On Tuesday, June 13, 2023, the House Judiciary Subcommittee held a hearing titled: “Where’s the Beef? Regulatory Barriers to Entry and Competition in Meat Processing” to examine how various aspects of government regulation may impede the development of a more competitive meat industry.  The subcommittee explored the potential impact on competition, should smaller entrants be subjected to less onerous food inspection requirements and be permitted to sell state-inspected meat across state lines.

As our readers recall, the spread of COVID-19 closed many meat and poultry processing facilities.  However, in 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made available $215 million in grants and other support to promote the competition, accessibility, and expansion of the meat and poultry industry, especially in rural America.  However, the three farmers who testified at Tuesday’s hearing alleged that certain regulations and USDA’s  inspection requirements tend to disadvantage smaller processing businesses.  The farmers urged the subcommittee to allow small operators to forego certain federal inspection regulations.

At this time, 21 U.S.C. § 623(a) only exempts custom slaughterhouses from inspections but only if the meat is for personal, household, guest, or employee use. 

On April 25, 2023, Thomas Massie, R-KY, and Chellie Pingree, D-ME reintroduced the Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Act (PRIME). The PRIME Act exempts custom slaughter facilities from animal slaughter and carcass preparation inspections, regardless of use.  In the Senate, Angus King, I-ME, and Rand Paul, R-KY, introduced the companion legislation, PRIME, on March 22, 2023. Massie and Pingree urged members to adopt this legislation at the Tuesday meeting.