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Beef produced and inspected in Nicaragua can be sold in Indiana. Beef produced in Ohio and inspected by the state department of agriculture cannot.

State-inspected venison, pheasant and quail can be sold across state lines but not poultry, pork or lamb.

A new federal bill hopes to remedy these discrepancies by allowing interstate sales of all state-inspected meat and poultry products.

Current law allows foreign countries to export meat to the United States as long as they meet U.S. Department of Agriculture standards. While state meat inspection programs must meet the same criteria, only federally inspected processors can sell their products in other states.

"We're very interested that this issue is receiving new attention from Congress," said Adam Sharp, OFBF director of national affairs.

A coalition supporting the legislation says the current law is outdated and restricts free markets. The group says that without change, growing concentration in the processing sector will hurt smaller farmers and ranchers.

Ohio Agriculture Director Fred Dailey said the bill would result in increased sales for Ohio's state inspected plants by 27 percent to 40 percent in the first year and an additional $56.5 million in economic output.

"This legislation will remove the handcuffs that have restrained our state inspected meat processors and free them to compete in the national market," he said.

Sharp said there are very few legislative days left before the November elections for Congress to take up the bill which is currently in the Senate agriculture committee.

"We encourage lawmakers to consider this bill as soon as possible," he said. "However, it will probably be an uphill battle to find the time to reach a vote."