Processing Rabbits For Meat

On Farm Processing and Selling to Consumers

Under a 2014 Indiana law, rabbits may be slaughtered and processed without inspection and sold at a farmers market, roadside stand or on a farm under the following conditions**:

1. The product must be frozen at the point of sale.

2. The product includes a label that contains the following information:

   1. Name and address of the producer,

   2. Common or usual name of the product,

   3. Ingredients of the product,

   4. Net weight and volume of the product,

   5. Date the food was processed, and

   6. Statement of exemption (for example, the phrase "Exempt under IC 16-42-5-29").

   7. Statement, in 10-point type: "This product is home-produced and processed in a production area not inspected by ISDH."

**NOTE: Rabbits processed for human consumption must be raised by the person(s) who processes them. Individuals cannot process rabbits for other people.

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health recommends individuals contact the local health department for any local ordinances concerning sales of this product.

Voluntary Inspection at a Meat Processing Facility

All other types of sales comply with the following:

• Indiana State Department of Health retail food code requires rabbit offered for retail sale to be processed and inspected in an official establishment.

• Rabbits are a non-amenable species (i.e. not under mandatory federal inspection), therefore can be shipped interstate after MPI inspection.

• Because rabbit inspection is not required according to the Indiana and USDA-FSIS meat inspection acts or regulations, a charge is applicable for inspection.

• Rabbit products must have approved labels.