AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) – Senators from Maine and South Dakota are reintroducing a proposal to allow meat and poultry products inspected by state programs to be sold across state lines.

Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine and Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota have characterized the law change as a way to help smaller, local meat producers be more competitive.

King says farmers who have demonstrated the quality of their meat through state programs “should not have to jump through extra hoops to expand into new markets.”