Press Releases
Meat Institute joins U.S.-led sustainable productivity growth coalition, submits Protein PACT to Food Systems Summit
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute today (Thursday) announced that it will join the U.S. government-led multistakeholder Coalition of Action on Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security and Resource Conservation to be launched by the Biden administration at the UN Food Systems Summit.
The Meat Institute also announced that more than 96 percent of comments received during a public consultation launched in July supported its draft sustainability framework and the Protein PACT for the People, Animals, and Climate of Tomorrow, which the Meat Institute has submitted to the United Nations Food Systems Summit (FSS) commitment hub.
The Meat Institute expects to announce in November ambitious, data-driven targets to publicly verify progress on the 100 metrics in its sustainability framework, which aims to:
North American Meat Institute to Secretary Vilsack: Scapegoating Industry Does Not Help Consumer
CONTACT: NAMI: Sarah Little (443) 440-0029
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 14, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today said the Secretary of Agriculture's transparent attempts to scapegoat the meat and poultry industry to shift blame for inflationary prices will not help consumers.
"The Administration cannot ignore the fundamental principles of supply and demand," said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. "Americans are experiencing firsthand what the Secretary refuses to acknowledge, the effects of COVID and lack of labor are hurting consumers, and nothing proposed by the Secretary of Agriculture on the structure of the meat and poultry industry will help families struggling to pay for groceries."
North American Meat Institute Applauds the Nomination of Elaine Trevino to be Chief Ag Negotiator at USTR
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute applauds President Joe Biden's nomination of Elaine Trevino to serve as the Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
"As the president of the Almond Alliance of California, Elaine Trevino has experience fighting for trade policies and agreements that are also important to the meat and poultry industry. Recently Elaine has been outspoken on the need to address the crisis at our ports and has worked closely with the Meat Institute to develop policies that promote U.S. agriculture trade, including trade in meat and poultry products," said Julie Anna Potts President and CEO of the Meat Institute. "If confirmed, she will be a strong advocate for all of U.S. agriculture."
The Chief Agricultural Negotiator is responsible for conducting and overseeing international negotiations related to trade in agricultural products.
North American Meat Institute Urges President Biden to Act on Unfair Ocean Carrier Practices
Announces Support for Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute), along with more than 70 agriculture associations, today called on President Joe Biden to address ocean carrier practices that are causing increased costs and delays for American businesses. To underscore the urgency of this crisis, and the need for immediate action from a broad cross-section of stakeholders, the organizations also delivered the letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers Cecilia Rouse, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Chair Dan Maffei.
North American Meat Institute Statement on Consumer Prices for Meat and Poultry Products
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute today issued the following statement about inflammatory statements regarding the meat and poultry industry and the price of consumer goods during a labor shortage and a global pandemic:
"As with almost every industry, meat and poultry packers and processors of all sizes have been, and continue to be, affected by the global pandemic and the inflationary trends that challenge the U.S. economy," said Mark Dopp, Chief Operating Officer for the North American Meat Institute. "American consumers of most goods and services are seeing higher costs, largely due to a persistent and widespread labor shortage. The meat and poultry industry is no different. Issuing inflammatory statements that ignore the fundamentals of how supply and demand affects markets accomplishes nothing. Meat and poultry markets are competitive and dynamic with no one sector of the industry consistently dominating the market at the expense of another."
North American Meat Institute Calls for Moratorium on Prop 12 Enforcement
CONTACT: NAMI: Sarah Little (443) 440-0029
For Immediate Release: Aug. 27, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC - With California's Proposition 12's (Prop 12) January 1, 2022, effective date for pork looming and the rules implementing the law nearly two years late and far from final, the North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today called for a moratorium on enforcement to allow those subject to the law time to comply.
North American Meat Institute Urges Massachusetts to Delay Enforcement of Animal Confinement Law
Proposed rule 19 months late; Producers need time to Comply
WASHINGTON, DC - With less than five months before the Commonwealth of Massachusetts intends to enforce its proposed Regulations Implementing the Act to Prevent Cruelty to Farm Animals (the Act), the North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute), the largest and oldest trade association for packers and processors of beef, pork, lamb, veal and turkey, has urged the Commonwealth to delay enforcement and allow time for the proposed rule to be made final so livestock producers and packer processors can understand the final rule and make any required changes to their operations.
Economists, Academics, Industry Agree: Supply, Demand, Labor, Economies of Scale Drive Beef and Cattle Markets
WASHINGTON, DC - Two Congressional committees today held hearings looking at beef and cattle markets where Members of Congress heard testimony challenging misguided rhetoric about beef and cattle markets. Economists, academics and market participants presented careful analysis confirming recent market behavior is due to supply and demand fundamentals related to labor shortages, drought, and the cattle herd size and is not due to structure of the market. Most suggested that before inserting itself into the market, government needs to consider the long-term nature of the cattle market cycle and said policies and investments should be sustainable and responsive to consumer demand.
The following quotes are from recent Congressional hearings and news media publications:
Experts Agree: Livestock Markets Not Broken; Affected by Supply and Demand
NAMI Submits Testimony to Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON, DC - With cattle futures reaching new multi-year highs this week, The North American Meat Institute today submitted testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee underscoring the supply and demand fundamentals of beef and livestock markets and opposing further government intervention that will result in unintended consequences.
