Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Compulsory Meat & Poultry Inspection

Slaughter Poultry (Not of one’s own raising) for sale to the public (wholesale or retail)

Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Compulsory Meat & Poultry Inspection

Slaughter or process meat/poultry for personal consumption (not to be sold wholesale or retail)

Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Custom Exempt Inspection

Process Canned Meat and Poultry products for sale to the public (wholesale or retail)

Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Compulsory Meat & Poultry Inspection

Process Meat and/or Poultry products and transport to another location for sale (wholesale or retail)

Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Compulsory Meat & Poultry Inspection

Process limited single-ingredient Meat and/or Poultry products for wholesale sales to Hotels, Restaurants and Institutions

Certain dollar limitations apply/percentage of total wholesale sales limited (not to exceed 25% of all retail meat sales) accurate and legible record keeping required

Retail approved facility and license

Process Meat and/or Poultry products for unlimited wholesale and/or retail sales

Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Compulsory Meat & Poultry Inspection

Process Meat and/or Poultry products for sale via the internet

Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Compulsory Meat & Poultry Inspection

Conduct Door to Door sales of fully packaged, marked and labeled meat and poultry products

Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Meat Handlers License

Store and/or transport fully packaged, marked and labeled meat and poultry products for wholesale, retail or internet sales

Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Meat Handlers License

Transport live animals to an inspected  slaughter/processing facility, pick up fully packaged, marked and labeled meat & poultry products and sales to the general public

Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Meat Handlers License

Sell live animal to customer.  Transport live animal for customer to inspected slaughter/processing facility.  Customer picks up packaged & labeled meat/poultry products from slaughtering/processing facility

No inspection required

Sell live animal to customer.  Allow customer to slaughter animal on your farm//premises, or slaughter animal for the customer on your farm

This activity would fall under Federal custom slaughter Law 9 CFR 303.1(a)(2), and also Vermont Statute 6 V.S.A 3302(10), as the definition of a custom slaughterhouse. It is allowable, provided:

• The on farm slaughter operations are conducted under sanitary conditions as set out in 9 CFR 416.1-416.6;
• The animals are slaughtered as a service to their owners, regardless of whether the animals were owned by an individual of by multiple owners in partnerships or cooperatives;
• All of the meat and edible meat by-products derived from the slaughter of the animals is distributed only back to the owners of the animals for their personal use or for use by members of their household or non-paying guests; 
• None of the meat or edible meat by-products derived from the on farm custom slaughter is offered for sale in commerce; and
• The inedible parts (blood, internals, etc.) are properly disposed of according to laws of other local, state and federal agencies that have jurisdiction.

Custom Slaughter License

Slaughter animals of your own raising for your own personal use, members of your household and non-paying guests

No inspection required

Process meat & poultry products for on-site retail sales to the general public

Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Retail Meat License

Restaurant/Catering Activities

Vermont Health Department

Vermont Health Department

Sell cooked meat and poultry products via mobile food trailers

Vermont Health Department

Vermont Health Department

Receive fully packaged, marked and labeled meat and poultry products and offer them for retail sale at your store without opening packages or further processing any items

Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Retail Meat License

Slaughter and/or process up to 1,000 poultry (chickens or turkeys) per calendar year of your OWN RAISING, on your own farm.  Producer shall not engage in buying or selling of poultry products other than those produced from poultry raised on your own farm.  These poultry can be sold at the farms location, farmers' markets, and food restaurants.

No inspection required.  Accurate and legible records should be kept to prove to Agency of Agriculture Officials that the bird limit is not exceeded.   Adulteration provisions of the Act shall apply.

For sales to Farmers Markets product must be labeled with, name of farm and the producer; address of farm including zip code. “ Exempt per 6 V.S.A. 3312. b: Not Inspected;” This statement shall be prominently displayed with such conspicuousness (as compared with other words or statements, designs, or devices in the labeling) as to render it likely to be read and understood under customary conditions of purchase and use. “Safe Handling Instructions: Keep refrigerated or frozen. Thaw in refrigerator or microwave. Keep raw poultry separate from other foods, wash work surfaces, including cutting boards, utensils, and hands after touching raw poultry. Cook thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165 Fahrenheit maintained for at least 15 seconds. Keep hot foods hot. Refrigerate leftovers immediately or discard.” For sales to Food Restaurants contact the Vermont Department of Health.

Slaughter and/or process greater than 1,000 but no more than 20,000 poultry, (chickens and turkeys) per calendar year. Retail sales from Farmers Markets for sales to direct household consumers and sales from your farm location.

Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Sanitation and Facilities Inspected. Basic records must be kept. (Contact Agency).  Product must be labeled with the producer’s full name or farm name and address and the statement, “Exempted 6 V.S.A. Chapter 204, Not Inspected, and”For Sale Only to Household Consumers”. Accurate and legible records must be kept to prove to the Agency of Agriculture Officials that the bird limit is not exceeded.  Adulteration provisions of the Act still apply

Exceed limit of 20,000 poultry, as described in above scenario

Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Compulsory Meat and Poultry Inspection