South Dakota joins multi-state meat shipping agreement

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - South Dakota is joining several other states in an agreement allowing certain state-inspected meat processors to ship their meat across state lines.

A total of nine states, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Safety Inspection Service, have entered into the Cooperative Interstate Shipping agreement, or CIS, Gov. Kristi Noem announced Thursday.

Officials say the agreement will open new market opportunities for South Dakota producers and increase diversity in the nation’s food supply chain.

“For too long, meat producers have been shortchanged due to anticompetitive practices in the meatpacking industry,” Noem said. “These new opportunities will expand their options and allow them to ship South Dakota meat across state lines.”

According to a news release from Noem’s office, the CIS allows state-inspected facilities to operate as federally inspected facilities, under specific conditions, and ship products across state lines. Without the CIS, a state-inspected facility is limited to sales within its own borders.

“The Animal Industry Broad is excited to help bring CIS to South Dakota,” said State Veterinarian Dusty Oedekoven. “Our meat processors and producers need options, and CIS gives them another pathway for getting South Dakota products to market.”

The eight other states participating in the CIS include Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

Processors interested in the CIS program can contact the Animal Industry Board at 605-773-3321 or visit https://aib.sd.gov/.