An Act Regarding the Use of Mobile Poultry Processing Units
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0836
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: DAUGHTRY, JACKSON, BERRY, CHENETTE, HARVELL, HICKMAN, JONES, KAENRATH, KUMIEGA, PLANTE
Amends: 22 MRSA §2511, 22 MRSA §2514, 22 MRSA §2517-C

Legislative Document 
No. 836 
H.P. 587 
House of Representatives, March 5, 2013 
An Act Regarding the Use of Mobile Poultry Processing Units 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative DAUGHTRY of Brunswick. 
Cosponsored by Senator JACKSON of Aroostook and 
Representatives: BERRY of Bowdoinham, CHENETTE of Saco, HARVELL of Farmington, 
HICKMAN of Winthrop, JONES of Freedom, KAENRATH of South Portland, KUMIEGA of 
Deer Isle, PLANTE of Berwick. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §2511, sub-§§26-A and 26-B are enacted to read: 
26-A.  Locally owned grocery store.  "Locally owned grocery store" means a 
grocery store at least 51% of which is owned by one or more residents of the State and 
that has a gross floor area of 25,000 square feet or less. 
26-B.  Locally owned restaurant.  "Locally owned restaurant" means an eating 
establishment at least 51% of which is owned by one or more residents of the State and 
that is not a chain restaurant pursuant to section 2491, subsection 2-B. 
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §2511, sub-§29-A is enacted to read: 
29-A.  Mobile poultry processing unit.  "Mobile poultry processing unit" means a 
poultry slaughterhouse that meets the structural, operational and licensing requirements 
of a mobile poultry processing unit under the federal acts and that is operated by a person 
licensed under section 2514. 
Sec. 3.  22 MRSA §2514, sub-§1, ¶¶K and L, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 777, 
§1, are amended to read: 
K.  Handlers of dead, dying, disabled or diseased animals; and 
L.  Any other category that the commissioner may by rule establish.; and 
Sec. 4.  22 MRSA §2514, sub-§1, ¶M is enacted to read: 
M.  Mobile poultry processing unit operators. 
Sec. 5.  22 MRSA §2517-C, sub-§2, ¶¶C and D, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 354, 
§3, are amended to read: 
C.  Delivered to a consumer’s home by the poultry producer whose name and license 
number appear on the label under subsection 3; or 
D.  Received by a person who is a member of a community supported agriculture 
farm that has a direct marketing relationship with the poultry producer.  For the 
purposes of this section, "community supported agriculture" means an arrangement 
whereby individual consumers have agreements with a farmer to be provided with 
food or other agricultural products produced on that farm.; 
Sec. 6.  22 MRSA §2517-C, sub-§2, ¶¶E and F are enacted to read: 
E.  To a locally owned grocery store; or 
F.  To a locally owned restaurant. 
Sec. 7.  22 MRSA §2517-C, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 354, §3, is 
amended to read: 
3.  Labeling requirements for sales at farmers' markets, locally owned grocery 
stores and locally owned restaurants.  A poultry producer may not sell poultry products 
that have not been inspected at a farmers' market, to a locally owned grocery store or a 
locally owned restaurant pursuant to subsections 1 and 2 unless the poultry products are 
labeled with: 
A.  The name of the farm, the name of the poultry producer and the address of the 
farm including the zip code; 
B.  The number of the license issued to the poultry producer in accordance with 
section 2514 and the lot number for the poultry products pursuant to subsection 1, 
paragraph F; 
C.  The statement "Exempt under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 
2517-C NOT INSPECTED." The statement must be prominently displayed with such 
conspicuousness that it is likely to be read and understood; and 
D.  Safe handling and cooking instructions as follows: "SAFE HANDLING 
INSTRUCTIONS: Keep refrigerated or frozen. Thaw in refrigerator or microwave. 
Keep raw poultry separate from other foods. Wash working surfaces, including 
cutting boards, utensils and hands, after touching raw poultry. Cook thoroughly to an 
internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit maintained for at least 15 
seconds. Keep hot foods hot. Refrigerate leftovers immediately or discard." 
SUMMARY 
This bill defines "mobile poultry processing unit" and adds mobile poultry processing 
unit operators to persons required to be licensed by the State to buy, sell, prepare, 
process, pack, store, transport or otherwise handle meat, meat food products or poultry 
products in the State.  It also permits a poultry producer to sell product exempt from 
inspection to locally owned restaurants and grocery stores.