"Industry experts, market participants and economists testifying before three different congressional committees in the past two months have found that beef and cattle markets have behaved predictably given supply and demand pressures," said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the North American Meat Institute. "These witnesses join the Meat Institute in maintaining the beef and cattle markets are dynamic, with recent challenges being due to labor shortages and the COVID pandemic rather than market structure."
Animal agriculture organizations launch ambitious new Protein PACT
July 19, 2021 (Washington, DC) - Twelve organizations representing farmers and companies who make the vast majority of America's meat, poultry, and dairy, as well as animal feed and ingredients, today (Monday) unveiled the Protein PACT for the People, Animals, and Climate of Tomorrow - the first joint initiative of its kind designed to accelerate momentum and verify progress toward global sustainable development goals across all animal protein sectors.
The Protein PACT has been submitted to the UN Food Systems Summit as a sustainability game changer, and sustainable livestock and poultry production will be featured in a side event at the upcoming Food Systems Summit ministerial in Rome on Tuesday, July 27.
North American Meat Institute Issues Statement on President Biden's Executive Order & USDA's Proposed Changes to Packers & Stockyards Rules
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute), the largest and oldest trade association for packers and processors of beef, pork, lamb, veal and turkey, today released the following statement regarding President Biden's Executive Order calling for government interventions in the meat and poultry markets:
North American Meat Institute Creates Industry-Wide Food Safety Equipment Design Principles
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute released new industry-wide "Food Safety Equipment Design Principles" for all equipment used in meat and poultry establishments to address food safety hazards.
"Collaboration from all aspects of sanitation, design, engineering and production contributed to the development of the Principles," said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. "They will serve as a valuable resource benefitting the entire industry as we continue innovation in food safety," said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts.
Equipment design is critical in reducing the risk of contamination of food products by pathogens and foreign material. Optimizing the design and performance criteria for equipment and related systems by establishing industry-wide recommendations included in the "Food Safety Equipment Design Principles" promotes principles intended to reduce contamination and associated recalls.
North American Meat Institute: Market Fundamentals Drive the Beef & Cattle Market
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute), the largest and oldest trade association for packers and processors of beef, pork, lamb, veal and turkey today said market fundamentals drive the beef and cattle market and additional government intervention will have unintended consequences for livestock producers, packers and consumers.
"Long time critics of the meat and poultry industry are again proposing additional regulations and shortsighted market interventions that do not consider the basic laws of supply and demand. Many of these proposals have already failed in practice or before the courts," said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. "The beef market is dynamic, with recent challenges due to labor shortages and the COVID pandemic rather than problems with market structure.
North American Meat Institute: Meat & Poultry Supply Chain Remains Resilient
WASHINGTON, DC - In response to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack's request for comments on efforts to improve supply chains for the production of agricultural commodities and food products, The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today said the meat and poultry food supply chain remains resilient despite extraordinary circumstances.
"The pandemic that began in 2020 and continues today may be the ultimate black swan event," said Meat Institute Senior Vice President for Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Mark Dopp. "But its occurrence does not automatically mean the system needs to be torn down and rebuilt."
The following are topics discussed in the remarks:
North American Meat Institute Urges Secretary Vilsack to Address Challenges at Ports
WASHINGTON, DC - With delays and congestion at U.S. ports hurting U.S. agriculture exports, including meat and poultry products, the North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today urged U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and the Congress to confront the crisis as part of efforts to improve and strengthen the food supply chain.
"As part of USDA's focus on ensuring America's food supply chain is resilient, diverse and secure, we urge Secretary Vilsack to help resolve persistent challenges at our ports," said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the Meat Institute.
North American Meat Institute Issues Statement on USDA Packer & Stockyards Proposals
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today provided the following statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) proposals regarding the Packers and Stockyards Act.
"In the past, these sorts of proposals have been opposed by many livestock producers and Congress. In fact, the concepts embodied in these proposals have been rejected by eight federal appellate courts. They were a bad idea in 2010, they were a bad idea in 2016, and they are a bad idea in 2021. Should these proposals be implemented, they will limit producers' ability to market their livestock the way they see fit and will lead to costly, specious lawsuits," said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the North American Meat Institute. "The Meat Institute will continue to oppose unnecessary and burdensome government intervention in livestock markets."
North American Meat Institute to Supreme Court: Prop 12 Not Beneficial to Consumers & Increases Sow Mortality
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (the Meat Institute) today said the State of California's Proposition 12 (Prop 12 or the law) provides no benefit to consumers and increases breeding sow mortality according to the State's own proposed rule.
"The recently proposed rule by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) admits there are no benefits to Californians as a result of Prop 12. CDFA admits deaths of breeding sows will increase. Both are unintentional consequences of a costly and unconstitutional law," said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the North American Meat Institute. "Our petition to challenge the law has the support of more than 20 states and we think it should be reviewed by the Supreme Court."
CDFA released the proposed rule, originally due in September of 2019, late last month.
The following are key findings in the notice published along with the proposed rule:
North American Meat Institute Provides Facts on Common Beef Market Myths
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today released the following document to clarify common misunderstandings about the complex and competitive beef market in the United States.
"The members of the Meat Institute and their livestock suppliers benefit from a fair and competitive market," said Meat Institute Vice President of Communications Sarah Little. "This document uses public sources to give an accurate picture of the dynamic beef market, especially given the COVID pandemic.
"In July 2020, USDA analyzed the effects of the 2019 Holcomb facility fire and the pandemic, finding no wrong-doing and confirming the disruption in the beef markets was due to devastating and unprecedented events.
