An Act To Promote Small-scale Poultry Farming
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0218
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: KUMIEGA, CHAPMAN, DAUGHTRY, HICKMAN, JONES, LIBBY, LOCKMAN, JOHNSON
Amends: 22 MRSA §2517-C

Legislative Document 
No. 218 
H.P. 179 
House of Representatives, February 5, 2013 
An Act To Promote Small-scale Poultry Farming 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative KUMIEGA of Deer Isle. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: CHAPMAN of Brooksville, DAUGHTRY of Brunswick, 
HICKMAN of Winthrop, JONES of Freedom, LIBBY of Waterboro, LOCKMAN of Amherst, 
Senator: JOHNSON of Lincoln. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §2517-C, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 354, §3, is 
amended to read: 
1.  Exemption for processing fewer than 1,000 birds annually.  Notwithstanding 
section 2512 and whether or not the poultry are intended for human consumption, 
inspection is not required for the slaughter of poultry or the preparation of poultry 
products as long as the poultry are slaughtered or the poultry products are prepared on the 
farm where the poultry were raised and: 
A.  Fewer than 1,000 birds are slaughtered annually on the farm; 
B.  No birds are offered for sale or transportation in interstate commerce; 
C.  Any poultry products sold are sold only as whole birds; 
D.  The poultry producer has a valid license issued under section 2514; 
E.  The facilities for slaughtering and processing are in compliance with rules 
adopted under subsection 4; 
F.  The poultry producer assigns a lot number to all birds sold and maintains a record 
of assigned lot numbers and the point of sale; and 
G.  The poultry are sold in accordance with the restrictions in subsection 2. 
H.  The poultry are sold at the farm on which the poultry were raised or delivered to a 
consumer's home by the poultry producer; and 
I.  The poultry products are labeled with: 
(1)  The name of the farm, the name of the poultry producer and the address of 
the farm including zip code; 
(2)  The statement, "Exempt under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 
2517-C NOT INSPECTED"; and 
(3)  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° Fahrenheit 
maintained for at least 15 minutes.  Keep hot foods hot.  Refrigerate leftovers 
immediately or discard. 
A poultry producer that is exempt under this subsection is also exempt from rules adopted 
under subsection 4. 
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §2517-C, sub-§1-A is enacted to read: 
1-A.  Exemption for processing 1,000 to fewer than 2,000 birds annually.  
Notwithstanding section 2512 and whether or not the poultry are intended for human 
consumption, inspection is not required for the slaughter of poultry or the preparation of 
poultry products as long as the poultry are slaughtered or the poultry products are 
prepared on the farm where the poultry were raised and: 
A.  More than 999 and fewer than 2,000 birds are slaughtered annually on the farm; 
B.  No birds are offered for sale or transportation in interstate commerce; 
C.  Any poultry products sold are sold only as whole birds; 
D.  The poultry producer has a valid license issued under section 2514; 
E.  The facilities for slaughtering and processing are in compliance with rules 
adopted under subsection 4; 
F.  The poultry producer assigns a lot number to all birds sold and maintains a record 
of assigned lot numbers and the point of sale; and 
G.  The poultry are sold in accordance with the restrictions in subsection 2. 
Sec. 3.  22 MRSA §2517-C, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 354, §3, is 
amended to read: 
4.  Rules.  The commissioner shall adopt rules to establish requirements for the 
physical facilities and sanitary processes used by poultry producers whose products are 
exempt from inspection under this section subsection 1-A.  Rules adopted under this 
subsection are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
This bill proposes to create 2 categories of poultry producers that are exempt from 
inspection under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 2512.  The first category is 
for poultry producers that slaughter and process under 1,000 birds annually on the farm 
where the poultry are raised and that meet other sales and licensing requirements.  The 
bill proposes to exempt these producers from the rules established by the Department of 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry governing facilities and sanitary processes used 
by small poultry producers and establishes certain labeling requirements. The 2nd 
category is for poultry producers that slaughter and process more than 999 and fewer than 
2,000 birds annually on the farm where the poultry are raised and that meet similar sales 
and licensing requirements.  Under this bill, these producers would not be exempt from 
the rules governing facilities and sanitary processes used by small poultry producers.