Is It Legal To Slaughter Your Own Animals?

2021—How Practise I Legally Sell Meat from My Own Livestock and Poultry in Florida?

There is much involvement in locally produced foods, only the federal, country, and local regulations can exist confusing. The purpose of this certificate is to exist a "1-stop shop" for Florida residents who desire to sell meat and poultry from their own livestock and poultry.

Figure ane. Roasted chicken.
Credit: iStock/Thinkstock.com

Which species tin can be sold?

Cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, or equine are defined past the US Department of Agronomics'southward Food Safety Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) as "amenable livestock species." This means the Usa government is accountable for the products from those species (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/fsis-content/internet/main/topics/rulemaking/federal-meat-inspection-human action/federal-meat-inspection-act) (21 United states of americaC. § 601–695).

Although technically amenable, no equine are currently existence slaughtered under United states of america federal inspection.

What is the easiest way to sell meat from my livestock?

One tin start past selling a few animals as "freezer meat."

USDA-FSIS describes this every bit the "custom exemption," and it can happen in ii ways: the owners of an animal (i) slaughter the animal themselves or (2) evangelize it to a custom exempt abattoir for slaughter and processing. The meat and by-products cannot be sold, and the products tin can only exist consumed by the owner's household and nonpaying guests and employees. In either example, having farm liability insurance is recommended.

What if someone wants to slaughter livestock I have sold to them on my farm?

After the fauna is sold to a client, it is their holding, and you tin allow them to slaughter the livestock on your belongings. If this is an option yous choose, you may want to make disposal of items such as the hide and offal the responsibleness of your client.

Annotation that information technology is not legal for the farmer to help with the on-subcontract slaughter in whatsoever way. If the farmer does assist, they would be viewed by USDA-FSIS as a custom exempt processing facility, which means that the farmer would be working out of compliance.

What is a custom processor?

In general, a custom processor is exempted from a large pct of FSIS inspection regulations because products cannot be resold and therefore pose a reduced hazard to public wellness. The owners of the livestock pay custom processors to convert a meat creature into a meat production.

There are several federal and state recordkeeping requirements under this exemption, which are addressed in EDIS publication AN204, Custom and Retail Exempt Meat Processing (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an204).

Specifically, an FSIS directive gives the most updated requirements for custom exempt operations (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/fsis-directives/8160.1).

Individuals or establishments who only do custom processing and do not have whatsoever FDACS permits (e.thou., a USDA Custom Exempt establishment) do not require FDACS inspection, and equally such exercise not require a HACCP plan.

Where tin I have this done in Florida?

For an updated list of custom exempt facilities in Florida, see EDIS publication AN248, Custom Exempt Blood-red Meat and/or Poultry Slaughter Facilities in Florida (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an248).

Several of the USDA-inspected facilities listed in EDIS publication AN203, USDA-Inspected Livestock Slaughter Facilities in Florida (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an203), provide custom slaughter.

I do non desire livestock slaughtered on my subcontract, but my customer cannot transport the livestock. What should I do?

You, the livestock producer, can either deliver the animal for them or put them in contact with a local livestock hauler who can do this on a fee-for-service basis.

I accept a very specific need—I have a moo-cow who has broken her leg and cannot go upwardly and get (i.eastward., non-ambulatory), but the beefiness is fine. What should I do?

If the moo-cow cannot stand up, do not try to load her or take her to a slaughter facility (custom or FSIS-inspected). A non-ambulatory beefiness animal at a custom or FSIS-inspected facility will be condemned.

Tin can I slaughter her myself?

Yes. However, you lot cannot legally accept a field-slaughtered or farm-dressed carcass into a custom processor unless the owner of the cattle provides written documentation that the fauna was ambulatory at the time of slaughter (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2021-02/8160.1.pdf) (USDA 2007).

An alternative would exist Moses Removal in Ocala, Florida (352-624-2411). The facility will euthanize and option upwardly downed cows for transportation to rendering facilities.

A custom or inspected processor cannot slaughter a non-convalescent beefiness animal—does this apply to any other species?

No, just cattle.

Demand for my livestock is growing, and I am considering establishing my ain custom exempt livestock processing facility. What do I demand to do?

You certainly can exercise this, and the UF/IFAS Meat Scientific discipline Extension grouping can assist you to establish a facility. Yet, in that location is no departure in building standards betwixt a custom exempt facility, which just receives "periodic review" and whose products are "not for sale," and a fully functional FSIS-inspected facility.

What if I wanted to outset my own USDA-FSIS-inspected cherry-red meat or poultry processing facility?

There are multiple regulations to meet at the local, state, and federal levels.

More often than not, processors must have a facility that (one) has potable h2o, (2) has a feasible wastewater program, (3) meets "regulatory functioning standards" (which primarily ways all surfaces can be cleaned and sanitized), and (4) has a validated HACCP plan and approved labels.

Additionally, any ready-to-eat production manufactured nether FSIS inspection must have a management plan for Listeria monocytogenes as described in https://www.fsis.usda.gov/guidelines/2014-0001.

