Meat Establishment (Slaughterhouses) License

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has the authority to regulate the destruction, slaughter or processing of domestic animals.

PURPOSE:  Establishments processing meat are required to be licensed by the department. This includes facilities that change the consistency of the meat before sale, such as hamburger meat, smoked sausage, etc.

NOTE:  Where the slaughtering operations of slaughterers, packers or stockyard operators who would otherwise be subject to the requirements of this section are subject to inspection by the United States Department of Agriculture, applicable federal law shall control, and the determination of whether slaughter is conducted by humane methods shall be made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in accordance with federal authority or the subject of humane methods of slaughter.

Meat Establishment licenses are valid for two calendar years.  Checks should be made payable to the PA Department of Agriculture in the amount of $25.