225 ILCS 650/1 This Act may be cited as the Meat and Poultry Inspection Act
(225 ILCS 650/1) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 301) Sec. 1. This Act may be cited as the Meat and Poultry Inspection Act. (Source: P.A. 86-1475.)
225 ILCS 650
225 ILCS 650
in effect225 ILCS 650/2 Definitions
(225 ILCS 650/2) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302) Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this Act: "Adulterated" means any carcass, part thereof, meat or meat food product, or poultry or poultry food product under one or more of the following circumstances: (1) if it bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render it injurious to health; but in case the substance is not an added substance, such article shall not be considered adulterated under this clause if the quantity of such substance in or on such article does not ordinarily render it injurious to health; (2)(A) if it bears or contains (by reason of administration of any substance to the live animal or otherwise) any added poisonous or added deleterious substance (other than one which is (i) a pesticide chemical in or on a raw agricultural commodity; (ii) a food additive; or (iii) a color additive) which may, in the judgment of the Director, make such article unfit for human food; (B) if it is, in whole or in part, a raw agricultural commodity and such commodity bears or contains a pesticide chemical which is unsafe within the meaning of Section 346a of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; (C) if it bears or contains any food additive which is unsafe within the meaning of Section 348 of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; (D) if it bears or contains any color additive which is unsafe within the meaning of Section 379e of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: Provided, That an article which is not adulterated under clause (B), (C), or (D) shall nevertheless be deemed adulterated if use of the pesticide chemical, food additive, or color additive in or on such article is prohibited by regulations of the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture or under Section 13 or 16 of this Act; (3) if it consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance or is for any other reason unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or otherwise unfit for human food; (4) if it has been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth, or whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health; (5) if it is, in whole or in part, the product of an animal which has died otherwise than by slaughter; (6) if its container is composed, in whole or in part, of any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render the contents injurious to health; (7) if it has been intentionally subjected to radiation, unless the use of the radiation was in conformity with a regulation or exemption in effect pursuant to Section 348 of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; (8) if any valuable constituent has been in whole or in part omitted or abstracted therefrom; or if any substance has been substituted, wholly or in part therefor; or if damage or inferiority has been concealed in any manner; or if any substance has been added thereto or mixed or packed therewith so as to increase its bulk or weight, or reduce its quality or strength, or make it appear better or of greater value than it; or (9) if it is margarine containing animal fat and any of the raw material used therein consisted in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance. "Amenable" means foods containing 3% or more raw, or more than 2% cooked, red meat or poultry, other edible portions of carcass, bird, or siluriformes fish, or products that historically have been considered by customers as products of the meat or poultry industry. "Animals" means cattle, calves, American bison (buffalo), catalo, cattalo, sheep, swine, domestic deer, domestic elk, domestic antelope, domestic reindeer, ratites, water buffalo, and goats. "Capable of use as human food" means the carcass of any animal or poultry, or part or product of a carcass of any animal or poultry, unless it is denatured to deter its use as human food or it is naturally inedible by humans. "Custom processing" means the cutting up, packaging, wrapping, storing, freezing, smoking, or curing of meat or poultry products as a service by an establishment for the owner or the agent of the owner of the meat or poultry products exclusively for use in the household of the owner and his or her nonpaying guests and employees or slaughtering with respect to live poultry purchased by the consumer at this establishment and processed by a custom plant operator in accordance with the consumer's instructions. "Custom slaughter" means the slaughtering, skinning, defeathering, eviscerating, cutting up, packaging, or wrapping of animals or poultry as a service by an establishment for the owner or the agent of the owner of the animals or poultry exclusively for use in the household of the owner and his or her nonpaying guests and employees. "Department" means the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois. "Director" means, unless otherwise provided, the Director of the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois or his or her duly appointed representative. "Establishment" means all premises where animals, poultry, or both, are slaughtered or otherwise prepared either for custom, resale, or retail for food purposes, meat or poultry canneries, sausage factories, smoking or curing operations, restaurants, grocery stores, brokerages, cold storage plants, processing plants, and similar places. "Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act" means the Act approved June 25, 1938 (52 Stat. 1040), as now or hereafter amended. "Federal inspection" means the meat and poultry inspection service conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture by the authority of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Federal Poultry Products Inspection Act. "Federal Meat Inspection Act" means the Act approved March 4, 1907 (34 Stat. 1260), as now or hereafter amended by the Wholesome Meat Act (81 Stat. 584), as now or hereafter amended. "Illinois inspected and condemned" means that the meat or poultry product so identified and marked is unhealthful, unwholesome, adulterated, or otherwise unfit for human food and shall be disposed of in the manner prescribed by the Department. "Illinois inspected and passed" means that the meat or poultry product so stamped and identified has been inspected and passed under the provisions of this Act and the rules and regulations pertaining thereto at the time of inspection and identification was found to be sound, clean, wholesome, and unadulterated. "Illinois retained" means that the meat or poultry product so identified is held for further clinical examination by a veterinary inspector to determine its disposal. "Immediate container" means any consumer package or any other container in which livestock products or poultry products, not consumer packaged, are packed. "Inspector" means any employee of the Department authorized by the Director to inspect animals and poultry or meat and poultry products. "Label" means a display of written, printed, or graphic matter upon any article or the immediate container, not including package liners, of any article. "Labeling" means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic matter (i) upon any article or any of its containers or wrappers or (ii) accompanying the article. "Meat broker", "poultry broker", or "meat and poultry broker" means any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of buying, negotiating for purchase of, handling or taking possession of, or selling meat or poultry products on commission or otherwise purchasing or selling of such articles other than for the person's own account in their original containers without changing the character of the products in any way. A broker shall not possess any processing equipment in his or her licensed facility. "Meat food product" means any product capable of use as human food that is made wholly or in part from any meat or other portion of the carcass of any cattle, sheep, swine, or goats, except products that contain meat or other portions of such carcasses only in a relatively small proportion or products that historically have not been considered by consumers as products of the meat food industry and that are exempted from definition as a meat food product by the Director under such conditions as the Director may prescribe to assure that the meat or other portions of such carcass contained in such product are not adulterated and that such products are not represented as meat food products. This term as applied to food products of equines or domestic deer shall have a meaning comparable to that provided in this definition with respect to cattle, sheep, swine, and goats. "Misbranded" means any carcass, part thereof, meat or meat food product, or poultry or poultry food product if: (1) its labeling is false or misleading in any particular; (2) it is offered for sale under the name of another food; (3) it is an imitation of another food, unless its label bears, in type of uniform size and prominence, the word "imitation" followed immediately by the name of the food imitated; (4) its container is made, formed, or filled so as to be misleading; (5) it does not bear a label showing (i) the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor and (ii) an accurate statement of the quantity of the contents in terms of weight, measure, or numerical count; however, reasonable variations in such statement of quantity may be permitted; (6) any word, statement, or other information required by or under authority of this Act to appear on the label or other labeling is not prominently placed thereon with such conspicuousness as compared with other words, statements, designs, or devices in the labeling and in such terms as to make the label likely to be read and understood by the general public under customary conditions of purchase and use; (7) it purports to be or is represented as a food for which a definition and standard of identity or composition is prescribed in Sections 13 and 16 of this Act unless (i) it conforms to such definition and standard and (ii) its label bears the name of the food specified in the definition and standard and, as required by such regulations, the common names of optional ingredients