That is a lot of information. What does all of that mean?

The Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network (NMPAN; http://www.nichemeatprocessing.org/) has an excellent "How to Get Started" section addressing all facets of a start-up meat processing business.

Cornell University's Guide to Direct Marketing Livestock and Poultry (http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/resources/) is an splendid starting resources. Specifically, page xix of that guide provides an excellent to-do listing to establish a federally inspected facility.

The American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) website provides facility and equipment guidelines for federal inspection (https://www.ncagr.gov/MeatPoultry/pdf/Facility%20Guidelines.pdf).

I just want to sell meat from my livestock at my retail shop and/or at a farmers' market place. How tin I do that?

If your livestock are slaughtered nether federal inspection, you can operate as a retail exempt facility. Retail exemption is described in detail in EDIS publication AN204, Custom and Retail Exempt Meat Processing (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an204).

Generally, you can sell meat piece-past-piece directly to the end-user from 2 storefronts without being under federal inspection. You can even sell a given amount of fresh or frozen meat to food service, but you lot cannot sell cured, cooked, or smoked production to nutrient service. These products can merely be sold to individual household consumers.

For more data on federal regulations of retail exempt operations, contact AAMP (http://world wide web.aamp.com/regulations/regulatory-affairs/).

What state or local requirements must be met for me to operate a retail exempt facility?

A link to the state requirements for a retail store is on the Florida Department of Agronomics and Consumer Services (FDACS) website (https://world wide web.fdacs.gov/Business concern-Services/Food/Food-Establishments/Retail-Nutrient-Institution-Allow).

All facilities need:

1. At least ane employee who has been trained as a food director (http://www.foodprotect.org/media/managercert/cfp-food-manager-certification-info-apr-2020.pdf);
2. To meet minimum construction and sanitation standards (https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/64038/file/food_establishment_minimum_construction_standards.PDF);
3. To see water and waste management standards (https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/23984/file/Water%20and%20Sewer%20Requirements%20for%20Food%20Permit%20and%20Initial%20Inspection.pdf); and
4. A proper nutrient let, which volition depend upon the kind of retail institution the business organization would be divers as (https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/23977/file/food-permit-fees.pdf).

For case, a facility defined every bit a "meat marketplace" has an almanac food permit fee of $455. Private descriptions of all possible Florida retail food permits are online at https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=5K-4 (click on the Discussion certificate for the appropriate nutrient allow, requirement, and fees).

Facilities that vacuum seal, include nitrite, fume, and/or dehydrate for preservation must have an HACCP plan approved past FDACS. Additionally, an individual or institution who is currently permitted with FDACS and would like to also practise custom processing of meat must submit an HACCP plan with all supporting documentation, and obtain a Special Process Approval from FDACS before they may go along. An instance would exist a retail store that wants to grind deer or custom slaughtered beef at the end of their normal processing day. An Industry Guidance fact sheet for FDACS-permitted custom processing may exist found at https://world wide web.fdacs.gov/content/download/92253/file/Custom-Animal-Processing-at-Retail-Manufacture-Guidance.pdf.

FDACS-permitted individuals or establishments or those seeking a permit may ship all custom processing requests to RetailHACCPspa@fdacs.gov.

Additionally, any facility that is permitted past FDACS and would like to process wild game (most ofttimes deer or feral pigs) or on-farm slaughtered livestock must also have an HACCP plan (http://www.foodprotect.org/problems/packets/2010Packet/attachments/III_019_a.pdf). This is associated with Rule 5K-four.0050. The awarding that must accompany your completed HACCP programme tin be found at http://forms.freshfromflorida.com/14095.pdf.

What are the regulations about temperature control and receiving perishable goods?

The FDA nutrient code requires refrigerated foods to be held at or below 41°F, then yous should document the temperature of all perishable goods at receiving. Recording temperatures are required if you are using reduced oxygen packaging or other specialized processes that require an HACCP plan.

I need all that just for my retail meat market?

Yep, and you lot volition need a mobile vendor permit to be able to sell meat at a farmers' market place (https://world wide web.fdacs.gov/Business-Services/Food/Food-Establishments/Mobile-Food-Vendors).

What if I want to distribute my products at multiple retail stores or if I want to market place the majority of my products to food service?

Those products must exist made entirely nether USDA-FSIS inspection. Products that behave a stamp of inspection and an approved characterization have no restrictions every bit to where they tin be marketed domestically.

All of your products will need to have a label approved by FSIS (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/FSIS_7234-1_Approval_of_Labels.pdf). Boosted guidance on labeling is available at https://world wide web.nichemeatprocessing.org/production-labeling/.

Establishments divers as "small-scale businesses" are not required to have a nutrition label. A small-scale business is whatsoever unmarried-plant facility or multi-plant company or house that employs 500 or fewer people and produces no more than 100,000 pounds of the product per year.

If you exercise not own and operate your own facility, finding a USDA-inspected facility willing to work with yous can be a stumbling cake. For a list of inspected facilities in Florida, run across EDIS publication AN203, USDA-Inspected Livestock Slaughter Facilities in Florida (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an203).

