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In Louisiana, meat processors generally fall into three main categories based on their inspection and regulatory status: federally inspected, 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. Louisiana does not participate in the USDA's Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) program, so state-inspected products cannot be shipped out of state.
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), including to other states or through mail order. This is suitable for operations targeting national markets. Louisiana facilities seeking federal inspection apply directly to USDA FSIS.
Operated under the Louisiana Meat and Poultry Inspection Program, these facilities are licensed and inspected by the LDAF. 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 Louisiana-specific inspection mark (e.g., "LA INSPECTED AND PASSED BY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE") and can be sold wholesale or retail within Louisiana only (intrastate), such as to grocery stores, restaurants, or directly to consumers. They cannot be shipped out of state, as Louisiana does not participate in the CIS program.
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 approval from the LDAF but are exempt from routine inspections for wholesomeness (though sanitation inspections still occur, and facilities must comply with basic standards). 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. Meat source must come from inspected sources where applicable.
For starting or operating a facility, consult the LDAF for specific applications, inspections, and registrations. Contact the Meat and Poultry Inspection section at (225) 922-1352 or via the website. Note that poultry follows similar rules, and wild game processing may have additional exemptions if not mixed with commercial meat.
