LOCAL Foods Act of 2025
The LOCAL Foods Act of 2025 would amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to create a new exemption from federal inspection for slaughtering and processing meat when the slaughtering, preparation, or transportation is done by an owner of the animals (in whole or in part) for exclusive use by the owner, the owner’s household, nonpaying guests, or the owner’s employees. If the owner designates an agent to assist, the owner must maintain custody and specific identification of the carcasses or meat products, as determined by the Secretary. In short, it would make it easier for livestock owners to process meat for personal or household use without federal inspection, while adding a tracking/custody requirement if an agent is involved. The bill appears aimed at supporting local, small-scale food systems, with safety governance retained to the extent the Secretary sets the custody/identification rules.
Key Points
- 1Exemption from inspection for owners slaughtering or processing meat from animals they own (in whole or in part) for exclusive use by the owner, the household, nonpaying guests, or employees.
- 2The exemption applies when the activities are for exclusive use of the owner and household, even if the meat is transported or moved; non-commercial use is a core feature.
- 3If an owner designates an agent to assist in slaughter, preparation, or transportation, the owner must maintain custody and specific identification of the carcasses or meat products, per rules to be set by the Secretary.
- 4The bill modifies the language around “in commerce,” but the exclusive-use requirement is intended to limit activity to non-commercial purposes; details and enforcement will be determined by the Secretary.
- 5The short title/intent is to promote local foods and support small-scale livestock owners, though it does not authorize sales or distribution of meat outside the owner’s exclusive use.