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In California, unlike states with their own inspection programs, there is no state meat and poultry inspection program. Therefore, meat processors generally fall into three main categories based on their inspection and regulatory status: federally inspected, retail exempt, and custom exempt. These distinctions determine what the processors can do with the meat (e.g., sell interstate, sell at retail, or process for personal use only). Regulations ensure food safety, humane handling, and proper labeling, with all commercial inspections handled by the federal government. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Meat, Poultry, and Egg Safety (MPES) Branch coordinates with USDA FSIS for reviews of exempt operations under cooperative agreements, focusing on sanitation and compliance. Below is a summary of each type, including their key features and regulatory oversight.
These facilities are inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS). They undergo rigorous daily inspections during operations to verify compliance with federal standards for slaughter, processing, sanitation, and humane handling. Products from these processors receive a USDA inspection mark and can be sold and shipped across state lines (interstate commerce), as well as within California (intrastate). This is suitable for operations of various sizes targeting local, national, or international markets. Facilities apply directly to USDA FSIS for inspection.
These facilities process already inspected meat (from federally inspected sources) for direct sale to consumers, such as at grocery stores, restaurants, or farmers markets, without daily inspection. They are exempt from continuous FSIS inspection but are subject to periodic, risk-based reviews by USDA FSIS and/or state authorities like CDFA MPES for sanitation and compliance. Products can be sold intrastate or interstate if derived from USDA-inspected meat, but with limitations: no more than 25% of sales can be wholesale, and certain processes (e.g., curing, smoking) are restricted for wholesale. This category supports retail operations like butchers or stores that cut, grind, or package meat for end consumers. Slaughter is not typically included. In California, CDFA-licensed retail facilities may sell cooked, cured, smoked, or otherwise processed meat to households only.
These facilities process meat exclusively for the animal owner's personal or household use (including non-paying guests and employees), not for commercial sale. They require registration with CDFA MPES and are exempt from routine inspections for wholesomeness (though sanitation inspections still occur, and facilities must comply with basic standards like humane handling). Products are marked "Not for Sale" and returned to the owner; selling them is illegal. This is common for farmers, hunters, or individuals processing their own livestock, including shared ownership scenarios with proper documentation. CDFA MPES reviews custom exempt plants under a cooperative agreement with USDA FSIS.
For starting or operating a facility, consult USDA FSIS for federal applications and CDFA MPES for exempt registrations and reviews. Contact CDFA MPES at (916) 900-5000 or mpes@cdfa.ca.gov. A list of licensed and registered operations is available on the CDFA website. Note that wild game processing may have additional exemptions if not mixed with commercial meat, and poultry follows federal rules with exemptions for small-scale operations (up to 20,000 birds annually).
