Plain Language Summary
# PRIME Act Summary **What It Would Do:** The PRIME Act would allow custom meat-processing facilities to sell locally-slaughtered meat within their state without federal inspection. Currently, federal law only exempts meat from inspection if it's for personal use (like a family's own consumption). This bill would expand that exemption to allow these facilities to sell meat to local restaurants, grocery stores, and consumers within the same state, as long as the facility follows that state's regulations. **Who It Affects:** The bill would primarily benefit small, local meat processors and farmers who want to sell within their state, as well as consumers who prefer locally-sourced meat products. It could also impact small restaurants and grocery stores that want to source from local processors.
Federal meat inspectors and large-scale meat producers would be less affected. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee (S 2409, 119th Congress), meaning it hasn't advanced to a full Senate vote yet. It was introduced by Senator Angus King, an Independent from Maine. The bill has not passed.
CRS Official Summary
Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act or the PRIME Act This bill exempts from federal inspection requirements animals and meats that are slaughtered and prepared at custom animal slaughter facilities for distribution within the state. Under current law, a custom slaughter exemption applies if the meat is slaughtered exclusively for personal, household, guest, or employee uses. Specifically, the bill expands the federal inspection exemption to include the slaughter of animals or the preparation of carcasses, meat, and meat food products that are slaughtered and prepared at a custom slaughter facility in accordance with the laws of the state where the facility is located; and prepared exclusively for distribution to household consumers in the state or restaurants, hotels, boarding houses, grocery stores, or other establishments in the state that either prepare meals served directly to consumers or offer meat and food products for sale directly to consumers in the state. The bill does not preempt any state law concerning (1) the slaughter of animals or the preparation of carcasses, meat, and meat food products at a custom slaughter facility; or (2) the sale of meat or meat food products.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.