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USDA Issues Statement on Meat, Poultry Processing Facilities
WASHINGTON, April 29 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following statement by Secretary Sonny Perdue after President Trump signed an Executive Order to keep meat and poultry processing facilities open during the COVID-19 national emergency:
“I thank President Trump for signing this executive order and recognizing the importance of keeping our food supply chain safe, secure, and plentiful. Our nation's meat and poultry processing facilities play an integral role in the continuity of our food supply chain.
“Maintaining the health and safety of these heroic employees in order to ensure that these critical facilities can continue operating is paramount. I also want to thank the companies who are doing their best to keep their workforce safe as well as keeping our food supply sustained.
“USDA will continue to work with its partners across the federal government to ensure employee safety to maintain this essential industry.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is asking its meat inspector employees to obtain protective gear for themselves — despite a national shortage — after an employee died from the novel coronavirus https://t.co/drVvkRCDg6
— Axios (@axios) April 23, 2020
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the Department of Labor have put out guidance for plants to implement to help ensure employee safety to reopen plants or to continue to operate those still open.
Under the Executive Order and the authority of the Defense Production Act, USDA will work with meat processing to affirm they will operate in accordance with the CDC and OSHA guidance, and then work with state and local officials to ensure that these plants are allowed to operate to produce the meat protein that Americans need. USDA will continue to work with the CDC, OSHA, FDA, and state and local officials to ensure that facilities implementing this guidance to keep employees safe can continue operating.
Additional information and details will be released soon.
© 2020 Targeted News Service
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