I heighten poultry, simply no red meat animals. Is it all the same?

Collectively, the steps to market place poultry meat are similar to the steps for red meat, but poultry is under the Poultry Products Inspection Human activity, not the Federal Meat Inspection Act. Turkeys, chickens, ducks, geese, squab, republic of guinea fowl, and/or ratites (emu, rhea, and ostrich) are recognized past USDA-FSIS equally "acquiescent poultry" in nine CFR § 381.ane (http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2005-title9-vol2/pdf/CFR-2005-title9-vol2-chapIII-subchapA.pdf).

For the balance of the Federal Poultry Products Inspection Human activity (21 U.Due south.C. § 451–472), visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/rulemaking/poultry-products-inspection-acts.

I do not have many poultry, but I desire to sell meat from my birds. What can I do?

Florida recently developed a allow for small Florida poultry producers. FDACS has an excellent Oft Asked Questions guide to address this new allow that utilizes the USDA's 20,000-bird exemption (https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/64357/file/Limited_Poultry_and_Egg_Operation_Requirements.pdf).

Additionally, Florida producers with a Limited Poultry and Egg allow tin sell products directly to food service for the grooming of meals sold to customers.

A few custom exempt and smaller-calibration inspected poultry slaughter facilities be in Florida: Sealy's Ark in Dunnellon; Zabahi Meat and Poultry in Orlando; Eddie's Duck & Poultry and Musa Slaughter House in Tampa; Sonshine Poultry in Haines City; and Gray's & Danny's in Moore Haven. More information can be found at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an248.

If you slaughter more than than 20,000 birds per yr or more than than 384 birds in one calendar week, or if you process purchased poultry for resale in more than i other retail front end, these operations are not exempt and must be conducted under USDA-FSIS inspection.

This publication has focused on country and federal regulations, just be sure to check with local, metropolis, or canton regime before yous begin a new project or construction.

Resources

The federal statutes cited for reddish meat are most easily accessed at this website browsing by championship and affiliate: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/inspection-programs/inspection-meat-products.

Federal statutes cited for poultry can be accessed at this website: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/rulemaking/poultry-products-inspection-acts.

Most of the land regulations cited are most hands accessed at this website: https://www.fdacs.gov/Business organization-Services/Food/Food-Establishments.

References

Carr, C. C., Fifty. E. Eubanks, and R. D. Dijkhuis. 2008a. Custom and Retail Exempt Meat Processing. AN204. Gainesville: Academy of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an204

Carr, C. C., L. Eastward. Eubanks, and R. D. Dijkhuis. 2008b. USDA-Inspected Livestock Slaughter Facilities in Florida. AN203. Gainesville: Academy of Florida Establish of Food and Agricultural Sciences. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an203

Carr, C. C., and L. E. Eubanks. 2010. Custom Exempt Meat and/or Poultry Slaughter Facilities in Florida. AN248. Gainesville: University of Florida Found of Food and Agronomical Sciences. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an248

Goodsell, M., and T. Stanton. 2011. A Resource Guide to Direct Marketing Livestock and Poultry. Cornell University. Accessed October 2014. http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/resource/

Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network (NMPAN). 2021. Iowa State and Oregon Land Universities. Accessed Baronial 2021. http://www.nichemeatprocessing.org/

USDA. 2003. "Exemptions to Federal Meat Inspection. nine CFR 303.ane Food Safety Inspection Service." Washington, D.C. Accessed Oct 2014. http://world wide web.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_07/9cfr303_07.html

USDA. 2007a. "Custom Exempt Review Procedure. 5930 Food Safety Inspection Service." Washington, D.C. Accessed October 2014. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/5930.ane.pdf

USDA. 2007b. "Exemptions for Retail Shop Operations. Food Safety Inspection Service." Washington, D.C. Accessed Oct 2014. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/2007-0009.pdf

USDA. 2007c. "A Guide to Federal Food Labeling Requirements for Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products." Nutrient Safety Inspection Service. Washington, D.C. Accessed October 2014. http://world wide web.fsis.usda.gov/shared/PDF/Labeling_Requirements_Guide.pdf

USDA. 2012. "Summary of Listeria monocytogenes Compliance Guideline for Small and Very Modest Meat and Poultry Plants That Produce Ready-To-Swallow Products." Nutrient Prophylactic Inspection Service. Washington, D.C. Accessed October 2014. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/89b36eab-ab09-45d0-8b44-7dd3d412aeca/LM_Guidelines_for_SVSP_Ready_to_Eat_Products.pdf?Mod=AJPERES

USDA. 2013. "FAQs—Cool Labeling Provisions Final Rule." Food Rubber Inspection Service. Washington, D.C. Accessed October 2014. http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5105133

U.s.a. Food and Drug Administration (US FDA). 2009. "FDA Food Code." Accessed October 2014. http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/RetailFoodProtection/FoodCode/ucm188201.htm#parta6-2

Source: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AN316

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