MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Gov. Scott Walker has authorized state agriculture officials to amend meat inspection rules and allow Wisconsin's specialty meat plants to sell their products across state lines for the first time.

Currently, only meat from plants inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture can be sold across state lines. Amending the state rules will incorporate new federal regulations and allow meat from state-inspected plants to be sold across the border.

The rule changes are subject to a public hearing and need final approval from the Legislature. Wisconsin has about 275 state-inspected meat plants and about 145 federally-inspected plants.

Larger meat producers have been able to ship across state lines for years. Their plants are reviewed by federal inspectors, unlike the smaller plants that are checked by state inspectors.