Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] introduces the Montana Local Meat Act, which aims to promote the sale and consumption of local meat products by exempting certain meat processors from various food safety regulations, including licensure, permitting, and inspection, under specific conditions. The bill defines key terms such as "local meat," "processor," and "informed end consumer," and stipulates that transactions must occur directly between processors and consumers within Montana, without involving interstate commerce. It mandates that processors inform consumers that the products sold are not subject to official regulations, thereby enhancing consumer awareness.

The bill amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to clarify regulations surrounding retail food establishments, cottage food operations, and farmer's markets. It specifies that certain operations, like milk producers' facilities and cottage food operations, are exempt from being classified as retail food establishments. Additionally, it allows the sale of homemade food products and local meat at farmer's markets without requiring registration as a cottage food operation, provided specific criteria are met. The bill also establishes that food sold at these markets must be appropriately labeled and that market authorities must maintain registration records. Overall, the Montana Local Meat Act seeks to streamline regulations while ensuring food safety and promoting local agricultural sales.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 30-12-301, 50-31-104, 50-31-106, 50-31-108, 50-31-201, 50-50-102, 50-50-103, 50-50-121, 50-50-301, 50-57-102, 81-2-102, 81-2-105, 81-9-201, 81-9-217, 81-9-218, 81-9-219, 81-9-220, 81-9-234
SB0386_1(1): 30-12-301, 50-31-104, 50-31-106, 50-31-108, 50-31-201, 50-50-102, 50-50-103, 50-50-121, 50-50-301, 50-57-102, 81-2-102, 81-2-105, 81-9-201, 81-9-217, 81-9-218, 81-9-219, 81-9-220, 81-9-234
SB0386_1: 30-12-301, 50-31-104, 50-31-106, 50-31-108, 50-31-201, 50-50-102, 50-50-103, 50-50-121, 50-50-301, 50-57-102, 81-2-102, 81-2-105, 81-9-201, 81-9-217, 81-9-218, 81-9-219, 81-9-220, 81-9-234