PRIME Act

The PRIME Act (Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act) would amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to allow certain slaughtering and carcass preparation activities to occur without federal inspection. Specifically, it would create an exemption for slaughter by a person at a custom slaughter facility and the related preparation and transportation of carcasses, meat, and meat products, but only if the operation is conducted in accordance with the state where the facility is located and the resulting products are sold exclusively within that state to household consumers or to in-state establishments (such as restaurants, hotels, boarding houses, grocery stores, or other outlets that prepare meals or sell directly to consumers in the state). The bill also clarifies that “State” includes the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, and it provides that nothing in the amendments would preempt state meat laws. The goal, typically framed by supporters, is to revive local meat processing and reduce regulatory burdens for small or regional producers operating intrastate.