State Inspection Programs

Establishments have the option to apply for Federal or State inspection. States operate under a cooperative agreement with FSIS. States' program must enforce requirements "at least equal to" those imposed under the Federal Meat and Poultry Products Inspection Acts and the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1978. However, product produced under State Inspection is limited to intrastate commerce, unless a state opts into an additional cooperative program, the Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program.

Under an “at least equal to” cooperative agreement with FSIS, States may operate their own MPI programs if they meet and enforce requirements “at least equal to” those imposed under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, Poultry Products Inspection Act and Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1978. State-inspected meat and poultry products are limited to intrastate commerce only.

Requirements

States are key FSIS partners. Formal working relationships are reflected in Cooperative Agreements between FSIS and affected State agencies.

State Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) Programs are an integral part of the nation's food safety system. About 1,900 meat and poultry establishments are inspected under State MPI programs. All of these establishments are small or very small. State MPI programs are characterized as providing more personalized guidance to establishments in developing their food safety oriented operations. FSIS provides approximately $50 million dollars annually to support the 27 State MPI programs currently operating.

State MPI programs operate under a cooperative agreement with FSIS. Under the agreement, a State's program must enforce requirements "at least equal to" those imposed under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act. In States with inspection programs, establishments have the option to apply for Federal or State inspection. However, product produced under State inspection is limited to intrastate commerce. FSIS provides up to 50% of the State's operating funds, as well as training and other assistance. FSIS provides guidance to state MPI programs under these agreements.

Notes

California, and Colorado do not maintain State meat or poultry inspection programs. They do perform custom exempt reviews for FSIS under cooperative agreement. Custom exempt operators slaughter or process for the owners of the product and return the product to the owners for their personal use; custom exempt operators do not ship any product out. FSIS is responsible for periodic reviews of these operations.
Utah conducts egg products inspection under a cooperative agreement.

State Officials may email us with requests for updates or corrections to this list.

Related Information: A comprehensive listing of all state food regulatory officials is available from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO).

