Most food establishments that slaughter, process, or sell raw meat need some type of meat license. A variance is required for smoking as a method of preservation, curing, drying or processing to make the meat shelf stable, vacuum packing, or any combination of these activities.
Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) exemptions
- Individuals slaughtering or processing meat or poultry, for personal use, are exempt from licensing.
- Classes on meat slaughter or processing where students are actively engaged in slaughtering or processing of their own meat are exempt from ODA licensing.
- Poultry growers slaughtering no more than 1,000 poultry per year for direct retail sales are not required to obtain an ODA license.
Federal jurisdiction and inspection
- The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has primary jurisdiction over most meat establishments.
- With the exception of custom slaughtering, The Federal Meat Inspection Act requires all amenable species (cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines) to be slaughtered under continuous FSIS inspection.
- With the exception of custom slaughter and small firms, The Poultry Product Inspection Act requires that poultry (chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and other domesticated fowls) be slaughtered under continuous FSIS inspection.
- Post-slaughter processing of meat and poultry products for wholesale sales is typically subject to continuous USDA inspection.
Waste disposal
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulates waste discharge in Oregon.
- Slaughter and processing waste must be disposed of by a method approved by DEQ or the local public health authority having jurisdiction.
If waste is applied to crops or land, then a permit may be required. DEQ delegates the authority to ODA's Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) Program to issue permits to firms applying liquid animal waste (from raising, slaughtering, or processing) to agricultural land.
- Prior to treating wastewater on-site, firms must contact DEQ at (503) 229-5696.
- Prior to land application of liquid waste, firms must contact ODA's Natural Resources Program at (503) 986-4700.
Local government
In addition to complying with USDA, ODA, and DEQ requirements, firms that raise, slaughter, or process meat animals must comply with local requirements. Local governmental agencies that may have authority over poultry operations include:
- City planning
- County planning
- County on-site septic
- Local fire marshal
It is important that meat slaughter and processing firms contact their local government prior to operation to ensure their proposed activities are in compliance.
Resources
Cross contamination