Understanding the myriad regulatory issues in the meat industry is tough even for an industry veteran. This week, the North American Meat Association (NAMA) is taking a step to put the information within its members’ reach.

The association, which represents more than 600 companies in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, has  a new web offering called Meat Experts that’s designed to be a quick resource for those in the industry to get the answers they need to tough regulatory questions.

The site and related app are the latest regulatory-focused effort by the meat association, which has assisted its members with information on rules and regulations since the 1940s. Six members of NAMA’s staff—including Executive Associate Director Ken Mastracchio—offer members insights on how to best label products, handle Freedom of Information Act requests, and use the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Public Health Information System.

“The goal is to build a knowledge base about meat inspection, food safety, and industry regulatory oversight based on incoming questions and the NAMA staff’s expertise,” the group said in a press release announcing the launch.

The association also offers a number of regulatory services to its industry members, including information-gathering, legal guidance, and 24-hour emergency services.

The free app is available for download for Android and iOS; a sample of the app is available on the Meat Experts website.

(Comstock/Thinkstock)