Resolve, Directing the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources To Streamline Agricultural Regulation
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0075
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

FIRST PJ:GULAR SESSIOl'~-2009 
Legislative Document 
No. 75 
H.P.65 
House of Representatives, January 9, 2009 
Resolve, Directing the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural 
Resources To Streamline Agricultural Regulation 
Reported by Representative PIEH of Bremen for the Joint Standing Committee on 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry pursuant to Public Law 2007, chapter 660, section 18. 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed under Joint Rule 218. 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Sec. 1. Review regulatory process and develop flow chart. Resolved: 
That the Depaliment of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall review the 
regulatory processes that affect agricultural businesses, including small food producers 
and processors, and examine the feasibility of developing a one-stop, streamlined 
regulatory process and publicly accessible website pOIial. The depaJiment shall develop 
and post on its publicly accessible website by September 15, 2009 a regulatory flow chal1 
to guide agricultural businesses through the federal, state and local regulation process. 
The flow chali must clearly depict the regulatory role of federal, state and local 
government and include all relevant laws and agencies; and be it fllliher 
Sec. 2. 
Review rules for food processing, manufacturing and storage. 
Resolved: That the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall review 
and draft proposed changes to streamline its rules related to licensing small food 
producers, value-added food processors and shared use kitchens, including rules related 
to home food manufacturing, food storage warehouses and food processing and 
manufacturing. 
The depaJiment shall identify and draft rule changes that allow the 
sequential production of food products in shared use kitchens in order to expand the 
seasonal use ofthe facilities; and be it fluther 
Sec. 3. 
Review rules, resources and processes for meat and poultry 
licensing and inspection. Resolved: That the Depaliment of Agriculture, Food and 
Rural Resources shall review and draft proposed changes to its rules governing meat and 
poultry inspection and licensing in order to suppOIi regional cooperation that allows the 
interstate sales of meat and poultry, expands markets for the State's meat and poultry 
producers, encourages the licensing of mobile slaughter facilities and creates flexibility 
for small-scale meat and poultry producers. 
The depaJiment shall identify steps for 
streamlining the State's meat and poultry inspection and licensing processes and for 
enhancing coordination with the United States DepaJtment of Agriculture's inspection 
program as well as leveraging federal resources, including resources to increase the 
availability of hazard analysis and critical control points training; and be it fUliher 
Sec. 4. Report. Resolved: That the DepaJiment of Agriculture, Food and Rural 
Resources shall present a repOIi to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry by January 15, 2010 that includes findings, recommendations 
and proposed rule changes related to its review of rules and regulatory processes outlined 
in sections 1 to 3 of this resolve. 
The depaltment's repOIi must include any draft 
legislation and all proposed rule changes needed to implement the depaJiment's 
recommendations. 
The Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and 
Forestry may submit a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature 
relating to the repOIi. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the DepaJiment of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to 
review regulatory processes affecting agricultural businesses and to examine the 
feasibility of developing a one-stop, streamlined regulatory process and publicly 
accessible website pOIial. It directs the depaJiment to develop a regulatory flow chali and 
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post it on its publicly accessible website by September 15,2009. The resolve also directs 
the depaliment to review and draft changes to the rules related to the licensing of celiain 
types of food production and processing and the rules governing meat and poultry 
inspection and licensing. It requires the depaliment to identify steps for streamlining the 
State's meat and poultry inspection and licensing process and to enhance coordination 
with the United States DepaIiment of Agriculture's inspection program as well as 
leverage federal resources, including resources to increase the availability of hazard 
analysis and critical control points training. 
The resolve requires the depaliment to 
present a repOli to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and 
Forestry by JanualY 15,2010 that includes findings and recommendations including any 
draft legislation and proposed rule changes needed to implement the recommendations. 
The resolve gives the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and 
Forestry authority to submit a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature 
related to the repOli.