1 New Paragraph; Wildlife Division; Animals Allowed to Be Owned Without Permit. Amend RSA 207:14 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:

III-a. Kangaroos may be possessed as livestock without a permit from the department.

2 Food Services Licensure; Exemption. Amend RSA 143-A:5, IX to read as follows:

IX. A farm owned or operated by any person, firm, or corporation that raises bison, elk, or red deer for human consumption, and the direct sale within this state of the carcasses, parts, meat, and meat food products of such animals, when slaughtered and processed in accordance with RSA 427:2-a, IV, to the consumer from such farm, at the producer's farm stand, and by the producer at farmers' markets, or when sold to a licensed restaurant in accordance with RSA 143-A:20.

3 Meat from Uninspected Bison, Elk, Red Deer, Kangaroo, and Caribou. Amend the subdivision heading preceding RSA 143-A:18 to read as follows:

Meat from Uninspected Bison, Elk, or Red Deer

4 Food Services Licensure; Kangaroo and Caribou Added. Amend RSA 143-A:18 through RSA 143:20 to read as follows:

143-A:18 Definition of Uninspected Bison, Elk, or Red Deer . For purposes of this subdivision, "uninspected bison, elk, or red deer " means carcasses, parts, meat, and meat food products of bison, elk, or red deer slaughtered and processed in accordance with RSA 427:16, XII and sold or to be sold as provided in RSA 427:2-a, IV.

143-A:19 Labeling; Meat from Uninspected Bison, Elk, or Red Deer . All packaging containing uninspected bison, elk, or red deer shall be clearly labeled to include a description of the product, the name, address, and telephone number of the farm where the product originates, and the date of slaughter.

143-A:20 Purchase of Uninspected Bison, Elk, or Red Deer by Licensed Restaurants.

I. A licensed restaurant, as defined in RSA 143-A:14, II, may purchase from bison, elk, or red deer producers uninspected bison, elk or red deer that is labeled in accordance with RSA 143-A:19.

II. For at least 90 days from the date of each purchase, the licensed restaurant shall keep on file the receipt of purchase to include the product purchased, the date of purchase, the name of the producer, the name and address of the farm, and phone number.

III. The licensed restaurant shall clearly label any menu item containing uninspected bison, elk, or red deer with the following statement: "This product was slaughtered at the farm and is exempt from state and federal inspection."

5 Meat Inspection; Exemptions. Amend RSA 427:2-a, IV to read as follows:

IV. The slaughter of bison, elk, or red deer on a farm for purposes of sale, as provided in RSA 143-A:5, IX, shall be exempt from the provisions of this subdivision requiring inspection of the slaughter of animals and preparation of the carcasses, parts thereof, meat, and meat food products for sale within this state to the public. The slaughter of a bison, elk, or red deer under this paragraph shall be permitted only:

(a) When the owner of the bison, elk, or red deer designates a slaughter area on the farm premises.

(b) When the bison, elk, or red deer is slaughtered in a humane method, as defined in RSA 427:33, III, by the owner or the owner's full time or seasonal employee.

(c) From September 1 to April 30.

(d) When no more than 12 hours passes from the time of slaughter to the placement of the carcass in a refrigerated facility at or below 41 degrees Fahrenheit.

(e) When a veterinarian licensed under RSA 332-B conducts an ante-mortem examination of each herd on an annual basis and the documents related to his or her examination are kept on file with all relevant information including:

(1) Species being inspected;

(2) Herd condition; and

(3) Location and time of inspection.

(f) When such animal is transported to and processed at a facility that is eligible to conduct custom exempt activities as regulated by the USDA pursuant to 21 U.S.C. section 623(a) and associated Departmental regulations.

(g) When the owner of the bison, elk, [or] red deer, kangaroo, or caribou retains the original copy of the report made in subparagraph(e). A copy of such report shall accompany the bison, elk, [or] red deer, kangaroo, or caribou carcass to the processing facility. The processing facility shall retain a copy of the report for one year.

(h) When bison, elk, [or] red deer, kangaroo, or caribou meat is ground for sale, ground meat from every second animal processed shall be tested by the processing facility for Escherichia coli and salmonella at the owner's expense. All aspects of the testing, including sampling, shall be done in a manner that complies with standards and procedures of the USDA, and may include the services of an outside laboratory. The owner of the meat shall not sell it until he or she is in receipt of the test result that indicates the product is safe to eat. The test result shall be kept by the owner for at least one year.

(i) Prior to sale, as provided in RSA 143-A:5, IX, it is labeled as required in RSA 143-A:19.

(j) When the elk or red deer are sourced, kept, and propagated consistent with the rules pursuant to RSA 207:14, RSA 212:25, and RSA 436:24.

(k) When, in the event any atypical death of a red deer, [or] elk, or caribou on the farm, that animal's carcass is tested for chronic wasting disease under rules established by the department of fish and game and the resulting test is negative.

6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

1 New Paragraph; Wildlife Division; Animals Allowed to Be Owned Without Permit. Amend RSA 207:14 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:

III-a. Kangaroos may be possessed as livestock without a permit from the department.

