Rejection of User Fees Urged

February 25, 2005 -- Thirty organizations, including the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), are urging members of both the U.S. House and Senate to oppose the Administration?s request to assess ?user fees? for federally mandated meat, poultry or egg inspections.

In its FY 2006 budget submission to Congress, the Administration requested the introduction of user fees for meat, poultry and egg inspections for time logged above the normal eight-hour shift. This move would implement a tax on consumers, livestock producers and the processing industries. A proposal to end direct government payment for food-safety inspections would be the first step in the deterioration of a program that is currently effective and has strong public confidence.

 ?Past attempts to impose ?user fees? have been unsuccessful and ASI joins the other associations in asking Congress to once again reject this assessment,? stated ASI Executive Director Peter Orwick.

Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33