other than spices and flavoring present in such food; (8) it purports to be or is represented as a food for which a standard of fill of container is prescribed in Section 13 of this Act and it falls below the applicable standard of fill of container applicable thereto, unless its label bears, in such manner and form as such regulations specify, a statement that it falls below such standard; (9) it is not subject to the provisions of paragraph (7), unless its label bears (i) the common or usual name of the food, if any, and (ii) if it is fabricated from 2 or more ingredients, the common or usual name of each ingredient, except that spices and flavorings may, when authorized by standards or regulations adopted in or as provided by Sections 13 and 16 of this Act, be designated as spices and flavorings without naming each; (10) it purports to be or is represented for special dietary uses, unless its label bears such information concerning its vitamin, mineral, and other dietary properties as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States in order to fully inform purchasers as to its value for such uses; (11) it bears or contains any artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, or chemical preservative, unless it bears labeling stating that fact or is exempt; or (12) it fails to bear, directly thereon or on its container, the inspection legend and unrestricted by any of the foregoing provisions, such other information as necessary to assure that it will not have false or misleading labeling and that the public will be informed of the manner of handling required to maintain the article in a wholesome condition. "Official establishment" means any establishment as determined by the Director at which inspection of the slaughter of livestock or poultry or the preparation of livestock products or poultry products is maintained under the authority of this Act. "Official mark of inspection" means the official mark of inspection used to identify the status of any meat product or poultry product or animal under this Act as established by rule. Prior to the manufacture, a complete and accurate description and design of all the brands, legends, and symbols shall be submitted to the Director for approval as to compliance with this Act. Each brand or symbol that bears the official mark shall be delivered into the custody of the inspector in charge of the establishment and shall be used only under the supervision of a Department employee. When not in use, all such brands and symbols bearing the official mark of inspection shall be secured in a locked locker or compartment, the keys of which shall not leave the possession of Department employees. "Person" means any individual or entity, including, but not limited to, a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, cooperative, association, limited liability company, estate, or trust. "Pesticide chemical", "food additive", "color additive", and "raw agricultural commodity" have the same meanings for purposes of this Act as under the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. "Poultry" means domesticated birds or rabbits, or both, dead or alive, capable of being used for human food. "Poultry products" means the carcasses or parts of carcasses of poultry produced entirely or in substantial part from such poultry, including but not limited to such products cooked, pressed, smoked, dried, pickled, frozen, or similarly processed. "Poultry Products Inspection Act" means the Act approved August 28, 1957 (71 Stat. 441), as now or hereafter amended by the Wholesome Poultry Products Act, approved August 18, 1968 (82 Stat. 791), as now or hereafter amended. "Poultry Raiser" means any person who raises poultry, including rabbits, on his or her own farm or premises who does not qualify as a producer as defined under this Act. "Processor" means any person engaged in the business of preparing food from animals, including poultry, derived wholly or in part from livestock or poultry carcasses or parts or products of such carcasses. "Shipping container" means any container used or intended for use in packaging the product packed in an immediate container. "Slaughterer" means an establishment where any or all of the following may be performed on animals or poultry: (i) stunning; (ii) bleeding; (iii) defeathering, dehairing, or skinning; (iv) eviscerating; or (v) preparing carcasses for chilling. "State inspection" means the meat and poultry inspection service conducted by the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois by the authority of this Act. (Source: P.A. 104-422, eff. 8-15-25.)
225 ILCS 650/2.1 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.1) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.1) Sec. 2.1. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.2 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.2) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.2) Sec. 2.2. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.3 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.3) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.3) Sec. 2.3. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 83-759. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.4 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.4) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.4) Sec. 2.4. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.5 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.5) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.5) Sec. 2.5. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 79-869. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.6 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.6) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.6) Sec. 2.6. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 90-51, eff. 1-1-98. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.7 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.7) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.7) Sec. 2.7. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.8 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.8) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.8) Sec. 2.8. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.9 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.9) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.9) Sec. 2.9. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 79-869. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.9a (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.9a) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.9a) Sec. 2.9a. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 79-869. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.10 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.10) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.10) Sec. 2.10. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.11 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.11) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.11) Sec. 2.11. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 85-246. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.12 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.12) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.12) Sec. 2.12. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.13 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.13) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.13) Sec. 2.13. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.14 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.14) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.14) Sec. 2.14. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.15 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.15) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.15) Sec. 2.15. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.16 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.16) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.16) Sec. 2.16. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.17 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.17) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.17) Sec. 2.17. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.18 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.18) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.18) Sec. 2.18. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.19 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.19) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.19) Sec. 2.19. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 84-1350. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.20 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.20) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.20) Sec. 2.20. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 83-759. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.21 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.21) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.21) Sec. 2.21. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.22 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.22) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.22) Sec. 2.22. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.23 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.23) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.23) Sec. 2.23. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 83-759. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.24 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.24) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.24) Sec. 2.24. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 83-759. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.25 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.25) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.25) Sec. 2.25. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.26 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.26) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.26) Sec. 2.26. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 89-463, eff. 5-31-96. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.28 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.28) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.28) Sec. 2.28. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 79-869. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.29 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.29) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.29) Sec. 2.29. