Poster
09-16-2003, 04:32 PM
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is backing a new initiative to market and regulate the sale of reindeer meat. The state says that their inspection sites are modeled after USDA facilities, that test the quality and safety of other meats.
“Without inspection, reindeer meat cannot be sold to restaurants and other national distributors, and may only be distributed locally under certain circumstances prescribed by state statute.”
Reindeer meat processors are hoping the EPA will relax federal inspection fees and meat prices. Once that happens they can focus on expanding marketing and increased production. Processors are also pleased that USDA backed inspections will encourage consumers to buy reindeer. The only difficulty now will be getting the fed to change its stance on the domestication of the wild animals.
“State wildlife officials have long opposed the idea of allowing the general public to domesticate endemic wild animals in Alaska. And at least three bills allowing wildlife farming have been shot down by lawmakers in Juneau. Williams acknowledges that his dream of the Great Alaska Caribou Drive could be unattainable.”
To learn more go to: http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/091503/loc_20030915002.shtml
“Without inspection, reindeer meat cannot be sold to restaurants and other national distributors, and may only be distributed locally under certain circumstances prescribed by state statute.”
Reindeer meat processors are hoping the EPA will relax federal inspection fees and meat prices. Once that happens they can focus on expanding marketing and increased production. Processors are also pleased that USDA backed inspections will encourage consumers to buy reindeer. The only difficulty now will be getting the fed to change its stance on the domestication of the wild animals.
“State wildlife officials have long opposed the idea of allowing the general public to domesticate endemic wild animals in Alaska. And at least three bills allowing wildlife farming have been shot down by lawmakers in Juneau. Williams acknowledges that his dream of the Great Alaska Caribou Drive could be unattainable.”
To learn more go to: http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/091503/loc_20030915002.shtml