An Act Regarding the Regulation of Rabbit Production for Local Consumption
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0709
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: DAUGHTRY, BROOKS, HICKMAN, SAUCIER, TEPLER
Amends: 22 MRSA §2517-E

Legislative Document 
No. 709 
H.P. 485 
House of Representatives, March 5, 2015 
An Act Regarding the Regulation of Rabbit Production for Local 
Consumption 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative DAUGHTRY of Brunswick. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: BROOKS of Lewiston, HICKMAN of Winthrop, SAUCIER 
of Presque Isle, TEPLER of Topsham. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §2517-E is enacted to read: 
§2517-E.  Slaughter and inspection; producer exemptions for rabbits 
1.  Exemption for processing fewer than 1,000 rabbits annually.  Notwithstanding 
section 2512 and whether or not the rabbits are intended for human consumption, 
inspection is not required for the slaughter of rabbits or the preparation of rabbit products 
as long as the rabbits are slaughtered by the producer that raised the rabbits and the rabbit 
products are prepared on the farm where the rabbits were raised and: 
A.  Fewer than 1,000 rabbits are slaughtered annually on the farm; 
B.  No rabbits are offered for sale or transportation in interstate commerce; 
C.  Any rabbit products sold are sold only as whole rabbits; 
D.  The rabbit producer is registered under section 2515;  
E.  The rabbit producer assigns a lot number to all rabbits sold and maintains a record 
of assigned lot numbers and the point of sale; 
F.  The rabbits are sold in accordance with the restrictions in subsection 2; 
G.  The rabbits are sold at the farm on which the rabbits were raised or delivered to a 
consumer's home by the rabbit producer; and 
H.  The rabbit products are labeled with: 
(1)  The name of the farm, the name of the rabbit producer and the address of the 
farm including the zip code; 
(2)  The number of the registration issued to the rabbit producer in accordance 
with section 2515 and the lot number for the rabbit products pursuant to 
paragraph E; 
(3)  The statement "Exempt under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 
2517-E NOT INSPECTED."  The statement must be prominently displayed with 
such conspicuousness that it is likely to be read and understood; and 
(4)  Safe handling and cooking instructions as follows: "SAFE HANDLING 
INSTRUCTIONS: Keep refrigerated or frozen. Thaw in refrigerator or 
microwave. Keep raw rabbit meat separate from other foods. Wash working 
surfaces, including cutting boards, utensils and hands, after touching raw rabbit 
meat. Cook thoroughly to an internal temperature of at least 160° Fahrenheit 
maintained for at least 15 seconds. Keep hot foods hot. Refrigerate leftovers 
immediately or discard." 
2.  Restrictions on point of sale.  Rabbit products sold under this section may only 
be sold by the rabbit producer and in the following locations or manner: 
A.  At the farm on which the rabbits were raised; 
B.  At a farmers' market as defined in Title 7, section 415; 
C.  Delivered to a consumer’s home by the rabbit producer whose name and license 
number appear on the label under subsection 3; 
D.  Received by a person who is a member of a community supported agriculture 
farm that has a direct marketing relationship with the rabbit 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; 
E.  To a locally owned grocery store; or 
F.  To a locally owned restaurant. 
3.  Rules.  The commissioner shall adopt rules to establish requirements for the 
physical facilities and sanitary processes used by rabbit producers whose products are 
exempt from inspection under this section. Rules adopted under this subsection are major 
substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
4.  Enforcement.  The commissioner shall enforce the provisions of this section. 
5.  Violation; penalty.  A person who violates this section is subject to penalties 
under section 2524. 
SUMMARY 
This bill permits rabbit producers to sell rabbit products without inspection at the 
farm on which the rabbits were raised, at farmers' markets, by delivery to consumers' 
homes, to community supported agriculture farms with which the rabbit producer has a 
direct marketing relationship, to locally owned grocery stores and to locally owned 
restaurants.