(a) The department is the state agency responsible for cooperating with the United States Secretary of Agriculture under Section 301, Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. Section 661), and Section 5, Federal Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. Section 454).
(b) The department shall cooperate with the secretary of agriculture in developing and administering the meat and poultry inspection program of this state under this chapter in a manner that will achieve the purposes of this chapter and federal law and that will ensure that the requirements will be at least equal to those imposed under Titles I and IV, Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. Sections 601 et seq. and 671 et seq.), and Sections 1-4, 6-10, and 12-22, Federal Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. Sections 451-453, 455-459, and 461-467d), not later than the dates prescribed by federal law.