H.R. 4700 — PRIME Act

This section establishes a new exemption from federal inspection requirements under the Federal Meat Inspection Act for slaughter of animals and preparation of carcasses, parts, meat, and meat food products at custom slaughter facilities. The exemption applies if such operations comply with the law of the state where the facility is located (including the District of Columbia and U.S. territories and possessions) and the products are distributed exclusively within that state to (1) household consumers or (2) restaurants, hotels, boarding houses, grocery stores, or other establishments that prepare meals served directly to consumers or sell meat and meat food products directly to consumers. (Thus, such facilities may supply meat to local retail and food service outlets without federal inspection, provided state law is followed and products do not enter interstate commerce.)

This section specifies that the amendments made by section 2 do not preempt state laws concerning the slaughter of animals or the preparation of carcasses, parts thereof, meat, and meat food products at custom slaughter facilities, or the sale of meat or meat food products.