This section creates exemptions from meat-inspection requirements for certain home slaughter, custom slaughter, and qualifying retail-type operations, and it lets some establishments receive voluntary state inspection.
§4215. Exemption; farmers, custom, retailers, restaurants, and similar retail type establishments A. The provisions of this Chapter requiring inspection of the slaughter of animals and the preparation of the carcasses, parts thereof, meat and meat food products at establishments conducting such operations shall not (1) apply to the slaughtering by any person of animals of his own raising, and the preparation by him and transportation in intrastate commerce of the carcasses, parts thereof, meat and meat food products of such animals exclusively for use by him and members of his household and his nonpaying guests and employees; nor (2) to the custom slaughter by any person, firm or corporation of cattle, sheep, swine, or goats delivered by the owner thereof for such slaughter, and the preparation by such slaughterer and transportation in intrastate commerce of the carcasses, parts thereof, meat and meat food products of such animals, exclusively for use in the household of such owner, by him and members of his household and his nonpaying guests and employees; provided, that such custom slaughterer does not engage in the business of buying or selling any carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat or meat food products of any cattle, sheep, swine, goats, or equines capable of use as human food. B. The provisions of this Chapter requiring inspection of the preparation of carcasses, parts thereof, meat, and meat food products shall not apply when all of the following apply: (1) The operations are of types traditionally and usually conducted at retail stores, restaurants, and similar retail type establishments. (2) The operations are conducted at a retail store, restaurant, or similar retail type establishment owned by the same person that operates the facility. For the purpose of this Section, a person or business shall be considered eligible by owning fifty-one percent or more of both the producing and receiving businesses. (3) The products are for sale in normal retail quantities, or are part of a normal retail service. (4) The products are sold or provided to consumers at such establishments. (5) The products are sold and transported directly to the consumer by the retail store, restaurant, or similar retail type establishment's employees or a common carrier, provided there is no intervening transfer or storage. C. The slaughter of animals and preparation of articles referred to in Paragraph (A)(2) and Subsection (B) of this Section shall be conducted in accordance with such sanitary conditions as the commissioner may, by regulations, prescribe. Violations of any such regulation is prohibited. D. The adulteration and misbranding provisions of this Chapter, other than the requirement of the inspection legend, shall apply to articles which are not required to be inspected under this Chapter. E.(1) An establishment that slaughters or otherwise prepares meat of bison, cervidae, other bovidae, camelidae and hybrids thereof, domestic rabbits, or other animals determined by the commissioner of agriculture by rule for human food purposes may receive voluntary state inspection if the establishment complies with this Chapter and the rules adopted under those sections for establishments that slaughter or otherwise prepare for food purposes other animals, and if the establishment complies with Paragraph (3) of this Subsection. (2) An establishment that slaughters or otherwise prepares the meat of pheasant, quail, partridge, peafowl, grouse, wild turkey, or other poultry determined by the commissioner of agriculture by rule may receive voluntary state inspection under conditions compliant with this Chapter and the rules adopted under those sections for establishments that slaughter or otherwise prepare for food purposes other poultry and if the establishment complies with Paragraph (3) of this Subsection. (3) An establishment that receives voluntary state inspection under Paragraph (1) or (2) of this Subsection shall pay the costs of the inspection at a rate and under terms established by rule of the commissioner of agriculture. Acts 1968, No. 376, §14; Acts 1985, No. 73, §1; Acts 1992, No. 56, §1; Acts 2015, No. 267, §1, eff. June 29, 2015; Acts 2016, No. 5, §1; Acts 2024, No. 33, §1, eff. May 13, 2024.