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 79-869. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.30 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.30) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.30) Sec. 2.30. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 79-869. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.31 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.31) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.31) Sec. 2.31. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 83-759. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.32 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.32) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.32) Sec. 2.32. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.33 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.33) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.33) Sec. 2.33. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 79-869. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.34 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.34) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.34) Sec. 2.34. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 79-869. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.35 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.35) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.35) Sec. 2.35. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.36 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.36) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.36) Sec. 2.36. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.37 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.37) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.37) Sec. 2.37. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 83-759. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.38 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.38) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.38) Sec. 2.38. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.39 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.39) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.39) Sec. 2.39. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.40 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.40) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.40) Sec. 2.40. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.41 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.41) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.41) Sec. 2.41. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 82-255. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.42 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.42) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.42) Sec. 2.42. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 82-255. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.43 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.43) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.43) Sec. 2.43. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 82-255. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/2.44 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/2.44) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 302.44) Sec. 2.44. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 82-255. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/3 Licenses
(225 ILCS 650/3) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 303) Sec. 3. Licenses. (a) No person shall operate an establishment as defined in Section 2 or act as a broker as defined in Section 2 without first securing a license from the Department except as otherwise exempted. Beginning July 1, 2018, licenses issued to Type I establishments and Type II establishments under this Act shall not expire if the licensee remains in compliance with the provisions of this Act. (b) The following annual fee shall accompany each license application for the license year from July 1 to June 30 or any part thereof. This fee is non-refundable: Meatbroker, Poultry broker, or Meat and Poultry broker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50 Application for licenses shall be made to the Department in writing on forms prescribed by the Department. (c) The license issued shall be in such form as the Department prescribes, shall be under the seal of the Department and shall contain the name of the licensee, the location for which the license is issued, the type of operation, the period of the license, and such other information as the Department requires. The original license or a certified copy of it shall be conspicuously displayed by the licensee in the establishment. (d) Failure to meet all of the conditions to retain a license may result in a denial of a renewal of a license. The licensee may request an administrative hearing to dispute the denial of renewal, after which the Director shall enter an order either renewing or refusing to renew the license. (e) A penalty of $50 shall be assessed if renewal license applications are not received by July 1 of each year and establishment operations shall be discontinued until payment is received in full. (Source: P.A. 100-113, eff. 8-15-17.)
225 ILCS 650/3.1 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/3.1) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 303.1) Sec. 3.1. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 85-246. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/4 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/4) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 304) Sec. 4. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 76-357. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/5
(225 ILCS 650/5) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 305) Sec. 5. Exemptions; producers, retailers, and poultry raisers. The following types of establishments are exempt from the specific provisions of this Act: (A) A "producer" means any person engaged in producing agricultural products, for personal or family use, on whose farm the number of animals or poultry is in keeping with the size of the farm or with the volume or character of the agricultural products produced thereon, but does not mean any person engaged in producing agricultural products who: 1. actively engages in buying or trading animals or poultry or both; or 2. actively engages directly or indirectly in conducting a business which includes the slaughter of animals or poultry or both, for human food purposes; or 3. actively engages, directly or indirectly, in canning, curing, pickling, freezing, salting meat or poultry, or in preparing meat or poultry products for sale. (A-5) Retail dealers or retail butchers with respect to meat or poultry products sold directly to consumers in retail stores; provided, that the only processing operation performed by such retail dealers or retail butchers is the cutting up of meat or poultry products which have been inspected under the provisions of this Act and is incidental to the operation of the retail food store. (B) Poultry raisers with respect to poultry raised on their own farms or premises if: (a) such raisers slaughter, eviscerate, or further process not more than 7,500 poultry during the calendar year for which this exemption is being granted; (b) such poultry raisers do not engage in buying or selling poultry products other than those produced from poultry raised on their own farms or premises; (c) such poultry or poultry products are slaughtered, otherwise prepared, sold or delivered to the consumer on or from the premises for which the exemption is given, including sales at the poultry raiser's farm, at a farmers' market, at a roadside stand, or through delivery to the consumer; (d) such slaughter or preparation shall be performed in sanitary facilities, in a sanitary manner, and subject to periodic inspection by Department personnel; (e) persons desiring such exemptions shall submit in writing a request to the Department; (f) there is at least one person who is responsible for all periods of operation for the premises for which the exemption is given who has successfully obtained a certification as a Certified Food Protection Manager from a program that is accredited by the American National Standards Institute; (g) the poultry products are labeled in at least 10-point font to include the producer's name and address, the date on which the poultry product was processed, and the statement "NOT INSPECTED-Exempt P.L. 90-492"; (h) at the point of sale, notice is provided in a prominent location and states the following: "These poultry products were processed in an on-farm facility that is exempt from continuous inspection by the Illinois Department of Agriculture or the United States Department of Agriculture.". A notice on a physical display shall be prominently displayed on a placard in at least 18-point font. A notice displayed online shall be displayed in the form of a message on the farm's online sales interface at the point of sale; (i) at the point of sale at farmers' markets, information in the form of a placard, flyer, or product label shall be provided to consumers regarding safe handling instructions for poultry or poultry products produced under this Section as described in 9 CFR 381.125(b) with the rationale statement provided in 9 CFR 381.125(b)(2)(ii); (j) poultry and poultry products produced under this Section shall be maintained at temperatures as provided in Section 3.3 of the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act during storage, transportation, shipping, and delivery; and (k) poultry or poultry products produced under this Section that are sold, offered for sale, or otherwise distributed at farmers' markets shall be sealed in a watertight or leakproof bag or other watertight or leakproof packaging. An exemption under this Section shall be effective upon written notice from the Department and shall remain in effect for a period of 2 years, unless revoked. Adequate records must be maintained to assure that not more than the number of exempted poultry are slaughtered or processed in one calendar year. Such records shall be kept for one year following the termination of each exemption. Any advertisement regarding the exempt poultry or poultry products shall reflect the fact of exemption so as not to mislead the consumer to presume official inspection has been made under the Meat and Poultry Inspection Act. (Source: P.A. 104-210, eff. 1-1-26.)
