WASHINGTON, DC – The Meat Institute today announced the promotion of Bryan Burns to General Counsel.

“Members of the Meat Institute benefit from Bryan’s ongoing in-house leadership on legal and regulatory strategies for the industry combined with his considerable experience tackling the day-to-day issues as counsel for meat and poultry companies,” said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the Meat Institute.

About Bryan Burns

Bryan Burns has worked for the Meat Institute for two years as Vice President and Associate General Counsel. He serves as the staff liaison for the Worker Safety Committee, the Environmental Committee, and the Labor & Employment Committee. He has managed key regulatory issues including the ongoing EPA Effluent Limitations Guidelines, a number of new OSHA and Department of Labor regulations and has worked to provide education on child trafficking and identity fraud, and to develop best practices for members to follow in determining workforce eligibility.

As the Biden Administration proposed new rules under the Packers and Stockyards Act, Burns has taken a leading role in determining legal and regulatory strategy for the Meat Institute.

Burns has testified twice before Congress regarding the economic and regulatory state of the meat and poultry industry, including before the House Agriculture Committee, and regarding labor and immigration issues before a bipartisan working group of members of the House Agriculture Committee.

Prior to joining the Meat Institute staff, Burns was General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & Vice President of Risk Management and Environmental, Health and Safety at Bachoco OK Foods. In addition to being responsible for all legal and corporate governance matters, Burns led the company’s COVID strategy, worker safety, environmental, and sustainability efforts.

Prior to Bachoco OK Foods, Burns was employed at Tyson Foods where he was Senior Counsel for 15 years. Besides complex litigation in areas such as antitrust, environmental, and consumer class actions, and handling government agency investigations in a variety of subject matters, Burns worked on Packers and Stockyards Act issues.

About the Meat Institute

The Meat Institute represents the full community of people and companies who make the majority of meat American families rely on every day. The Meat Institute’s hands-on regulatory and technical expertise, proactive advocacy, unique convening power, collaboration within and beyond animal agriculture, and sector-leading continuous improvement initiatives drive relationships and resources that ensure meat continues to be a vital, trusted pillar of healthy diets and thriving communities for generations to come. To learn more, visit: MeatInstitute.org.