PRIME Act
Bipartisan Bill Proposes Allowing Local Meat Sales Without Federal Inspection to Help Small Farmers
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill, introduced by Senator King and a bipartisan group of lawmakers, would change federal law to make it easier for small farmers to sell meat locally. Currently, meat usually has to be processed at a facility with a federal inspector on-site to be sold to the public.
- Under the new rules, "custom" slaughterhouses—which are often smaller and more local—would not need a federal inspector to be present. Instead, they would follow the specific safety and health laws of the state where they are located.
- The meat processed at these facilities could be sold directly to families, restaurants, hotels, and grocery stores, as long as everything stays within the same state. This is intended to help small-scale farmers reach local customers without the high costs of traveling to large, federal plants.
- States would still have the power to set their own rules for how these facilities operate and how the meat is sold. This means a state could choose to keep stricter rules or create new ones to ensure food safety for its residents.
- Supporters believe this will lower costs for consumers and help small businesses grow by cutting through federal red tape. Critics often worry that removing federal oversight could lead to more food safety risks if state rules aren't strong enough.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Custom slaughter facilities — typically small, locally owned businesses — would be able to process and sell meat for intrastate commerce without the cost and logistical burden of maintaining a federal inspector on site. This could make these businesses more viable and competitive, potentially leading to new custom slaughter operations opening in rural areas where they are currently scarce. Local restaurants, grocery stores, and other food businesses could also benefit from access to more locally sourced meat options.
Broader Impacts
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articlesPRIME Act aims to reduce red tape for small processors
Senators Angus King and Rand Paul reintroduced the PRIME Act to ease federal regulations on small meat processors. The bill would allow states to permit the intrastate sale of custom-slaughtered meat to restaurants and grocery stores, addressing a shortage of USDA-inspected facilities that currently forces farmers to travel long distances for processing.
Sen. King Working With Sen. Rand Paul & Rep Thomas Massie on Growing Local Food Production
This report details Senator King’s efforts to pass the PRIME Act, framing it as a solution to the 'butchershop problem' in Maine. It explains how current federal laws create a bottleneck by requiring USDA inspection for retail sales, while the new bill would empower states to regulate local sales from custom slaughterhouses, potentially opening up 20 new businesses in Maine alone.
'Agriculture being threatened', Valley ranchers and advocates champion beneficial legislation
Texas ranchers and the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance held a conference to support the PRIME Act. Local farmers highlighted that the bill would allow them to use nearby custom processors instead of driving hours to USDA plants, reducing animal stress and cutting costs by up to 30% while strengthening regional food systems.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
PRIME Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(9)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.