Contact Information for State Officials, by State
State	State MPI Contact Information	State MPI Program FedEx Address	State MPI URL Link
Alabama	Issac C. Barrett, Jr., DVM Director Meat & Poultry Inspection Program AL Department of Agriculture & Industries 1445 Federal Drive Montgomery, AL 36107 Phone: (334) 240-7210 Fax: (334) 240-7167 issac.barrett@fsis.usda.gov		Click here for website
Arizona	Mr. Rick Mann, Program Manager AZ Department of Agriculture AZ Meat & Poultry Inspection 1688 West Adams Phoenix, AZ 85007 Phone: (602) 542-6398 Fax: (602) 542-4194 rmann@azda.gov		Click here for website
California	Paula Batarseh, Branch Chief Meat, Poultry and Egg Safety Branch Phone: 916-900-5059 paula.batarseh@cdfa.ca.gov Dr. Fernando M. Umayam Jr., D.V.M. Northern Area, Meat & Poultry Unit fernando.umayan@cdfa.ca.gov Meat, Poultry and Egg Safety Branch Office: (916) 900-5056 Direct: (909) 730-0571	Maintaining CE program for the States	Click here for website
Colorado	Steve Blunt Program Administrator Meat/Egg Program Manager Colorado Department of Agriculture Phone: (303) 869-9098 Fax: (303) 466-2860 steve.blunt@state.co.us Sarah Musick Administrative Assistant Phone Number: (303) 869-9102 Fax: (303) 466-2860 sarah.musick@state.co.us		Click here for website
Delaware	Andrea Jackson, Administrator Food Products Inspection DE Department of Agriculture 2320 S DuPont Highway Dover, DE 19901 Phone: (302) 698-4545 Andrea.Jackson@delaware.gov		Click here for website
Georgia	Mr. Aaron Knighton, Director Meat Inspection Division GA Department of Agriculture 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Room 122 Atlanta, GA 30334-4201 Phone: (404) 656-3673 Fax: (404) 657-1357 Aaron.Knighton@agr.georgia.gov		Click here for website
Illinois	Dr. John O'Keefe, Bureau Chief Meat and Poultry Inspection Illinois Department of Agriculture 801 Sangamon Avenue P.O. Box 19281 Springfield, IL 62794-9281 Phone: (217) 622-1678 Fax: (217) 558-6033 john.okeefe@illinois.gov	Dr. John O'keefe, Bureau Chief John R. Block Building 801 E. Sangamon Ave. Springfield, IL 62702-9281	Click here for website
Indiana	Kerri L. Suhr, DVM Director, Meat and Poultry Inspection Division Indiana Board of Animal Health Discovery Hall, Suite 100 1202 East 38th Street Indianapolis, IN 46205 (317) 544-2406 1- 877-747-3038 Toll-free Fax (317) 974-2011 ksuhr@boah.in.go Renae Swiatkowski, DVM Deputy Director, Meat and Poultry Inspection Division Indiana Board of Animal Health Discovery Hall, Suite 100 1202 East 38th Street Indianapolis, IN 46205 (317) 544-2402 1- 877-747-3038 Toll-free Fax (317) 974-2011 rswiatkowski@boah.IN.gov		Click here for website
Iowa	Dr. Kathryn Polking, Bureau Chief Iowa Meat & Poultry Inspection Bureau Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Wallace State Office Building 502 East 9th St. Des Moines, IA 50319 Phone: (515) 281-5597 Fax: (515) 281-4819 Kathryn.Polking@Iowaagriculture.gov		Click here for website
Kansas	Tony George, Program Manager Meat and Poultry Inspection KS Department of Agriculture Division of Inspection 1320 Research Park Dr. Manhattan, KS 66502 Phone: (785) 250-6561 Phone: (785) 564-6773 Fax: (785) 564-6779 Tony.george@kda.ks.gov		Click here for website
Louisiana	Mr. Jim Jenkins, Meat Program Director LA Department of Agriculture & Forestry 5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 4003 Baton Rouge, LA 70806 Phone: (225) 922-1358 Fax: (225) 237-5908 jjenkins@ldaf.state.la.us Mr. Brian Miller, Meat Program Assistant Director LA Department of Agriculture & Forestry 5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 4003 Baton Rouge, LA 70806 Phone: (225) 922-1358 Fax: (225) 237-5908 bmiller@ldaf.state.la.us	Mr. Jim Jenkins, Meat Program Director LA Department of Agriculture & Forestry 5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 4003 Baton Rouge, LA 70806	Click here for website
Maine	Jennifer A. Eberly, DVM, MPH State Veterinarian – Meat and Poultry Inspection Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Division of Quality Assurance and Regulations 28 State House Station/32 Blossom Lane Augusta, ME 04333 Phone: (207) 287-7512 Fax: (207) 624-5037 Jennifer.eberly@maine.gov		Click here for website
Minnesota	Dr. Nicole Neeser, Director Dairy, Meat & Poultry Inspection MN Department of Agriculture 625 Robert Street North St. Paul, MN 55155-2538 Phone: (651) 201-6225 Fax: (651) 201-6116 Nicole.neeser@state.mn.us Levi Muhl, Program Manager Meat, Poultry & Egg Inspection MN Department of Agriculture 625 Robert Street North St. Paul, MN 55155-2538 Phone: (651) 201-6216 Fax: (651) 201-6116 levi.muhl@state.mn.us		Click here for website
Mississippi	Dr. Hope B Martin, Director Meat Inspection Division MS Department of Agriculture & Commerce 121 North Jefferson Street Jackson, MS 39201 Phone: (601) 359-1191 Fax: (601) 359-1175 hope@mdac.ms.gov	Dr. Hope B. Martin, Director Meat Inspection Division MS Department of Agriculture & Commerce 121 North Jefferson Street, Suite 323 Jackson, MS 39201	Click here for website
Missouri	Dr. Marin DeBauch, Program Director MO State Meat Inspection Program MO Department of Agriculture 1616 Missouri Blvd. Jefferson City, MO 65102-0630 Office: (573) 522-1242 Fax: (573) 881-5759 Marin.DeBauch@mda.mo.gov	Dr. Marin DeBauch, Program Director MO State Meat Inspection Program MO Department of Agriculture 1616 Missouri Blvd. Jefferson City, MO 65102-0630	Click here for website
Montana	Gary Hamel, Bureau Chief Meat Inspection MT Department of Livestock 301 North Roberts Street, 3rd Floor, Scott Hart Bldg P.O. Box 202001 Helena, MT 59620-2001 Phone: (406) 444-5293 Fax: (406) 444-4316 ghamel@mt.gov	Gary Hamel, Bureau Chief Meat Inspection MT Department of Livestock 301 North Roberts Scott-Hart Building Helena, MT 59620	Click here for website
