Mobile processing units and/or processing equipment are traditionally owned or rented by an approved poultry exempt operator. 

NC farmers are permitted to conduct on-farm processing of poultry of their own raising up to 1,000 poultry/year or greater than 1,000 but no more than 20,000 poultry/year if sold within state lines without mandatory daily inspection, if they meet the respective criteria for the exemption stated in NCDA&CS MPID NOTICE 5-18 dated 12-3-2018 1,000 Poultry Exemption Requirements or the MPID Notice 6-18 dated 12-3-18  20,000 Poultry Exemption Requirement. 

Poultry products produced under exemption can only be sold by the Poultry Exempt Operator directly to the end consumers (retail sales) and may only be sold within the State of North Carolina. Poultry exempt operators are not allowed to put special claims (i.e. pasture-raised, natural, etc.) on their exempt poultry products because slaughter is occurring on their own farm rather than in state- or federally-inspected facilities.

If you are interested in operating under the On-Farm Poultry Exemption, please contact NCDA&CS Meat and Poultry Inspection Division at (919) 707-3180.  They will schedule a representative to visit your farm for exemption approval assuming you meet the criteria outlined in MPID Notice 5-18.

Note of Disclaimer: All efforts were made to provide accurate and precise information pertaining to the laws and regulations surrounding the sale and processing of poultry and of red meats in NC. Due to the changing nature of the regulatory system, it is important to verify the accuracy of these statements with the responsible regulatory agency, NC Department of Agriculture Meat and Poultry Inspection Division.