Meat and Poultry Handler RequirementsMeat and Poultry Handler Requirements

Dr. Martha Styles

Unless you operate under State or Unless you operate under State or

Federal Inspection, you are Federal Inspection, you are

required by law to register with the required by law to register with the

NCDA & CS, Meat and Poultry NCDA & CS, Meat and Poultry

Inspection Division if you deal in Inspection Division if you deal in

meat or poultry products in or for meat or poultry products in or for

commercecommerce..

RequirementsRequirements

�� Animals have to be slaughtered and Animals have to be slaughtered and

processed under State or Federal processed under State or Federal

Inspection.Inspection.

�� Registered Meat and Poultry Handlers may Registered Meat and Poultry Handlers may

not further process any meat or poultry not further process any meat or poultry

items, which includes opening packages items, which includes opening packages

and handling exposed product, reand handling exposed product, re--labeling labeling

product, applying a net weight, or product, applying a net weight, or

repackaging product.repackaging product.

USDA vs. NCDA Meat InspectionUSDA vs. NCDA Meat Inspection

�� NCDA and USDA inspected slaughter and NCDA and USDA inspected slaughter and processing plants follow the same processing plants follow the same regulations to ensure that meat and poultry regulations to ensure that meat and poultry products are wholesome and safe for products are wholesome and safe for human consumption.human consumption.

�� NCDA inspected meat and poultry NCDA inspected meat and poultry products can only be sold within the State.products can only be sold within the State.

�� USDA inspected meat and poultry USDA inspected meat and poultry products can be sold across state lines, by products can be sold across state lines, by mail and online.mail and online.

State Inspection Legend with DimensionsState Inspection Legend with Dimensions

USDA Meat Inspection LegendUSDA Meat Inspection Legend

USDA Poultry LegendUSDA Poultry Legend

““Custom SlaughterCustom Slaughter”” Facility (1)Facility (1)

��No federal or state inspector on duty; No federal or state inspector on duty;

therefore the meats from these therefore the meats from these

facilities are not considered inspected facilities are not considered inspected

meats.meats.

�� Inspected for sanitation, but the Inspected for sanitation, but the

animals are not inspected for disease animals are not inspected for disease

or other abnormalities.or other abnormalities.

““Custom SlaughterCustom Slaughter”” Facility (2)Facility (2)

�� Facility is used by people who want an Facility is used by people who want an animal slaughtered or processed for animal slaughtered or processed for personal use. personal use.

�� Product is labeled Product is labeled ““Not For SaleNot For Sale””..

�� Product cannot be sold to the general Product cannot be sold to the general public.public.

OnOn--farm Animal Slaughter & farm Animal Slaughter &

Processing (1)Processing (1)

��Can slaughter animals of your own Can slaughter animals of your own

raising on your farm as long as the raising on your farm as long as the

meat is for your personal use.meat is for your personal use.

��Cannot sell the meat from animals you Cannot sell the meat from animals you

have slaughtered on your farm.have slaughtered on your farm.

��Allowable exemptions for slaughtering Allowable exemptions for slaughtering

chickens and rabbits on your farm.chickens and rabbits on your farm.

OnOn--farm Animal Slaughter & farm Animal Slaughter &

Processing (2)Processing (2)

��Cannot sell a live animal to a customer Cannot sell a live animal to a customer

and slaughter and slaughter ““their animaltheir animal”” on your on your

farm.farm.

��Cannot sell a live animal to a customer Cannot sell a live animal to a customer

and allow customer to slaughter the and allow customer to slaughter the

animal on your farm.animal on your farm.

Poultry/Rabbit ExemptionPoultry/Rabbit Exemption

�� For chickens/rabbits of For chickens/rabbits of oneone’’s own raisings own raising: :

��May slaughter up to 1,000 per year May slaughter up to 1,000 per year

without any inspection; without any inspection;

�� If slaughter more than 1,000 but less If slaughter more than 1,000 but less

than 20,000, must do so in a facility than 20,000, must do so in a facility

inspected for sanitation; inspected for sanitation;

�� If slaughter over 20,000, must be fully If slaughter over 20,000, must be fully

inspected by NCDA or USDA.inspected by NCDA or USDA.

�� Exemption also applies to Turkeys. Exemption also applies to Turkeys.

Questions to ask an Inspected Questions to ask an Inspected

Facility (1)Facility (1)

�� Is facility willing to slaughter and process Is facility willing to slaughter and process the animal under inspection oversight?the animal under inspection oversight?

��Can I develop my own label? If so, How?Can I develop my own label? If so, How?

��How are the animals handled?How are the animals handled?