225 ILCS 650/5.1
(225 ILCS 650/5.1) Sec. 5.1. Type I licenses. (a) A Type I establishment licensed under this Act who sells or offers for sale meat, meat product, poultry, and poultry product, except as otherwise provided: (1) shall be permitted to receive meat, meat product, poultry, and poultry product for cutting, processing, preparing, packing, wrapping, chilling, freezing, sharp freezing, or storing, provided it bears an official mark of State of Illinois or of Federal Inspection; (2) shall be permitted to receive live animals and poultry for slaughter, provided all animals and poultry are properly presented for prescribed inspection to a Department employee; and (3) (blank). (b) Before being granted or renewing official inspection, an establishment must develop written sanitation Standard Operating Procedures as required by 8 Ill. Adm. Code 125.141. (c) Before being granted official inspection, an establishment must conduct a hazard analysis and develop and validate an HACCP plan as required by 8 Ill. Adm. Code 125.142. A conditional grant of inspection shall be issued for a period not to exceed 90 days, during which period the establishment must validate its HACCP plan. Any establishment subject to inspection under this Act that believes, or has reason to believe, that an adulterated or misbranded meat or meat food product received by or originating from the establishment has entered into commerce shall promptly notify the Director with regard to the type, amount, origin, and destination of the meat or meat food product. The Director shall require that each Type I establishment subject to inspection under this Act shall, at a minimum: (1) prepare and maintain current procedures for the recall of all meat, poultry, meat food products, and poultry food products with a mark of inspection produced and shipped by the establishment; (2) document each reassessment of the process control plans of the establishment; and (3) upon request, make the procedures and reassessed process control plans available to inspectors appointed by the Director for review and copying. (d) Any establishment licensed under the authority of this Act that receives wild game carcasses shall comply with the following requirements regarding wild game carcasses: (1) Wild game carcasses shall be dressed prior to entering the processing or refrigerated areas of the licensed establishment. (2) Wild game carcasses stored in the refrigerated area of the licensed establishment shall be kept separate and apart from inspected products. (3) A written request shall be made to the Department on an annual basis if a licensed establishment is suspending operations regarding an amenable product due to handling of wild game carcasses. (4) A written procedure for handling wild game shall be approved by the Department. (5) All equipment used that comes in contact with wild game shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized prior to use on animal or poultry carcasses. (e) The Director may exempt from inspection animals slaughtered or any meat or meat food products prepared on a custom basis at a Type I licensee only if the Type I licensee complies with all of the following: (1) rules that the Director is hereby authorized to adopt to ensure that (A) any carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, or meat food products wherever handled on a custom basis, or any containers or packages containing such articles, are separated at all times from carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, or meat food products prepared for sale; (B) that all such articles prepared on a custom basis, or any containers or packages containing such articles, are plainly marked "NOT FOR SALE" immediately after being prepared and kept so identified until delivered to the owner; and (C) the establishment conducting the custom operation is maintained and operated in a sanitary manner; (2) providing annual notification in writing to the Bureau Chief of the Department's Bureau of Meat and Poultry Inspection of the licensee's intent to use the custom operation provision; (3) providing written notification to the Department's assigned supervisor or inspector of the use of the custom operation provision (slaughtering or receipt of product)the next scheduled inspection day after each occurrence; (4) keeping all custom exempt animals and product segregated from animals and product designated for slaughter and processing; (5) ensuring that cattle are ambulatory at the time of slaughter and will be documented as so by the owner of the animal; (6) the prohibition on changing the animal status to "intended for custom exemption" after the establishment offers the animal for antemortem inspection; (7) the prohibition on performing custom exempt operations unless there is a complete physical separation of product and processes by time or space and the finished products are separately maintained; and (8) when conducting custom exempt operations requiring any cutting or boning outside the hours of inspected operations, before inspected operations occur, the licensee shall have the employees: (A) change their outer garments; (B) clean and sanitize their hands; and (C) clean and sanitize the facilities and equipment as described in the establishment's sanitation operating procedures. (Source: P.A. 103-726, eff. 1-1-25.)
225 ILCS 650/5.2
(225 ILCS 650/5.2) Sec. 5.2. Type II licenses. (a) Type II establishments licensed under this Act for custom slaughtering and custom processing shall: (1) Be permitted to receive, for processing, meat products and poultry products from animals and poultry slaughtered by the owner or for the owner for his or her own personal use or for use by his or her household. (2) Be permitted to receive live animals and poultry presented by the owner to be slaughtered and processed for the owner's own personal use or for use by his or her household. (3) Be permitted to receive, for processing, inspected meat products and inspected poultry products for the owner's own personal use or for use by his or her household. (4) Stamp the words "NOT FOR SALE-NOT INSPECTED" in letters at least 3/8 inches in height on all carcasses of animals and immediate poultry product containers for poultry slaughtered in such establishment and on all meat products and immediate poultry product containers for poultry products processed in that establishment. (5) Conspicuously display a license issued by the Department and bearing the words "NO SALES PERMITTED". (6) Keep a record of the name and address of the owner of each carcass or portion thereof received in such licensed establishment, the date received, and the dressed weight. Such records shall be maintained for at least one year and shall be available, during reasonable hours, for inspection by Department personnel. (b) No custom slaughterer or custom processor shall engage in the business of buying or selling any poultry or meat products capable of use as human food, or slaughter of any animals or poultry intended for sale. (c) Each Type II licensee shall develop, implement, and maintain written standard operating procedures for sanitation, which shall be known as Sanitation SOPs, in accordance with all of the following requirements: (1) The Sanitation SOPs must describe all procedures that a Type II licensee shall conduct daily, before and during operations, sufficient to prevent direct contamination or adulteration of products. (2) The Sanitation SOPs must be signed and dated by the individual with overall authority on-site or a higher level official of the establishment. This signature shall signify that the establishment shall implement the Sanitation SOPs as specified and maintain the Sanitation SOPs in accordance with the requirements of this subsection (c). The Sanitation SOPs must be signed and dated upon the initial implementation of the Sanitation SOPs and upon any modification to the Sanitation SOPs. (3) Procedures set forth in the Sanitation SOPs that are to be conducted prior to operations must be identified as such and must address, at a minimum, the cleaning of food contact surfaces of facilities, equipment, and utensils. (4) The Sanitation SOPs must specify the frequency with which each procedure in the Sanitation SOPs shall be conducted and identify the establishment employees responsible for the implementation and maintenance of the procedures. (5) Prior to the start of operations, each licensee must conduct the pre-operational procedures in the Sanitation SOPs. All other procedures set forth in the Sanitation SOPs must be conducted at the frequencies specified. (6) The implementation of the procedures set forth in the Sanitation SOPs must be monitored daily by the licensee. (7) A licensee must routinely evaluate the effectiveness of the Sanitation SOPs and the procedures set forth therein in preventing direct contamination or adulteration of products and shall revise both as necessary to keep the Sanitation SOPs and the procedures set forth therein effective and current with respect to changes in facilities, equipment, utensils, operations, or personnel. (8) A licensee must take appropriate corrective action when either the establishment itself or the Department determines that the Sanitation SOPs or the procedures specified therein or the implementation or maintenance of the Sanitation SOPs may have failed to prevent direct contamination or adulteration of products. Corrective actions include procedures to ensure appropriate disposition of products that may be contaminated, restore sanitary conditions, and prevent the recurrence of direct contamination or adulteration of products, such as appropriate reevaluation and modification of the Sanitation SOPs and the procedures specified therein or appropriate improvements in the execution of the Sanitation SOPs or the procedures specified therein. (9) A licensee must maintain daily records sufficient to