Source: Susan Kelly, MEATINGPLACE, 5/30/19


Legislation that would allow intrastate distribution of custom-slaughtered meat such as beef, pork and lamb without USDA inspection has been reintroduced in the U.S. House.

The PRIME (Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption) Act would allow states to decide whether to permit intrastate sales of locally raised meats to consumers, restaurants, grocery stores and other customers by expanding the current exemption from federal inspection for custom cuts intended for personal use.

Farmers and ranchers must sometimes travel hundreds of miles to one of a limited number of USDA-inspected slaughterhouses to process animals, Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) noted in a blog post.

Pingree and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) reintroduced the legislation. Original co-sponsors of the PRIME Act include Reps. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Scott Perry (R-Penn.), Justin Amash (R-Mich.), Mark

Meadows (R-N.C.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), Steve King (R-Iowa), and Mark Green (R-Tenn).
Groups including the National Pork Producers Council oppose the PRIME Act, arguing a robust federal meat inspection system is key for ensuring food safety.

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