The Florida Senate

585.91  Regulation of custom slaughterers and processors; permits.--

(1)  The operations of custom slaughterers or processors are subject to supervision by the department. Each custom slaughtering or processing establishment shall be maintained in a proper sanitary condition in which animal products are produced in a wholesome manner, as required by the regulations of the United States Department of Agriculture which have been adopted as rules of the department.

(2)  Any person operating under this section must obtain a custom slaughtering or processing establishment permit from the department before slaughtering animals or preparing animal products. Such a permit shall be issued upon application to the department on forms furnished by the department and upon conditions prescribed by the department. The department may suspend or revoke any permit issued under this section upon violation of any applicable law or rule by the establishment. The holder of the permit that has been suspended may at any time apply for the reinstatement of such permit, and the department shall immediately reinstate such permit if it is found upon inspection that adequate measures have been taken to comply with the law and the rules of the department.

(3)  A custom slaughterer or processor that is exempt from obtaining a grant of inspection may not engage in the sale at wholesale or retail of animal products for human consumption.

(4)  Each custom slaughtering or processing permit shall be issued for a 3-year period. An application for the renewal of a permit must be received by the department at least 30 days before the expiration of the permit.

(5)  Failure to obtain or renew a permit shall result in the cessation of inspection at that facility by the department.

(6)  The department shall charge a fee not to exceed $75 to defray the cost of processing the permit. Each person who possesses a custom slaughtering or processing permit as of July 1, 1994, must apply before December 1, 1996, to renew the permit. Each renewal of a custom slaughtering or processing permit shall be issued for a period of 3 years.

(7)  A custom slaughtering or processing permit is not transferable. Any change in ownership or in percentage of ownership invalidates the permit issued by the department, and a new application for a custom slaughtering or processing permit must be submitted to the department before any inspection may be conducted at that establishment.

History.--s. 1, ch. 73-56; s. 6, ch. 78-95; s. 64, ch. 90-321; s. 50, ch. 94-180.

Note.--Former s. 585.343.