��What part of the animal do I get to keep?What part of the animal do I get to keep?

Questions to ask an Inspected Questions to ask an Inspected

Facility (2)Facility (2)

��Can the facility label each individual Can the facility label each individual package for resale?package for resale?

��How are the meats packaged?How are the meats packaged?

��How long do you allow a beef to age How long do you allow a beef to age or hang?or hang?

��What is the kill fee? Packaging fee?What is the kill fee? Packaging fee?

Proper Meat and Poultry Labeling (1)Proper Meat and Poultry Labeling (1)

��Each individual package must be Each individual package must be labeled with the product name, labeled with the product name, including the species (e.g. lamb, beef, including the species (e.g. lamb, beef, pork, etc.).pork, etc.).

�� Ingredients must be listed.Ingredients must be listed.

�� Safe handling instructions are required Safe handling instructions are required to be on the package and to be on the package and ““Keep Keep refrigerated or Frozenrefrigerated or Frozen”” is required on is required on the label.the label.

Proper Meat and Poultry Labeling (2)Proper Meat and Poultry Labeling (2)

�� Mark of inspection (NCDA or USDA)Mark of inspection (NCDA or USDA)

�� Net weight on each package. Cannot be Net weight on each package. Cannot be applied by Meat Handler.applied by Meat Handler.

�� Name and address of the processing plant Name and address of the processing plant or if the name and address are other than or if the name and address are other than the producer, it must be qualified by a the producer, it must be qualified by a statement identifying the person or firm statement identifying the person or firm associated with the product (e.g. associated with the product (e.g. ““Packed Packed for __________for __________”” or Distributed or Distributed by_______________by_______________””..

Can I have the product labeled with a Can I have the product labeled with a

claim?claim?

�� Claims (Such as: raised without antibiotics, Claims (Such as: raised without antibiotics,

no added hormones, free range, grass feed, no added hormones, free range, grass feed,

100% Angus Beef, etc.) may 100% Angus Beef, etc.) may notnot be applied be applied

to the product label to the product label unless approval is unless approval is

grantedgranted to the Inspected Establishment to the Inspected Establishment

producing the product by the USDA Label producing the product by the USDA Label

Policy Branch in Washington, DC or the Policy Branch in Washington, DC or the

NCDA & CS, Meat and Poultry Inspection NCDA & CS, Meat and Poultry Inspection

Division.Division.

Storage of ProductStorage of Product

�� Dedicated household chest type freezers, Dedicated household chest type freezers,

cannot mix personal use items with inspected cannot mix personal use items with inspected

product.product.

�� Approved offApproved off--site storage facilities.site storage facilities.

�� Commercial type freezers.Commercial type freezers.

�� Product must not be exposed to any Product must not be exposed to any

conditions such as leaks, condensation, conditions such as leaks, condensation,

rodent/pest problems, poor sanitation or rodent/pest problems, poor sanitation or

housekeeping, etc. that could cause housekeeping, etc. that could cause

adulteration of the product during storage.adulteration of the product during storage.

Transporting ProductTransporting Product

�� Refrigerated trucks, chest type freezers or Refrigerated trucks, chest type freezers or

chest coolers with alternative cooling such as chest coolers with alternative cooling such as

ice packs, dry ice or inverters.ice packs, dry ice or inverters.

�� Freezers, coolers and transport vehicles must Freezers, coolers and transport vehicles must

be clean.be clean.

�� All meat and poultry products must be All meat and poultry products must be

transported under conditions which will not transported under conditions which will not

lead to the adulteration of the product due to lead to the adulteration of the product due to

temperature abuse.temperature abuse.

Where can I sell my product?Where can I sell my product?

�� Grocery stores.Grocery stores.

�� Restaurants.Restaurants.

�� Online if USDA inspected product.Online if USDA inspected product.

�� Farmers Market.Farmers Market.

�� Outside the state if USDA inspected Outside the state if USDA inspected

product.product.

�� Farmers may sell inspected meats directly Farmers may sell inspected meats directly

off their farm.off their farm.

How can I register as a How can I register as a

Meat & Poultry Handler?Meat & Poultry Handler?

Contact the NCDA&CS Meat and Contact the NCDA&CS Meat and

Poultry Inspection Division at Poultry Inspection Division at

919919--733733--4136.4136.

HandoutsHandouts

��MPIS Notice 2MPIS Notice 2--05: Meat and Poultry 05: Meat and Poultry

Handler Requirements.Handler Requirements.

��On Farm Slaughter notice.On Farm Slaughter notice.

�� Inspection requirements for Meat and Inspection requirements for Meat and

Poultry Businesses.Poultry Businesses.