South Carolina § 47-17-90 - Exemptions from provisions requiring inspection by Director.

§ 47-17-90. Exemptions from provisions requiring inspection by Director.

The provisions of this article requiring inspection by the Director shall not apply:

(1) To the slaughter on his own premises of livestock of his own raising, and the preparation and transportation in intrastate commerce of the carcasses, parts thereof, meat and meat food products of such livestock exclusively for use by him, members of his immediate household and his nonpaying guests and employees. "Raising" shall mean born and raised on the premises or purchased from another source and fed or otherwise maintained by such person for not less than thirty days prior to slaughter by the person on his own premises.

(2) To retail dealers with respect to meat or meat products sold to eating establishments, places which furnish meals as a part of their activities or functions or directly to household consumers in retail stores; provided, that the only processing operation performed by such retail dealers is the cutting up of meat products which have been inspected under the provisions of this article. Products, product content, and labeling of all meat processed by chopping, canning, curing, and similar methods of manufacture by these retail dealers shall be subject to the provisions of this article and to the provisions of regulations promulgated by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.

(3) Persons slaughtering livestock or otherwise processing or handling livestock carcasses or parts thereof, meat food products or meat by-products, which have been or are to be processed as required by recognized religious dietary laws, to the extent that the Director determines is necessary to avoid conflict with such requirements while still effectuating the purposes of this article.

(4) To the custom preparation by any person of carcasses, parts thereof, meat or meat food products derived from the slaughter by any person of cattle, sheep, swine, or goats of his own raising or from game animals delivered by the owner therefor for such custom preparation and transportation in intrastate commerce of such custom prepared articles, exclusive for use in the household of such owner by him for members of his household and his nonpaying guest or employees; provided, that in cases where such persons engaged in such custom operations at an establishment at which inspection under this article is maintained, the Director may exempt from such inspection at such establishment any meat or meat food product prepared on such custom basis; provided, further, that custom operation at any establishment shall be exempt from inspection requirements as provided by this section only if the establishment complies with regulations which the Director is hereby authorized to promulgate to assure that any carcass, parts thereof, meat or meat food products wherever handled on a custom basis are in containers or packages containing such articles are separated at all times from carcasses, parts thereof, meat or meat food products prepared for sale and that all such articles prepared on a custom basis, or any containers or packages containing such articles are plainly marked "NOT FOR SALE" immediately after being prepared and kept so identified until delivered to the owner and that the establishment conducting the custom operation is maintained and operated in a sanitary manner.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 6-619; 1967 (55) 293; 1969 (56) 424; 1973 (58) 643; 2004 Act No. 254, SECTION 1, eff June 17, 2004.