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In Texas, 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. Texas 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 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. Texas facilities seeking federal inspection apply directly to USDA FSIS.
Operated under the Texas Meat and Poultry Inspection Act, these facilities receive a Grant of Inspection from the DSHS Meat Safety Assurance 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 Texas-specific inspection mark and can be sold wholesale or retail within Texas only (intrastate), such as to grocery stores, restaurants, or directly to consumers. They cannot be shipped out of state, as Texas 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 a Grant of Custom Exemption from the DSHS but are exempt from routine inspections for wholesomeness (though sanitation inspections still occur, and facilities must comply with basic standards like accepting only healthy animals). 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 DSHS Meat Safety Assurance Section for specific applications and site visits. Contact them at (512) 834-6760 or via email at meat.regulatory@dshs.texas.gov. A list of establishments by type is available on the DSHS website. Note that separate exemptions apply for low-volume poultry or rabbit processing, and wild game may have additional rules if not commingled with commercial meat.
