21 U.S.C. § 623 : US Code - Section 623: Exemptions from inspection requirements

Search 21 U.S.C. § 623 : US Code - Section 623: Exemptions from inspection requirements

(a) Personal slaughtering and custom slaughtering for personal,
household, guest, and employee uses
The provisions of this subchapter requiring inspection of the
slaughter of animals and the preparation of the carcasses, parts
thereof, meat and meat food products at establishments conducting
such operations for commerce shall not apply to the slaughtering by
any person of animals of his own raising, and the preparation by
him and transportation in commerce of the carcasses, parts thereof,
meat and meat food products of such animals exclusively for use by
him and members of his household and his nonpaying guests and
employees; nor to the custom slaughter by any person, firm, or
corporation of cattle, sheep, swine or goats delivered by the owner
thereof for such slaughter, and the preparation by such slaughterer
and transportation in commerce of the carcasses, parts thereof,
meat and meat food products of such animals, exclusively for use,
in the household of such owner, by him and members of his household
and his nonpaying guests and employees; nor to the custom
preparation by any person, firm, or corporation of carcasses, parts
thereof, meat or meat food products, derived from the slaughter by
any person of cattle, sheep, swine, or goats of his own raising, or
from game animals, delivered by the owner thereof for such custom
preparation, and transportation in commerce of such custom prepared
articles, exclusively for use in the household of such owner, by
him and members of his household and his nonpaying guests and
employees: Provided, That in cases where such person, firm, or
corporation engages in such custom operations at an establishment
at which inspection under this subchapter is maintained, the
Secretary may exempt from such inspection at such establishment any
animals slaughtered or any meat or meat food products otherwise
prepared on such custom basis: Provided further, That custom
operations at any establishment shall be exempt from inspection
requirements as provided by this section only if the establishment
complies with regulations which the Secretary is hereby authorized
to promulgate to assure that any carcasses, parts thereof, meat or
meat food products wherever handled on a custom basis, or any
containers or packages containing such articles, are separated at
all times from carcasses, parts thereof, meat or meat food products
prepared for sale, and that all such articles prepared on a custom
basis, or any containers or packages containing such articles, are
plainly marked "Not for Sale" immediately after being prepared and
kept so identified until delivered to the owner and that the
establishment conducting the custom operation is maintained and
operated in a sanitary manner.
(b) Territorial exemption; refusal, withdrawal, or modification
The Secretary may, under such sanitary conditions as he may by
regulations prescribe, exempt from the inspection requirements of
this subchapter the slaughter of animals, and the preparation of
carcasses, parts thereof, meat and meat food products, by any
person, firm, or corporation in any Territory not organized with a
legislative body solely for distribution within such Territory when
the Secretary determines that it is impracticable to provide such
inspection within the limits of funds appropriated for
administration of this chapter and that such exemption will
otherwise facilitate enforcement of this chapter. The Secretary may
refuse, withdraw, or modify any exemption under this subsection in
his discretion whenever he determines such action is necessary to
effectuate the purposes of this chapter.
(c) Pizzas containing meat food products
(1) Under such terms and conditions as the Secretary shall
prescribe through rules and regulations issued under section 624 of
this title that may be necessary to ensure food safety and protect
public health such as special handling procedures, the Secretary
shall exempt pizzas containing a meat food product from the
inspection requirements of this chapter if -
(A) the meat food product components of the pizzas have been
prepared, inspected, and passed in a cured or cooked form as
ready-to-eat in compliance with the requirements of this chapter;
and
(B) the pizzas are to be served in public or private nonprofit
institutions.
(2) The Secretary may withdraw or modify any exemption under this
subsection whenever the Secretary determines such action is
necessary to ensure food safety and to protect public health. The
Secretary may reinstate or further modify any exemption withdrawn
or modified under this subsection.
(d) Adulteration and misbranding provisions applicable to
inspection-free articles
The adulteration and misbranding provisions of this subchapter,
other than the requirement of the inspection legend, shall apply to
articles which are exempted from inspection or not required to be
inspected under this section.