document the implementation and monitoring of the Sanitation SOPs and any corrective actions taken. The establishment employees specified in the Sanitation SOPs as being responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the procedures set forth in the Sanitation SOPs must authenticate these records with their initials and the date. The records required to be maintained under this item (9) may be maintained on computers, provided that the establishment implements appropriate controls to ensure the integrity of the electronic data. Records must be maintained for at least 6 months and made available to the Department upon request. All records must be maintained at the licensed establishment for 48 hours following completion, after which the records may be maintained off-site, provided that the records may be made available to the Department within 24 hours of request. (10) The Department shall verify the adequacy and effectiveness of the Sanitation SOPs and the procedures specified therein by determining that they meet the requirements of this subsection (c). This verification may include the following: (A) reviewing the Sanitation SOPs; (B) reviewing the daily records documenting the implementation of the Sanitation SOPs and the procedures set forth therein and any corrective actions taken or required to be taken; (C) direct observation of the implementation of the Sanitation SOPs and the procedures specified therein and any corrective actions taken or required to be taken; and (D) direct observation or testing to assess the sanitary conditions within the establishment. (d) Each Type II licensee that slaughters livestock must test for Escherichia coli Biotype 1 (E. coli). Licensees that slaughter more than one type of livestock or both livestock and poultry must test the type of livestock or poultry slaughtered in the greatest number. The testing required under this subsection (d) must meet all of the following requirements: (1) A licensee must prepare written specimen collection procedures that identify the employees designated to collect samples and must address (i) locations of sampling, (ii) the ways in which sampling randomness is achieved, and (iii) the handling of samples to ensure sample integrity. This written procedure must be made available to the Department upon request. (2) Livestock samples must be collected from all chilled livestock carcasses, except those boned before chilling (hot-boned), which must be sampled after the final wash. Samples must be collected in the following manner: (A) for cattle, establishments must sponge or excise tissue from the flank, brisket, and rump, except for hide-on calves, in which case establishments must take samples by sponging from inside the flank, inside the brisket, and inside the rump; (B) for sheep and goats, establishments must sponge from the flank, brisket, and rump, except for hide-on carcasses, in which case establishments must take samples by sponging from inside the flank, inside the brisket, and inside the rump; (C) for swine carcasses, establishments must sponge or excise tissue from the ham, belly, and jowl areas. (3) A licensee must collect at least one sample per week, starting the first full week of operation after June 1 of each year, and continue sampling at a minimum of once each week in which the establishment operates until June 1 of the following year or until 13 samples have been collected, whichever is sooner. (4) Upon a licensee's meeting the requirements of item (3) of this subsection (d), weekly sampling and testing shall be optional, unless changes are made in establishment facilities, equipment, personnel, or procedures that may affect the adequacy of existing process control measures, as determined by the licensee or the Department. Determinations made by the Department that changes have been made requiring the resumption of weekly testing must be provided to the licensee in writing. (5) Laboratories may use any quantitative method for the analysis of E. coli that is approved as an AOAC Official Method of the AOAC International (formerly the Association of Official Analytical Chemists) or approved and published by a scientific body and based on the results of a collaborative trial conducted in accordance with an internationally recognized protocol on collaborative trials and compared against the 3 tube Most Probable Number (MPN) method and agreeing with the 95% upper and lower confidence limit of the appropriate MPN index. (6) A licensee must maintain accurate records of all test results, in terms of CFU/cm2 of surface area sponged or excised. Results must be recorded onto a process control chart or table showing at least the most recent 13 test results, by type of livestock slaughtered. Records shall be retained at the establishment for a period of 12 months and made available to the Department upon request. (7) Licensees must meet the following criteria for the evaluation of test results: (A) A licensee excising samples from carcasses shall be deemed as operating within the criteria of this item (7) when the most recent E. coli test result does not exceed the upper limit (M), and the number of samples, if any, testing positive at levels above (m) is 3 or fewer out of the most recent 13 samples (n) taken, as follows: Evaluation of E. Coli Test Results Type of Lower limit Upper limit Number Max number Livestock of marginal of marginal samples permitted range range collected in marginal range (m) (M) (n) (c) Cattle Negative a 100 CFU/cm2 13 3 Swine 10 CFU/cm2 10,000 CFU/cm 13 3 a Negative is defined by the sensitivity of the method used in the baseline study with a limit of sensitivity of at least 5 CFU/cm2 carcass surface area. (B) A licensee sponging carcasses shall evaluate E. coli test results using statistical process control techniques. (8) Test results that do not meet the criteria set forth in item (7) of this subsection (d) are an indication that the establishment may not be maintaining process controls sufficient to prevent fecal contamination. The Department shall take further action as appropriate to ensure that all applicable provisions of this Section are being met. (e) Each Type II licensee that slaughters poultry shall test for Escherichia coli Biotype 1 (E. coli). Licensees that slaughter more than one type of poultry or poultry and livestock, shall test the type of poultry or livestock slaughtered in the greatest number. The testing required under this subsection (e) must meet all of the following requirements: (1) A licensee must prepare written specimen collection procedures that identify the employees designated to collect samples and must address (i) locations of sampling, (ii) the ways in which sampling randomness is achieved, and (iii) the handling of samples to ensure sample integrity. This written procedure must be made available to the Department upon request. (2) When collecting poultry samples, a whole bird must be taken from the end of the slaughter line. Samples must be collected by rinsing the whole carcass in an amount of buffer appropriate for that type of bird. Samples from turkeys or ratites also may be collected by sponging the carcass on the back and thigh. (3) Licensees that slaughter turkeys, ducks, geese, guineas, squabs, or ratites in the largest number must collect at least one sample during each week of operation after June 1 of each year, and continue sampling at a minimum of once each week that the establishment operates until June 1 of the following year or until 13 samples have been collected, whichever is sooner. (4) Upon a licensee's meeting the requirements of item (3) of this subsection (e), weekly sampling and testing shall be optional, unless changes are made in establishment facilities, equipment, personnel, or procedures that may affect the adequacy of existing process control measures, as determined by the licensee or by the Department. Determinations by the Department that changes have been made requiring the resumption of weekly testing must be provided to the licensee in writing. (5) Laboratories may use any quantitative method for the analysis of E. coli that is approved as an AOAC Official Method of the AOAC International (formerly the Association of Official Analytical Chemists) or approved and published by a scientific body and based on the results of a collaborative trial conducted in accordance with an internationally recognized protocol on collaborative trials and compared against the 3 tube Most Probable Number (MPN) method and agreeing with the 95% upper and lower confidence limit of the appropriate MPN index. (6) A licensee must maintain accurate records of all test results, in terms of CFU/ml of rinse fluid. Results must be recorded onto a process control chart or table showing the most recent 13 test results, by type of poultry slaughtered. Records must be retained at the establishment for a period of 12 months and made available to the Department upon request. (7) A licensee excising samples under this subsection (e) shall be deemed as operating within the criteria of this item (7) when the most recent E. coli test result does not exceed the upper limit (M), and the number of samples, if any, testing positive at levels above (m) is 3 or fewer out of the most recent 13 samples (n) taken, as follows: Evaluation of E. Coli Test Results Type of Lower limit Upper limit Number of Number poultry of marginal of marginal samples permitted range range tested in marginal range (m) (M) (n) (c) Chickens 100 CFU/ml 1,000 CFU/ml 13 3 (8) Test results that do not meet the criteria set forth in item (7) of this subsection (e) are an indication that the establishment may not be maintaining process controls sufficient to prevent fecal contamination. The Department shall take further action as appropriate to ensure that all applicable provisions of this Section are being met. (Source: P.A. 94-1052, eff. 1-1-07; 95-554, eff. 8-30-07.)
