FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5381

                                   C 77 L 87

BYSenators Hansen and Benitz

Revising requirements for custom slaughtering facilities.

Senate Committee on Agriculture

House Committe on Agriculture & Rural Development

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The Custom Slaughtering Act is administered by the Department of Agriculture.  The Act sets forth, in separate but similar sections, the licensing requirements for the custom farm slaughterer, the custom slaughtering establishment and the custom meat facilities.

A custom farm slaughterer may slaughter meat food animals only for the consumption of the owner of the animals.  The custom farm slaughterer uses an approved mobile unit to slaughter the animals at or near the owner's farm or ranch.

A custom slaughtering establishment is a facility at a fixed location which also may slaughter meat food animals only for the consumption of the owner.  A custom slaughtering establishment is not specifically defined in the Custom Slaughtering Act.  The Act requires that the Director of the Department consult with an inspection advisory board for each slaughtering establishment application; however, this advisory board does not exist.

A custom meat facility may prepare both uninspected meat for the animal owner's consumption and inspected meat, in quantities not less than one full quarter of the animal, for household users.  Because of the significant declines in the demand for beef in quantities of one quarter or more, the restrictions on a custom meat facility's ability to sell inspected meat are pressuring these facilities to leave the industry.

The lack of clarity in the provisions, the lack of defined terms,  and the need to address the significant changes in the meat industry require that the Custom Slaughtering Act be amended.

SUMMARY:

The general requirements for licensing of a custom farm slaughterer, a custom slaughtering establishment and a custom meat facility are consolidated in one section.  The Director of the Department of Agriculture does not need to consult with an advisory board when considering an application for a custom slaughtering establishment.  A custom slaughtering establishment is specifically defined.

Custom meat facilities may sell inspected beef of less than one quarter or one side of meat food animal to household users and may also sell prepackaged inspected meat to any person, provided the prepackaged meat remains in its original package.

Several terms in the Custom Slaughtering Act are defined or clarified.  The Act also clearly sets forth the Director's rule-making authority and the requirements of inspection and approval of each facility for proper construction and proper sanitary and mechanical equipment.

To assist the Director in investigating violations, the Director may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses or production of documents.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Senate    44     0

      House 96   0

EFFECTIVE:July 26, 1987