To supply federal assistance to mississippi 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…

The Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service awarded a $2.254 million cooperative agreement to the Agriculture & Commerce Mississippi Department on October 1, 2025, under the Cooperative Agreements with States for Intrastate Meat and Poultry Inspection program (CFDA 10.475). The award funds Mississippi's operation of a state meat and poultry inspection program to ensure consumers receive safe, wholesome, and properly labeled meat and poultry products. Performance runs through September 30, 2026, with all work conducted in Mississippi.

The recipient operates the inspection program across Mississippi processing plants, conducting ante-mortem, post-mortem, and facility inspections at local meat and poultry processors. The cooperative agreement model allows Mississippi to maintain state control and regulatory flexibility while meeting federal standards, enabling small and mid-sized processors to operate under state inspection without requiring federal oversight. The state agency must maintain standards at least equal to federal requirements; FSIS performs audits every three years to validate this equivalency. Cooperative agreements under this program are awarded annually to states, contingent on Secretary approval and continued compliance with the "at least equal to" standard.

To supply federal assistance to mississippi 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.