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In Georgia, meat processors generally fall into three main categories based on their inspection and regulatory status: federally inspected (via Talmadge-Aiken or TA), state inspected, and custom exempt. These distinctions determine what the processors can do with the meat (e.g., sell interstate, sell intrastate, or process for personal use only). Regulations ensure food safety, humane handling, and proper labeling, with state standards required to be "at least equal to" federal ones. Georgia's program, established in 1969, is one of the oldest in the nation and regulates livestock (e.g., cattle, swine, sheep, goats) and poultry. The state does not participate in the USDA's Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) program, so state-inspected products cannot be shipped out of state. Below is a summary of each type, including their key features and regulatory oversight.
These facilities are inspected under the Talmadge-Aiken Act, where state inspectors from the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) enforce federal standards on behalf of 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), including to other states or through mail order, as well as internationally. This is suitable for operations targeting national or global markets. Georgia facilities seeking this license apply through the GDA, which coordinates with USDA FSIS.
Operated under the Georgia Meat Inspection Program, these facilities are licensed and inspected by the GDA Meat Inspection Section. Inspections occur regularly (often daily for slaughter operations) to ensure standards match or exceed federal requirements, including sanitation protocols and humane handling. Products bear a Georgia-specific inspection mark and can be sold wholesale or retail within Georgia only (intrastate), such as to grocery stores, restaurants, or directly to consumers. They cannot be shipped out of state, as Georgia does not participate in the CIS program. This type supports local businesses focused on in-state markets.
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 a license from the GDA but 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.
For starting or operating a facility, consult the GDA Meat Inspection Section for specific applications, including site visits and compliance with zoning laws. Contact the Meat Compliance line at (404) 656-6923 or submit complaints via forms at https://agr.georgia.gov/meat-inspection. A directory of licensed plants is available at https://www.agr.georgia.gov/sites/default/files/documents/meat-inspections/directory-of-licensed-meat-plants_1.pdf. Note that small poultry exempt licenses exist for up to 1,000 birds annually from own raising, and wild game (e.g., feral hogs) processing may have additional exemptions if not mixed with commercial meat; contact GDA for details.
