Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-MN-01) and Thomas Massie (R-KY-04) recently reintroduced the bipartisan Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption (PRIME) Act.
The bill would give states the freedom to permit intrastate distribution of custom-slaughtered meats such as beef, pork or lamb.
“Consumers at the grocery store increasingly want quality, locally-grown food, but existing regulations and supply chain vulnerabilities don’t make it easy for them to access,” Pingree said.
Current laws exempt custom slaughter of animals from federal inspection, but only if the meat is slaughtered for personal, household, guest or employee use. The legislation would expand the current custom exemption and allow small farms, ranches and slaughterhouses to sell custom meat to consumers, restaurants, hotels, boarding houses and grocery stores.
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