225 ILCS 650/6 Recognition of Federal Inspection
(225 ILCS 650/6) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 306) Sec. 6. Recognition of Federal Inspection. The provisions of this Act shall not apply to establishments, which operate subject to the Federal Meat Inspection Act of March 4, 1907, as amended, or under the Poultry Products Inspection Act of August 28, 1957, as amended, or to meat or poultry products bearing the official inspection marks of these services. (Source: P.A. 76-357.)
225 ILCS 650/7 Administration
(225 ILCS 650/7) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 307) Sec. 7. Administration. The Director of the Department of Agriculture shall administer this Act. For the purposes of this Act, the Director may employ graduates of a veterinary college recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association and other persons who have qualified and are skilled in the inspection of meat and poultry products and any other additional employee, and he or she may utilize in the enforcement of this Act any employee, agent or equipment of the Department. Beginning January 1, 2000, the Director shall increase the number of inspectors and veterinarians the Director employs for the purposes of this Act by 10% per year for the next 5 years, subject to available appropriations. The Department may establish and maintain laboratory facilities as necessary to administer this Act. (Source: P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/8 Medical Certificate
(225 ILCS 650/8) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 308) Sec. 8. Medical Certificate. The licensee of a Type I establishment shall require all employees in his establishment to meet the health requirements established by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The Director may at any time require an employee of an establishment to submit to a health examination by a physician. No person suffering from any communicable disease, including any communicable skin disease, and no person with infected wounds, and no person who is a "carrier" of a communicable disease shall work in any capacity in an establishment. No person shall work or be employed in or about any establishment during the time in which a communicable disease exists in the home in which such person resides unless such person has obtained a certificate from the state or local health authority to the effect that no danger of public contagion or infection or adulteration of product will result from the employment of such person in such establishment. (Source: P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/9 Antemortem Inspection
(225 ILCS 650/9) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 309) Sec. 9. Antemortem Inspection. The Director shall, wherever slaughter operations are conducted at an establishment, cause antemortem inspection to be made by inspectors where and to the extent it determines necessary regarding all animals and poultry intended for human food. The owner or operator of any such establishment shall furnish satisfactory facilities and assistance as may be required by the Director to facilitate such antemortem inspection. Facilities shall also be furnished for holding animals or poultry for further clinical examination. Such animals or poultry held for further inspection shall be identified as "Illinois Suspect" in a manner determined by the Director. Such reinspection shall be conducted by a licensed and approved veterinarian and if a finding is made that the animals or poultry show no symptoms of disease or other abnormal conditions, the animals or poultry may be released for slaughter. Upon finding symptoms of disease or other abnormal conditions which would render the animals or poultry unfit for human food, the animals or poultry shall be tagged or permanently identified as "Illinois Inspected and Condemned" and unfit for human food and shall be disposed of in a manner as prescribed by the Director. Any person who slaughters for human food such condemned animals or poultry is guilty of a Class 4 felony. No owner or person shall be required to hold animals or poultry for a longer period than 72 hours. (Source: P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/10 Postmortem Inspection
(225 ILCS 650/10) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 310) Sec. 10. Postmortem Inspection. The Director shall provide postmortem inspection of all animals or poultry intended for human food in any Type I establishment in this State. Under no circumstances shall the carcass of animals or poultry which have died otherwise than by slaughter be brought into any room in which meat or poultry products are slaughtered, processed, handled, or stored. The head, tongue, tail, viscera, and other parts, and blood used in the preparation of meat or poultry products, or medical products shall be retained in such a manner as to preserve their identity until after the postmortem examination has been completed. Carcasses and parts thereof found to be sound, healthful, and wholesome after inspection and otherwise fit for human food shall be passed and may be marked in the following manner: "Illinois Inspected and Passed". These marks may also include any number given the establishment by the Department. All animal carcasses or parts thereof which are found on postmortem inspection to be unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, adulterated, or otherwise unfit for human food shall be marked conspicuously by the inspector at the time of inspection with the words: "Illinois Inspected and Condemned". All poultry carcasses or parts thereof which are found on postmortem inspection to be unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, adulterated or otherwise unfit for human food shall be condemned by depositing each carcass or part thereof in a suitable, clearly marked "Condemned" container. All condemned carcasses and parts of animals or poultry under the supervision of an inspector shall be rendered unfit for human consumption in a manner approved by the Director. All unborn or stillborn animals shall be condemned and no hide, skin or any other part thereof shall be removed within a room where edible meat or poultry products are handled or prepared. (Source: P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/11
(225 ILCS 650/11) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 311) Sec. 11. Time of operation. The Director shall require operations at Type I licensed establishments to be conducted under inspection and during approved hours of operation. The management of an official establishment desiring to work under conditions which will require the services of an inspector of the Department on any Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, or for more than an approved work day on any other day shall, sufficiently in advance of the period of overtime, request the Department representative to furnish inspection service during such overtime period, and, if approved, shall be allowed inspection on an overtime basis. (Source: P.A. 100-113, eff. 8-15-17.)
