: (1) disease examination of all U.S. (live) export livestock, poultry, and seafood; and (2) review and certification of all U.S. exports of meat, poultry, and seafood carcasses and products.

Subtitle D: Miscellaneous - Establishes in the Department the Safe Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Inspection Advisory Panel.

(Sec. 145) Establishes criminal penalties for bribery or attempted bribery under this Act.

(Sec. 147) Authorizes the Secretary to require (pre-slaughter) source identification of livestock, poultry, and seafood.

(Sec. 148) Directs the Secretary to perform health-related monitoring of seafood growing areas and fishing grounds in certain Federal jurisdiction waters. Authorizes harvest restrictions or closure, including State waters, for public health reasons.

Title II: Related Industries - Prohibits inspection as provided for under title I for meat, poultry, or seafood products not intended for human consumption. Requires denaturation or other identification of such products prior to commercial distribution.

(Sec. 203) Provides for the registration and commercial regulation of persons who are involved in the trade of dead, dying, disabled, or diseased livestock, poultry, or seafood.

Title III: Federal and State Cooperation - Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) cooperate with State agencies to protect the public from adulterated and misbranded livestock, poultry, and seafood products; and (2) apply Federal inspection standards to a State that has not promulgated its own standards.

Permits a State with a qualifying (State) inspection program to distribute products in interstate commerce.

Title IV: Auxiliary Provisions - Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) inspection services; (2) administrative detention of carcasses and meat, poultry, and seafood products; (3) seizure and condemnation; (4) Federal and State jurisdiction; and (5) criminal acts and violations.

Title V: Public Education - Directs the Secretary to design and implement a national public education program on meat, poultry, and seafood products.

Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary to conduct related research programs.

(Sec. 603) Authorizes appropriations to carry out the provisions of this Act.

Title VII: Repeal of Superseded Laws - Repeals: (1) the Federal Meat Inspection Act; (2) the Poultry Products Inspection Act; and (3) specified provisions of other Federal law.

Makes conforming amendments to: (1) the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990; (2) the Consumer Product Safety Act; (3) the Toxic Substances Control Act; (4) the Endangered Species Act of 1973; (5) the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; and (6) other Federal law.

Title VIII: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date for amendments made by this Act.