Federal Cooperative Agreement Award Summary

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health received a $3.18 million Cooperative Agreement from the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) under the Cooperative Agreements with States for Intrastate Meat and Poultry Inspection program (CFDA 10.475) for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The award supports Indiana's operation of a state-level meat and poultry inspection program designed to ensure consumers have access to safe, wholesome, and properly labeled meat and poultry products produced and distributed within the state.

Under this cooperative agreement, the Board of Animal Health will conduct ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections, verify product safety and labeling compliance, and maintain comprehensive accounting records subject to federal audit. The program enables Indiana's small and mid-sized meat and poultry processors to operate under state inspection oversight that meets or exceeds federal standards, eliminating the need for separate federal inspection while maintaining consistent food safety protocols. Indiana's substantial funding reflects the state's significant meat and poultry production volume and inspection program scope. The FSIS will conduct a comprehensive audit every three years to validate that Indiana's inspection standards remain at least equal to federal requirements.