Congressman Collins Petitions USDA for Faster Poultry Line Speeds

Congressman Doug Collins sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on Monday urging him to consider implementing policies that would make U.S. poultry processing facilities more competitive in the global marketplace.

Currently, poultry producers in South America, Asia, Canada and Europe are operating at line speeds that outpace the maximum speeds allowed in American facilities. According to Collins, this brings a significant disadvantage to northeast Georgia’s poultry industry and America’s domestic production.

In the letter, Collins asks that Perdue consider reviewing the current line speed limitations for how many birds are processed per minute set by the New Poultry Inspection System.

Collins believes that with a higher volume of poultry production per shift, companies and consumers alike could save money.