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In Ohio, 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. Ohio operates one of the largest state programs in the country, with about 260 state-inspected plants. The state participates in the USDA's Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) program, allowing eligible small state-inspected establishments to ship products interstate if they meet additional federal criteria. 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), including to other states or through mail order. This is suitable for operations targeting national markets. Ohio facilities seeking federal inspection apply directly to USDA FSIS, as the state program focuses on intrastate activities.
Operated under the Ohio Meat and Poultry Inspection Program, these facilities are licensed and inspected by the ODA Division of Meat Inspection. Inspections occur regularly (often daily for slaughter operations) to ensure standards match or exceed federal requirements, including HACCP systems and sanitation protocols. Products bear an Ohio-specific inspection mark and can be sold wholesale or retail within Ohio only (intrastate), such as to grocery stores, restaurants, or directly to consumers. However, Ohio participates in the USDA's Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) program, allowing eligible small state-inspected establishments (e.g., those with 25 or fewer employees) to ship products interstate if they meet additional federal criteria. This supports local businesses while enabling limited out-of-state sales for qualifying processors.
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 ODA but are exempt from routine inspections for wholesomeness (though sanitation inspections still occur every 2-4 weeks, and facilities must comply with basic standards like potable water and humane handling). Products are marked "Not for Sale" and returned to the owner; selling or donating them is illegal. This is common for farmers, hunters, or individuals processing their own livestock, including shared ownership scenarios with proper documentation.
For starting or operating a facility, consult the ODA Division of Meat Inspection for specific applications, including label approvals and site visits. Contact them at (614) 728-6260 or via the website. A directory of establishments is available at https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/meat-inspection/meat-district-coverage-map. Note that wild game processing may have additional exemptions if not mixed with commercial meat, and voluntary inspection is available for non-amenable species like exotic animals.
