The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) created this guide to help small businesses and poultry producers who slaughter or process poultry for human food to determine whether the slaughter or processing operations at their businesses are eligible for exemption from Federal or State inspection.
In other words, this guide is helpful to producers or businesses in determining whether their slaughter or processing operations require USDA or State inspection, as mandated in the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA). If exempt, producers may slaughter and process poultry and sell meat directly to consumers. The states have the ability to place restrictions that are greater than federal law.
