All Maine guides
Licensed Facility Required

Meats

Beef, pork, lamb and poultry. Selling direct to consumers in Maine.

InspectionRequired
Poultry <1,000Registered exemption
Poultry <20,000Commercial license
Market meatRetail meat license

What is covered

Covered by this path

  • Inspected beef, pork and lamb
  • Poultry from an exempt grower within limits

Needs a different path

  • Uninspected red meat sales
  • Poultry beyond exemption limits
  • Out-of-state poultry under exemption

Three compliance steps

A

Use inspected slaughter

Meat sold in Maine must be inspected; custom-exempt is for home use only.

B

Choose a poultry exemption

Under 1,000 birds needs registration; under 20,000 needs a Commercial Food Processing license.

C

License sales

Meat and poultry vendors at markets need a retail meat license.

Quick reference

ItemRuleRegulator
Under 20,000 birdsCommercial license ($50); sales in Maine onlyDACF QA&R
Retail meatRetail meat licenseDACF QA&R
Market salesMobile license ($20)DACF QA&R

Frequently asked

Can I ship poultry out of state?

Not under the 20,000-bird exemption; sales are restricted to Maine.

Printable checklist

Inspection route chosen
Exemption registered
40F or below holding
Labels printed