225 ILCS 650/12 Preparation and Handling
(225 ILCS 650/12) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 312) Sec. 12. Preparation and Handling. (a) All meat or poultry products in channels of trade, whether fresh, frozen, smoked, cured, pickled, or otherwise prepared even though previously inspected and passed, shall be subject to reinspection by inspectors of the Department as often as may be necessary to determine whether such meat or poultry product is maintained in a healthful, wholesome condition and fit for human food. If, upon reinspection, any meat or poultry product is found to have become unsound, unhealthy, unwholesome or in any way unfit for human food it shall be condemned; provided, that when meat or poultry products are found to be affected by any unsound or unwholesome condition that can be satisfactorily removed by methods approved by the Director, such meat or poultry product may be so reconditioned under the direction of an inspector. If, upon final inspection, the meat or poultry product is found to be sound and wholesome, it shall be approved for human food; otherwise, it shall be condemned, or otherwise handled in a manner prescribed by the Director. (b) The Director may limit the entry of meat or poultry products and other materials into any establishment at which inspection under this Act is maintained, under such conditions as he may prescribe to assure that allowing the entry of such articles into such inspected establishments will be consistent with the purposes of this Act. (c) The Director shall provide for such inspections, by experts in sanitation or other competent inspectors, of all slaughtering, meat-canning, salting, packing, rendering, or similar establishments in which cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, or goats are slaughtered and the meat or poultry products are prepared, as may be necessary to inform himself concerning the sanitary condition of such establishments, and to prescribe the rules and regulations of sanitation under which such establishments shall be maintained. Where the sanitary conditions of any such establishment are such that the meat or poultry products are rendered adulterated, the Director shall refuse to allow the meat or poultry products to be labeled, marked, stamped, or tagged as "Illinois Inspected and Passed". (d) The Director has the authority to regulate conditions of storage and handling of meat or poultry products, and other materials in any establishment licensed under this Act. (e) Fish or game stored or otherwise handled shall be stored or handled in conformity with the Fish and Aquatic Life Code and the Wildlife Code, and with the rules and regulations of the Department of Natural Resources. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)
225 ILCS 650/13
(225 ILCS 650/13) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 313) Sec. 13. Official inspection legend, marking and labeling. (a) It is unlawful for any person except employees of the United States Department of Agriculture, the Department or an authorized municipal inspection department to possess, use, or keep an inspection stamp, mark, or brand provided or used for stamping, marking, branding, or otherwise identifying carcasses of meat or poultry products, or to possess, use or keep any stamp, mark or brand having thereon a device, words, or insignia the same or similar in character or import to the stamps, marks, or brands provided or used by the United States Department of Agriculture, the State Department of Agriculture or any approved municipal inspection department for stamping, marking, branding or otherwise identifying the carcasses of meat or poultry or meat and poultry products or parts thereof intended for human food. (b) When any meat or meat food product which has been inspected as provided in this Act and marked "Illinois Inspected and Passed" is placed or packed in an immediate container in any establishment where inspection under this Act is maintained, the person, firm, or corporation preparing the product shall attach a label as required to the immediate container under supervision of an inspector. The label shall state that the contents have been "Illinois Inspected and Passed" under this Act, and no inspection and examination of meat or meat food products or poultry or poultry food products deposited or enclosed in an immediate container in any establishment where inspection under this Act is maintained is complete until the meat or meat food products or poultry or poultry food products have been sealed or enclosed in an immediate container under the supervision of an inspector. At minimum, all amenable products derived from inspected meat, meat food products, poultry, or poultry food products shall bear a mark with an establishment name, owner/customer name, and handling statement. (c) All carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, meat food products, poultry, or poultry food products inspected at any establishment under the authority of this Act and found to be not adulterated shall at the time they leave the establishment bear in distinctly legible form, directly thereon or on their containers, as the Director may require, the information required under Section 2.20 of this Act. (d) The styles and sizes of type to be used with respect to material required to be incorporated in labeling to avoid misbranding, false or misleading labeling of any articles subject to this Act, definitions and standards of identity or composition for articles subject to this Act, and standards of fill of containers for the articles shall be the standards as established under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or the Federal Meat Inspection Act. (e) No article subject to this Act shall be sold or offered for sale by any person, firm, or corporation under any name or other marking or labeling which is false or misleading, or in any container of a misleading form or size. Established product names and other marking and labeling and containers which are not false or misleading and which are approved by the Director are permitted. (f) If the Director has reason to believe that any marking or labeling or the size or form of any container in use or proposed for use with respect to any article subject to this Act is false or misleading in any particular, he may direct that the use be withheld unless the marking, labeling, or container is modified in a manner as he may prescribe so that it will not be false or misleading. If the person, firm, or corporation using or proposing to use the marking, labeling, or container does not accept the determination of the Director, the person, firm, or corporation may request a hearing, but the use of the marking, labeling, or container shall, if the Director so directs, be withheld pending hearing and final determination by the Director. Any determination by the Director shall be conclusive unless within 30 days after receipt of notice of the final determination, the person, firm, or corporation adversely affected appeals to the appropriate authority. (g) No person, firm, or corporation shall advertise for sale, solicit, offer to sell or sell meats or frozen foods intended for storage in locker boxes, home freezers or freezer units by newspapers, handbills, placards, radio, television or other medium unless the advertising is truthful and accurate. The advertising shall not be misleading or deceiving in respect to grade, quality, quantity, price per pound or piece, or in any other manner. For grade determination of meats, the grades shall conform with United States Department of Agriculture standards for designating meat grades and the standards of this Act. No person advertising, offering for sale or selling any carcasses or parts thereof or food plan shall engage in any misleading or deceptive practices and particularly including, but not limited to, the following: (1) Bait selling. (A) Disparage or degrade any product advertised or offered for sale by the seller, or display any product or depiction thereof to any buyer in order to induce the purchase of another product, or represent that a product is for sale when the representation is used primarily to sell another product. (B) Substitute any product for that ordered by the buyer without the buyer's consent. (C) Fail to have available a sufficient quantity of any product represented as being for sale to meet reasonably anticipated demands. (2) Price representation. (A) Use any price list related to the seller's food plan that contains prices other than the seller's current billing prices. (B) Misrepresent