To supply federal assistance to ohio to operate a meat and poultry inspection program in order to assure the consumer an adequate supply of safe, wholesome, and properly labeled meat and poultry…

The Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service awarded the Ohio Department of Agriculture a $2.8 million cooperative agreement on October 1, 2025, to operate Ohio's state meat and poultry inspection program under the Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection program (CFDA 10.477). The award runs through September 30, 2026, with performance in Ohio.

The cooperative agreement funds the Ohio Department of Agriculture to conduct inspection and safety oversight of meat, poultry, and egg products produced in plants and shipped in commerce, ensuring products are safe, wholesome, and accurately labeled in compliance with federal requirements under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, Poultry Products Inspection Act, Egg Products Inspection Act, and Humane Slaughter Act. The state must maintain sanitation and operating standards at least equal to federal standards; FSIS audits the cooperator every three years to validate compliance.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture, headquartered in Reynoldsburg, operates its Animal Health, Food Safety, Feed & Fertilizer, Markets, and Farmland Division to deliver federal and state food safety services, including laboratory testing and regulatory programs. The recipient maintains accredited laboratory facilities in Reynoldsburg and Ames, Iowa, supporting pathogen detection and food safety analysis. The state receives over $11 million annually in cooperative agreement funding from USDA FSIS across multiple meat and poultry inspection awards.

To supply federal assistance to ohio to operate a meat and poultry inspection program in order to assure the consumer an adequate supply of safe, wholesome, and properly labeled meat and poultry products.