2009 California Food and Agricultural Code - Section 18950-18952 :: Article 2. General Provisions

18950.  The Legislature finds and declares that:
   (a) Sausage products and cured and smoked meat products which are
processed and sold at retail meat processing establishments and
custom slaughtered carcasses are an important source of the food
supply in California; and it is essential and in the public interest
that the health and welfare of consumers of these products are
protected by ensuring that meat, both slaughtered and processed, is
wholesome and not adulterated.
   (b) Meat processing establishments and custom slaughter
establishments exempt from federal inspection have been required to
be inspected in California.
   (c) There is a public demand for specialty meat food products and
there has been an increase in the number of meat processing
establishments manufacturing these products.
   (d) Specialty meat food products are sold and displayed in meat
markets and are difficult to distinguish from United States
Department of Agriculture inspected and passed products.

18951.  The Legislature further finds and declares that:
   (a) A significant number of persons raise their own animals or
purchase their animals alive and then have them slaughtered.
   (b) Rather than have their animals slaughtered under unsanitary
conditions, those persons would prefer to have their animals
slaughtered at sanitary slaughter establishments and have an informed
determination made as to the fitness of the carcasses and parts for
food.
   (c) With the reduction in number of United States Department of
Agriculture inspected slaughter plants in California, there has been
a substantial increase in small custom slaughter houses to serve that
need.

18952.  The objectives of this chapter are to require sanitation and
wholesomeness inspection at licensed custom slaughter establishments
and licensed meat processing establishments exempt from federal
inspection and to provide a cost-effective program using trained and
licensed establishment personnel under department supervision.