North Carolina	Lisa Benton Agriculture Program Specialist NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 2 West Edenton Street 1001 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1001 Phone: (919) 707-3180 elizabeth.benton@usda.gov	Lisa Benton Meat and Poultry Inspection Division NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 2 West Edenton Street Raleigh, NC 27601	Click here for website
North Dakota	Dr. Andrea Grondahl, Director State Meat and Poultry Inspection ND Department of Agriculture Dept. 602 600 East Boulevard Avenue Bismark, ND 58505-0020 Phone: (701) 328-4754 Fax: (701) 328-4567 agrondah@nd.gov		Click here for website
Ohio	Ms. Dorothy Pelanda, Director Ohio Department of Agriculture 8995 East Main Street Bromfield Adm. Bldg., 3rd Floor Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 Phone: (614) 466-2732 Fax: (614) 466-6124 Dennis M Summers, DVM, Aipl. ACVMP Assistant State Veterinarian Acting Chief, Division of Meat Inspection Ohio Department of Agriculture 8995 East Main Street Bromfield Adm. Bldg., 3rd Floor Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 Phone: (614) 429-7129 dennis.summers@agri.ohio.gov Mr. Matthew Flenner, Agriculture Inspection Administrator Division of Meat Inspection Ohio Department of Agriculture 8995 East Main Street Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 Bromfield Adm. Bldg., 2nd Floor Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 Phone: (614) 728-6260 Matthew.Flenner@agri.ohio.gov		Click here for website
Oklahoma	Mr. Tommy Stephens Meat & Poultry Inspection Program Coordinator OK Department of Agriculture Food, & Forestry P.O. Box 528804 Oklahoma City, OK 73152-8804 Phone: (405) 522-6119 Fax: (405) 522-1060 Tommy.Stephens@ag.ok.gov	Mr. Tommy Stephens, Program Manager Meat & Poultry Inspection Program OK Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry 2800 N. Lincoln Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73105	Click here for website
South Carolina	James H. Hollis, DVM, MS, Director SC Meat-Poultry Inspection Department 500 Clemson Rd Columbia, SC 29229 Office: (803)788-8747 Fax: (803) 788-8114 james.hollis@usda.gov hollis@clemson.edu	James H. Hollis, Director SC Meat-Poultry Inspection Department 500 Clemson Road Columbia, SC 29229	Click here for website
South Dakota	Dr. Dustin Oedekoven, Interim Secretary of Agriculture South Dakota Department of Agriculture 523 E Capitol Avenue Pierre, SD 57501-3182 Phone: (605) 773-5425 Fax: (605) 773-5926 aibmail@state.sd.us Mendel Miller, DVM South Dakota Assistant State Veterinarian South Dakota Animal Industry Board, Meat Inspection 411 South Fort Street Pierre, South Dakota 57501 Phone: (605) 773-3321 Fax: (605) 773-5459 Mendel.miller@state.sd.us Christina Bakker Ph.D. Extension Meat Science Field Specialist Animal Science South Dakota State University Animal Science Complex 101, Box 2170 Brookings, SD 57007 Phone: (605) 688-5436		Click here for website
Texas	Dr. James Dillon, Director Meat Safety Assurance Section Department of State Health Services 8407 Wall Street Austin, TX 78754 Phone: (512) 834-6760 ext. 2545 Fax: (512) 834-6763 James.dillon@dshs.texas.gov Dr. Timmonty Stevens, Assistant Director Meat Safety Assurance Section Department of State Health Services 8407 Wall Street Austin, TX 78754 Phone: (512) 834-4556 Fax: (512) 834-6763 Timothy.Stevenson@dshs.texas.gov		Click here for website
Utah	Mr. Noel McSpadden, Program Manager Meat and Poultry Inspection Bureau 350 N. Redwood Road P.O. Box 146500 Salt Lake City, UT 84116-6500 Phone: (801) 982-2237 Fax: (385) 465-6026	Meat and Poultry Inspection Bureau 350 North Redwood Road Salt Lake City, Utah 84116-6500 (Corner of Redwood Road & North Star Drive)	Click here for website
Vermont	Mrs. Julie Boisvert, Chief of Meat Inspection Food Safety and Consumer Protection Division Meat Inspection Service VT Agency of Agriculture 116 State Street Montpelier, VT 05620-2901 Phone: (802) 828-2426 Fax: (802) 828-5983 Julie.Boisvert@vermont.gov		Click here for website
Virginia	JoAnn Connell, Program Manager Office of Meat and Poultry Services Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 4832 Tyreeanna Road Lynchburg Va. 24504 Phone: (540) 830-269 joann.connell@vdacs.virginia.gov		Click here for website
West Virginia	Quinton Jones, Asst. Director Meat & Poultry Inspection Bureau Animal Health Division WV Department of Agriculture 1900 Kanawha Blvd., East State Capitol Building Charleston, WV 25305-0179 Phone: (304) 558-2206 Fax: (304) 558-1882 Quinton.Jones@fsis.usda.gov qjones@wvda.us		Click here for website
Wisconsin	Mr. Paul R. Humphrey, Bureau Director Bureau of Meat and Poultry Businesses Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection P.O. Box 8911 Madison, WI 53708-8911 Phone: (608) 400-1847 paul.humphrey@wisconsin.gov	Mr. Paul Humphrey Acting Bureau Director Bureau of Meat and Poultry Businesses Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection 2811 Agriculture Drive Madison, WI 53718-6777	Click here for website
Wyoming	Justin Latham, Manager Consumer Health Services Wyoming Dept. of Agriculture 2219 Carey Avenue Cheyenne, WY 82002 Office: (307) 777-6587 Fax: (307) 777-6593 justin.latham@wyo.gov		Click here for web

Cooperative Interstate Shipping Program (CIS)

Find information about CIS, a program promotes the expansion of business opportunities for state-inspected meat and poultry establishments.

Learn More

States With and Without Inspection Programs

Find a list of the 27 states with inspection programs, and a list of those without.

View the Lists

Reviews of State Programs

FSIS conducts at least annual comprehensive reviews of State Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs and their requirements—read the comprehensive and individual reports here.

Read the Reports