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Meat & Poultry Inspection

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s Meat & Poultry Inspection (MPI) program, authorized by the Meat & Poultry Inspection Law (RS 3:4201), ensures the wholesomeness and safety of meat and poultry slaughtered and processed in Louisiana.

Species that require inspection under the law are cattle, swine, sheep, goat, ratites (emu, ostrich, and rhea), equine (not currently funded), domestically-raised chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guineas, ratites, or squabs (young pigeons from one to about thirty days of age).

Meat Inspection personnel enforce regulations for inspecting all livestock and poultry slaughtered and processed in state-inspected facilities. Inspectors are also responsible for ensuring that meat and poultry processing operations meet federal guidelines. The Program’s Compliance Officers conduct surveillance and investigations of consumer complaints and suspected violations of the Meat and Poultry Inspection Law on products moving in commerce. The LDAF MPI program operates an accredited laboratory that analyses meat and poultry product samples for accuracy in labeling and adulteration. The program reviews and approves all meat and poultry product labels to assure that accurate product information is supplied to the consumer.

The program also offers a voluntary grading program for meat products using standards from the Agricultural Marketing Service and seafood inspection through the US Department of Commerce.

 

PLANT DIRECTORIES

CLICK HERE for the Interactive Map of State Plants

Louisiana Meat & Poultry Inspection Division and Office Parish Map - LA MPI

Steps to Apply for Meat and Poultry Inspection

Below is a general description of the application process:

  1. Contact the Federal/State Meat Program Office at 225-922-1358 and inform them of your intent to apply for inspection.
  2. Complete this Application (Solicitud).
  3. Mail the original to:
    LDAF Federal/State Meat Program
    5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 4003
    Baton Rouge, LA 70806
  4. You will be put in contact with a District Supervisor in your area.
  5. The District Supervisor will advise you of the inspection requirements.  New Plant Checklist
  6. Complete a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) training class. Prepare your HACCP and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure (SSOP) plans.
  7. Have any private well water source for your facility tested through the local health authority and obtain a copy of the test results.
  8. Obtain a letter of approval from the local health authority for your facility’s sewage/sanitary wastewater system.
  9. You will be assigned an establishment number.
  10. Submit product labels to the Federal/State Meat Program for approval and receive a grant of inspection.
Register as a Meat & Poultry Handler

Unless you operate under State or Federal Inspection, you are required by law to register with LDAF or USDA if you deal in meat or poultry products in or for commerce.

Register as a Meat and Poultry Handler Here

THIS APPLIES TO: Wholesalers of any carcasses or parts of carcasses of any cattle, sheep, poultry, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines, whether the product is intended for human consumption or not; Public warehousemen who store carcasses or parts of carcasses of any cattle, sheep, poultry, swine, goats, horses, mules or other equines; Buyers, sellers, and transporters of any dead, dying, disabled or diseased animals or parts of carcasses of such animals (4D Operator); Brokers; Jobbers; Educational programs where carcasses or parts of carcasses are slaughtered, processed, or both; or any combination of the above.

List of Helpful Documents

What About Rabbit Processing?
In Louisiana, USDA and LDAF are not involved because rabbit is not addressed in the Federal Meat Inspection Act. Rabbit processing falls under the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and oversight is carried out by your local parish’s Sanitarian. Please check with your Sanitarian for the exact requirements.
 
To get started, you should contact your parish’s Sanitarian using this webpage: LDH Parish Health Units Map
 
More Information: 
 
 
 
Need Your Scale Certified? Grading Program

The LDAF Grading program ensures assure consumers that the products they buy have gone through a rigorous review process by highly-skilled graders & auditors that follow the official grade standards and process standards developed, maintained and interpreted by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service..

All grading is performed by Louisiana Department of Agriculture (LDAF) meat and poultry inspectors.

Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications (IMPS) Guidelines

Popular Cuts of Beef

Popular Cuts of Pork

Goat Lamb Cuts

U. S. Department of Commerce (USDC) Seafood Inspection

This program is designed to inspect for specific SEAFOOD criteria as set forth in USDC guidelines and utilizes LDAF cross-trained licensed inspectors who issue Lot Inspection Certificates, Export Health Certificates, Certificates of Origin, and other USDC certificates. Personnel also performs sanitation inspections on a contract basis.

Sanitation inspections of facilities are performed on an hourly contract basis

Complaint Process

To file a complaint or inquiry related to meat inspection, please contact the LDAF Federal/State Meat Program main office at 225-922-1358 or mail to 5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 4003, Baton Rouge, LA 70806.

Please provide as much information as possible to allow us to better assist you with your issue, including your contact information.

Communication Assistance/Asistencia de Comunicacióne

It is the policy of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Meat and Poultry Inspection Program, to provide meaningful access to individuals, who wish to access its programs and services regardless of their national origin or limited ability to speak, read, write or understand English. Both TTY/TDD and voice users may initiate calls through Louisiana Relay Directory by dialing 711 or by contacting them directly at Louisiana Relay.

Individuals speaking Spanish may dial 225-922-1359 to leave a voicemail request and email address.

Las personas que hablan español pueden llamar al 225-922-1359 para dejar una petición de correo de voz y correo electrónico.

Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal and State Laws, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is prohibited from discrimination in its programs and services on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, disability (including blindness), medical condition, marital status, veteran status, and political affiliation.

To file a complaint of discrimination, please contact the LDAF Federal/State Meat Program main office at (225) 922-1358 or write to Director, Meat and Poultry Inspection, LDAF, 5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 4003, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Alternately, you may contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture at (866) 632-9992 (toll-free) or write to the USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

And Justice for All Poster