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In Vermont, 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. Below is a summary of each type, including their key features and regulatory oversight. Vermont 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.
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. Vermont facilities seeking federal inspection apply directly to USDA FSIS.
Operated under the Vermont Meat and Poultry Inspection Program, these facilities are licensed and inspected by the VAAFM. 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 Vermont-specific inspection mark and can be sold wholesale or retail within Vermont only (intrastate), such as to grocery stores, restaurants, or directly to consumers. However, Vermont 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 VAAFM 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, including shared ownership scenarios with proper documentation.
For starting or operating a facility, consult the VAAFM Meat and Poultry Inspection for specific applications, including label approvals and site visits. Contact them at (802) 828-2426 or agr.meatinspection@vermont.gov. Note that wild game processing may have additional exemptions if not mixed with commercial meat, and retail exempt operations (for direct consumer sales with limitations) are also available as a separate category under federal exemptions.
