The Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act (PRIME Act) is a national piece of legislation that has been proposed in both the House (H.R. 2859) and Senate (S. 1620). Kentucky sponsors of the bill include Rep. Massie, Rep. Guthrie, and Sen. Paul.
CFA has shown support for the PRIME Act after hearing from producers and paying attention to our national partners, National Family Farm Coalition and National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. We signed onto this letter linked here endorsing the bill in May, but we have since heard more concern and want to hear directly from you what you think of the bill and what direction CFA needs to take going forward.
SUMMARY: The PRIME Act would remove the federal ban on the sale of meat from custom exempt slaughter and processing within a state. Currently, only USDA inspected processors are permitted to process cuts of meat for sale at farmers markets, grocery stores, etc. Under the PRIME Act, meat that is processes exempt from inspection could also be distributed to hotels, groceries, and restaurants. These small-scale processors will remain subject to the basic federal regulations that already apply to them, as well as any additional provisions imposed by the states.
PROS: Passage of the PRIME Act would open up options that could provide immediate relief for small-scale farmers who are currently unable to find options for processing their animals and help build more infrastructure for local food production, as well as better protecting safety of workers. Consumer options for purchasing locally raised meats would increase.
CONS: There is concern that the bill could compromise food safety. Guests at hotels, restaurants, and grocery stores could be unknowingly consuming custom slaughtered meat that was not federally inspected. This could be a potential health hazard, especially for immunocompromised folks that may not have made that choice for themselves. Without clear food safety regulations for this expansion, one mistake could negatively impact the reputation of local meats. The effect on animal welfare would likely be mixed, since there are far lesser requirements for custom exempt slaughter and processing. Some processors will likely practice humane animal handling voluntarily, while others will not.