Coming Up: Sale of Uninspected Poultry Parts @ 2024 Legislative Session

Poultry producers noted for years that Vermont law limits their ability to reach customers and generate value by only allowing for the on-farm slaughter of whole birds only. New research of the Farm-To-Consumer Legal Defense Fund now shows that the USDA actually allows for the uninspected sale of processed birds through guidance. Get in touch with caroline@ruralvermont.org if you want to engage in supporting 2024 legislation in Vermont to allow for the sale of poultry parts through on-farm slaughter!

Many states defer to USDA guidance in allowing the sales of parted birds. The USDA applies a broad definition of processing and allows for the sale of uninspected parted birds under the exemption. Rural Vermont now suggests to strike the language in Vermont statute limiting sales to whole birds only from the law to uplift the default of what’s allowed to the standing USDA guidance. We’re excited for the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets continued support in the federal on-farm slaughter livestock campaign and to share that VAAFM will not oppose this change to advance the on-farm slaughter poultry!

For more info, review the On-Farm Poultry Processing Laws here and standing USDA Guidance here; as well as the current Vermont law for the sale of uninspected poultry here.