Food Safety and Consumer Protection Division

The Food Safety and Consumer Protection Division serves to: Promote and protect the health and welfare of animals in the State of Vermont and enhance the viability of Vermont's animal industries. Under the leadership of Vermont’s State Veterinarian and Assistant State Veterinarian, the Agency is developing a comprehensive animal health program. Issues being addressed include livestock premise identification; increased disease surveillance; farmer education; and regulatory oversight of livestock movement. The primary mission for the Animal Health Section is public health and food safety.

Assure that all facilities processing meat and poultry for intrastate commerce are inspected to certify that proper ante mortem and post mortem procedures are performed and sanitary standards are maintained.

Assure only inspected and passed meat and poultry products are commercially distributed and to investigate illegal or improper sales and consumer complaints.

Assure that only wholesome, unadulterated and truthfully labeled products reach Vermont consumers.

Assure those establishments not subject to traditional inspection (wholesalers, retailers and custom operations) are periodically reviewed for sanitary condition, proper labeling, and handling.

Prevent the adulteration of meat and poultry products by the indiscriminate use of antibiotics through an agreement with the Federal Drug Administration.

Assure that species, such as rabbits and game birds that are not normally inspected are processed in a sanitary facility when they are to be sold to restaurants in Vermont. This is done in conjunction with the Department of Health.

Assure an adequate supply of pure fresh milk and maintain uniform dairy standards.

Establish appropriate dairy laws to protect the public health and welfare.

Protect public health, maintain and improve the integrity of Vermont agricultural products.

Provide legally mandated testing and inspection programs involving agricultural product grading, weights and measures inspection and licensing.

Provide monitoring of product quality, method of sale, proper weight and measure of products offered for sale, and scanner accuracy.

Provide training for agricultural product quality relating to apples, eggs, potatoes, and maple products, and all aspects of weights and measures.