2 Food Services Licensure; Exemption. Amend RSA 143-A:5, IX to read as follows:

IX. A farm owned or operated by any person, firm, or corporation that raises bison, elk, red deer , kangaroo or caribou for human consumption, and the direct sale within this state of the carcasses, parts, meat, and meat food products of such animals, when slaughtered and processed in accordance with RSA 427:2-a, IV, to the consumer from such farm, at the producer's farm stand, and by the producer at farmers' markets, or when sold to a licensed restaurant in accordance with RSA 143-A:20.

3 Meat from Uninspected Bison, Elk, Red Deer, Kangaroo, and Caribou. Amend the subdivision heading preceding RSA 143-A:18 to read as follows:

Meat from Uninspected Bison, Elk, Red Deer , Kangaroo, or Caribou

4 Food Services Licensure; Kangaroo and Caribou Added. Amend RSA 143-A:18 through RSA 143:20 to read as follows:

143-A:18 Definition of Uninspected Bison, Elk, Red Deer , Kangaroo, and Caribou . For purposes of this subdivision, "uninspected bison, elk, red deer , kangaroo, and caribou " means carcasses, parts, meat, and meat food products of bison, elk, red deer , kangaroo, or caribou slaughtered and processed in accordance with RSA 427:16, XII and sold or to be sold as provided in RSA 427:2-a, IV.

143-A:19 Labeling; Meat from Uninspected Bison, Elk, Red Deer , Kangaroo, or Caribou . All packaging containing uninspected bison, elk, red deer , kangaroo, or caribou shall be clearly labeled to include a description of the product, the name, address, and telephone number of the farm where the product originates, and the date of slaughter.

143-A:20 Purchase of Uninspected Bison, Elk, Red Deer , Kangaroo, or Caribou by Licensed Restaurants.

I. A licensed restaurant, as defined in RSA 143-A:14, II, may purchase from bison, elk, red deer , kangaroo, or caribou producers uninspected bison, elk , red deer , kangaroo, or caribou that is labeled in accordance with RSA 143-A:19.

II. For at least 90 days from the date of each purchase, the licensed restaurant shall keep on file the receipt of purchase to include the product purchased, the date of purchase, the name of the producer, the name and address of the farm, and phone number.

III. The licensed restaurant shall clearly label any menu item containing uninspected bison, elk, red deer , kangaroo, or caribou with the following statement: "This product was slaughtered at the farm and is exempt from state and federal inspection."

5 Meat Inspection; Exemptions. Amend RSA 427:2-a, IV to read as follows:

IV. The slaughter of bison, elk, red deer , kangaroo, or caribou on a farm for purposes of sale, as provided in RSA 143-A:5, IX, shall be exempt from the provisions of this subdivision requiring inspection of the slaughter of animals and preparation of the carcasses, parts thereof, meat, and meat food products for sale within this state to the public. The slaughter of a bison, elk, red deer , kangaroo or caribou under this paragraph shall be permitted only:

(a) When the owner of the bison, elk, red deer , kangaroo, or caribou designates a slaughter area on the farm premises.

(b) When the bison, elk, red deer , kangaroo, or caribou is slaughtered in a humane method, as defined in RSA 427:33, III, by the owner or the owner's full time or seasonal employee.

(c) From September 1 to April 30.

(d) When no more than 12 hours passes from the time of slaughter to the placement of the carcass in a refrigerated facility at or below 41 degrees Fahrenheit.

(e) When a veterinarian licensed under RSA 332-B conducts an ante-mortem examination of each herd on an annual basis and the documents related to his or her examination are kept on file with all relevant information including:

(1) Species being inspected;

(2) Herd condition; and

(3) Location and time of inspection.

(f) When such animal is transported to and processed at a facility that is eligible to conduct custom exempt activities as regulated by the USDA pursuant to 21 U.S.C. section 623(a) and associated Departmental regulations.

(g) When the owner of the bison, elk, [or] red deer, kangaroo, or caribou retains the original copy of the report made in subparagraph(e). A copy of such report shall accompany the bison, elk, [or] red deer, kangaroo, or caribou carcass to the processing facility. The processing facility shall retain a copy of the report for one year.

(h) When bison, elk, [or] red deer, kangaroo, or caribou meat is ground for sale, ground meat from every second animal processed shall be tested by the processing facility for Escherichia coli and salmonella at the owner's expense. All aspects of the testing, including sampling, shall be done in a manner that complies with standards and procedures of the USDA, and may include the services of an outside laboratory. The owner of the meat shall not sell it until he or she is in receipt of the test result that indicates the product is safe to eat. The test result shall be kept by the owner for at least one year.

(i) Prior to sale, as provided in RSA 143-A:5, IX, it is labeled as required in RSA 143-A:19.

(j) When the elk or red deer are sourced, kept, and propagated consistent with the rules pursuant to RSA 207:14, RSA 212:25, and RSA 436:24.

(k) When, in the event any atypical death of a red deer, [or] elk, or caribou on the farm, that animal's carcass is tested for chronic wasting disease under rules established by the department of fish and game and the resulting test is negative.

6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.