The Missouri Meat and Poultry Inspection Program is dedicated to ensuring that the commercial supply of meat and poultry products within the state are safe, wholesome, accurately labeled and secure, as required by the State/Federal meat and poultry inspection laws. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to implement a new program called the “New Poultry Inspection System,” but a more apt name would be the “Filthy Chicken Rule.” If implemented, this rule would privatize poultry inspections, decreasing the number of USDA inspectors in plants and replacing them with untrained company employees. Meat processed in a custom exempt plant cannot be sold to stores or other individuals. The Meat Inspection office governs and regulates the statutes on meat slaughter and processing plants to assure a safe, wholesome, and properly labeled meat supply for consumers. Some state and custom meat plants will purchase meat from a federally inspected plant then further process the meat and then can sell it to other stores or individuals. There are two categories that meat falls into when selling direct – USDA inspected and custom exempt. Meat that has been slaughtered and processed under USDA inspection can be sold by the carcass (or half, quarter, … Before you place incoming meat, poultry, or seafood in its rightful storage, a proper inspection following a detailed guide should take place. The custom exempt meat plants slaughter animals and process the meat for the individual owner. The Trump administration unveiled a new plan to overhaul USDA’s regulation of meat inspection at pork plants, raising fears about food and worker safety. Office of Meat and Poultry Inspection 804.786.4569 barry.jones@vdacs.virginia.gov. Click here for Division of Animal and Food Industry Services contact information. Click here to submit a complaint concerning foodborne illness, or conditions at a food manufacturer or retail store. Farmers selling meat direct from their farm need to be in compliance with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) regulations. This inspection should include taking the temperature of the food, ensuring its packing is intact, and that it looks acceptable. The Bureau of Meat and Poultry Inspection is responsible for administration of the Meat and Poultry Inspection Act which protects the consumer in relation to wholesomeness, deceptive advertising and proper labeling of meat and poultry products.