To supply federal assistance to alabama 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 a Cooperative Agreement to the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries on October 1, 2025, totaling $3.038 million to operate Alabama's meat and poultry inspection program through September 30, 2026. The award funds inspection activities under CFDA 10.477 (Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products Inspection), ensuring that meat, poultry, and egg products produced in Alabama plants and shipped in commerce are safe, wholesome, and accurately labeled in compliance with the Federal Meat Inspection Act, Poultry Products Inspection Act, Egg Products Inspection Act, and Humane Slaughter Act. The program protects public health by enforcing federal food safety standards and proper labeling requirements for products entering interstate and international commerce.

Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries, a state government entity, operates as the recipient. Work is performed in Alabama. The cooperative agreement is a renewal conditioned on the recipient's maintenance of required standards; the program authorizes annual renewal offers pending Secretarial approval. FSIS will conduct an audit every three years to validate that the recipient maintains an "at least equal to" inspection program meeting federal standards. Eligibility is limited to state agencies maintaining programs certified as at least equal to federal requirements under CFDA 10.475.

To supply federal assistance to alabama 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.