Revision: May 30, 2025, 11:40 a.m.
CHAPTER 54
HB 779-FN - FINAL VERSION
20Mar2025... 0647h
1May2025... 1906EBA
2025 SESSION
25-0813
08/09
HOUSE BILL 779-FN
AN ACT allowing the sale of rabbit meat in intrastate commerce.
SPONSORS: Rep. Verville, Rock. 2; Rep. Ammon, Hills. 42; Rep. J. Aron, Sull. 4; Rep. Comtois, Belk. 7; Rep. Creighton, Hills. 30; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17
COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture
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ANALYSIS
This bill allows for the sale of uninspected rabbit meat in intrastate commerce.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20Mar2025... 0647h
1May2025... 1906EBA 25-0813
08/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT allowing the sale of rabbit meat in intrastate commerce.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
54:1 Uninspected Rabbits; Sale at Farms, Farmstands, and Farmers Markets. Amend the subdivision heading preceding RSA 143-A:14 to read as follows:
Sale of Uninspected Poultry and Rabbits to Restaurants and Sale of Uninspected Rabbits at New Hampshire Farms, Farmstands, and Farmers Markets
54:2 Producer Requirements; Uninspected Rabbits. Amend RSA 143-A:16 to read as follows:
143-A:16 Producer Requirements.
I. A federally exempt poultry producer may, in a calendar year, sell to licensed restaurants uninspected, processed whole poultry that the producer has raised in a quantity not to exceed the federal limit established in 21 U.S.C. section 464 and an unlicensed rabbit producer may, in a calendar year, sell to licensed restaurants up to 1,000 uninspected, processed whole rabbits that the producer has raised, provided all of the following conditions are met:
(a) The producer is current with all educational requirements that are established by the commissioner in consultation with the commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food relative to proper methods of slaughtering, processing, packaging, and storing poultry or rabbit on the farm and its subsequent transport to restaurants; and
(b) The producer has registered with the department of agriculture, markets, and food by providing his or her name, the name and address of the farm, and phone number, to allow for trace back in the event of disease outbreak. Such registry information shall be protected pursuant to RSA 436:6-a.
II. An unlicensed rabbit producer may, in a calendar year, sell at his or her own farm, farmstand, or farmer's market up to 1,000 uninspected, processed whole rabbits that the producer has raised provided all of the following conditions are met:
(a) The rabbits are raised, slaughtered, processed, packaged, and sold within the state of New Hampshire;
(b) The producer has fulfilled all educational requirements that are established by the commissioner of the department of health and human services in consultation with the commissioner of the department of agriculture, markets, and food relative to proper methods of slaughtering, processing, packaging, and storing rabbit on the farm and its subsequent transport to farmstands or farmers markets; and
(c) The producer has registered with the department of agriculture, markets, and food by providing his or her name, the name and the address of the farm, and his or her phone number, to allow for trace back in the event of disease outbreak. Such information shall be protected pursuant to RSA 436:6-a.
III. The department may inspect these exempt products when the department has reason to suspect an imminent health hazard as defined in RSA 143-A:3, IV-b.
54:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: May 30, 2025
Effective Date: July 29, 2025
Enacted in accordance with Article 44, Part II of the N.H. Constitution, without the signature of the governor May 30, 2025