Sponsors (10)
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Adds a narrow federal exemption to allow slaughter and preparation of meat at custom slaughter facilities when those operations comply with State law (State includes territories) and the meat is distributed only within that State. Also makes clear the change does not override or preempt State laws governing custom slaughter or sale of meat and meat food products.
Redesignate existing subsections (b), (c), and (d) of Section 23 as subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively.
Defines the term 'State' to mean any State or territory for purposes of the new subsection.
Creates an exemption from the Act’s inspection requirements for slaughtering by any person at a custom slaughter facility and for preparation and transportation in commerce of the carcasses, parts, meat, and meat food products of those animals, when specified conditions are met.
Condition (A): The slaughtering and preparation at the custom slaughter facility must be carried out in accordance with the law of the State in which the custom slaughter facility is located.
Condition (B) — general: The animals must be slaughtered and the carcasses, parts, meat, and meat food products must be prepared exclusively for distribution as specified in (i) and (ii).
Who is affected and how:
Small farm operators and custom slaughter facility owners/operators: Most directly affected. They may be able to conduct slaughter and preparation under State rules without triggering certain federal slaughter/preparation requirements, so long as distribution is limited to within the State. This can lower cost and regulatory burden for intrastate sales and custom-processing customers.
Farmers and livestock producers selling to local markets: May gain greater access to local processing and more flexibility to sell meat products within the State, potentially improving economic viability for small producers.
State governments and state food/agricultural regulators: Their role is reinforced; States must have and enforce laws governing custom slaughter if the exemption is to apply. The legislation preserves State authority and may increase the regulatory responsibilities of State agencies if more intrastate activity shifts to custom slaughter facilities.
Consumers buying meat within the State: Could see more availability of locally processed meat and potentially lower prices; however, protections and inspection standards will depend on State law and enforcement, creating variation in food-safety oversight across States.
Federal food-safety agencies: Limited direct effect because the exemption applies only for intrastate distribution and preserves State law; federal enforcement and inspection responsibilities for interstate commerce remain unchanged.
Overall effect: a narrow deregulatory change for intrastate custom slaughter that aims to help small producers and local markets while explicitly leaving State regulatory authority intact. Potential benefits are economic and market access for small operators; potential risks are variability in inspection/food-safety standards across States since the exemption relies on State-level compliance and enforcement.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced July 23, 2025 by Angus Stanley King · Last progress July 23, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced in Senate