The Department of Public Health shall enter into a cooperative agreement, or the equivalent, with the United States Department of Agriculture to take on duties relative to the inspection of slaughter and meat inspection programs, provided that the state inspection and enforcement program meets or exceeds the requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture. The program shall allow for livestock and poultry slaughter and meat processing of animals raised in Massachusetts by Massachusetts farmers.
A commission shall be established to develop regulations for the state inspection and enforcement program. The commission shall consist of the director of the animal health division at the department of agricultural resources or their designee; the director of the food protection program at the department of public health or their designee; a designee of UMass Extension; two Massachusetts livestock growers; a designee of of a membership-based organization representing farmers; and a designee of an existing meat processing facility located in Massachusetts.
Inspection services and regulatory oversight shall be administered by the the food protection program of the department of public health in coordination with the animal health division of the department of agricultural resources.
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