the amount of money that the buyer will save on purchases of any products that are not of the same grade or quality. (C) Fail to disclose fully and conspicuously in at least 10 point type any charge for cutting, wrapping, freezing, delivery or other services. (D) Represent the price of any meat product to be offered for sale in bundles in units larger than one pound in terms other than price per single pound for meat products in at least 10 point type except when the advertisement or offer for sale pertains to containers of meat products weighing 15 pounds or less. (3) Product representation. (A) Misrepresent the cut, grade, brand or trade name, or weight or measure of any product. (B) Use the abbreviation "U.S." in describing a product not graded by the United States Department of Agriculture, except that product may be described as "U.S. Inspected" when true. (C) Misrepresent a product through the use of any term similar to a government grade. (D) (Blank). (E) Advertise or offer for sale any combinations of parts of carcasses with one unit price, except when the advertisement or offer for sale pertains to combinations consisting only of poultry or poultry products. (F) Fail to disclose fully and conspicuously the correct government grade for any product if the product is represented as having been graded. (G) Fail to disclose fully and conspicuously that the yield of consumable meat from any carcass or part of a carcass will be less than the weight of the carcass or part thereof. The seller shall, for each carcass or part of carcass advertised, use separately and distinctly (in at least 10 point type) the following disclosure: "Sold hanging weight subject to cutting loss". (H) Misrepresent the amount or proportion of retail cuts that a carcass or part of carcass will yield. (I) (Blank). (J) Fail to disclose fully and conspicuously whether a quarter of a carcass is the front or hind quarter, and "quarters" or "sides" or "halves" must consist of only anatomically natural proportions of cuts from front or hind quarters. A "pre-trimmed side", "packer-trimmed side" or similar term describing part of a carcass shall not be represented as a side or quarter of beef, and the descriptions shall not be used for comparison to induce the sale of the product. (K) Represent any part of a carcass as a "half" or "side" unless it consists exclusively of a front and hind quarter. Both quarters must be from the same side of the same animal unless the seller discloses fully and conspicuously that they are from different sides or different animals as the case may be. Each quarter shall be of the same grade or quality as the other quarters comprising the half or side and the seller shall advise the buyer of the weight of each quarter prior to sale. In selling quarters individually or as part of a half or side, if actual weights are not known or cannot be determined prior to sale, approximate weights may be used, provided the buyer is informed that the weights are approximate, the weights are so identified on any purchase order or contract, and the seller agrees with the buyer, in writing, to make a cash refund or grant a credit on delivery for the difference between actual weight and the approximate weight on which the sale was made. (L) Use the words, "bundle", "sample order", "split side", or words of similar import to describe a quantity of meat or poultry unless the seller itemizes each cut and the weight thereof which the buyer will receive. (M) Advertise or offer free, bonus, extra product, or service combined with or conditioned on the purchase of any other product or service unless the additional product or service is accurately described including, whenever applicable, grade, net weight or measure, type, and brand or trade name. The words "free", "bonus", or other words of similar import shall not be used in any advertisement unless the advertisement clearly and conspicuously sets forth the total price or amount that must be paid to entitle the buyer to the additional product or service. (N) Misrepresent the breed, origin, or diet of slaughtered animals or parts thereof offered for sale. Sellers making these claims shall have written records available to substantiate the fact. (Source: P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/14
(225 ILCS 650/14) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 314) Sec. 14. Access to premises. No person shall deny access to any authorized personnel upon the presentation of proper identification at any reasonable time to establishments, broker facilities, warehouses or vehicles used in the transportation of meat and poultry or products thereof and to all parts of such premises for the purposes of making inspections, examination of records, inventories, copying and sampling under this Act. Samples of products, water, dye, chemicals, preservatives, spices, or other articles in any official or exempted establishment shall be taken for examination as often as necessary for efficient inspection. (Source: P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/15 Seizure
(225 ILCS 650/15) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 315) Sec. 15. Seizure. (a) The Director is hereby authorized to prohibit the entrance into channels of trade of any meat or poultry products found to be unwholesome, improperly labeled or otherwise not in accordance with the provisions of this Act or the rules and regulations established hereunder. Any meat or poultry product found in channels of trade by a Department employee that is not in compliance with the provisions of this Act shall be subject to seizure and confiscation by the Department. (b) Seized and confiscated meat and poultry products shall be condemned unless it is of such character that it can be made to conform with the provisions of this Act by methods approved by the Director. Condemned meat or poultry products shall be effectively destroyed for human food purposes by the owner of the meat or poultry product under the supervision of a Department employee in such manner as the Director may prescribe. (Source: P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/16
(225 ILCS 650/16) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 316) Sec. 16. Rules and regulations. The Director shall adopt rules and regulations as may be necessary for the effective administration of this Act. The Department shall adopt by reference federal regulations promulgated by the United States Department of Agriculture governing meat and poultry inspection, unless modified by this Act or any rule or regulation adopted by the Director for the administration of this Act. When amendments are adopted to federal rules which have been adopted by the Department, the Department shall file a notice of such adoption pursuant to Section 5-50 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. (Source: P.A. 88-45.)
225 ILCS 650/16.1
(225 ILCS 650/16.1) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 316.1) Sec. 16.1. Licensees shall comply with bulletins, manuals of procedure and guidelines issued by the United States Department of Agriculture which implement the federal Meat Inspection Act and the Federal Poultry Inspection Act. (Source: P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/17 Appeals
(225 ILCS 650/17) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 317) Sec. 17. Appeals. Appeals from final administration decisions of the Department may be taken and judicial review had thereof pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Review Law and all amendments and modifications thereof and rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. (Source: P.A. 82-783.)
225 ILCS 650/18
(225 ILCS 650/18) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 318) Sec. 18. Cooperation with other agencies. The Director is hereby authorized to cooperate with all other agencies, Federal, State and municipal, in order to carry out the effective administration of this Act, and to establish a meat and poultry fund in the appropriate State agencies for receipt of cooperative funds from the Federal Government. (Source: P.A. 76-357.)
225 ILCS 650/19
(225 ILCS 650/19) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 319) Sec. 19. Criminal offenses. A. Any person who forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates, or interferes with any person while engaged in or on account of the performance of his official duties under this Act shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. B. Any person, firm, or corporation, or any agent or employee of any person, firm, or corporation, who gives, pays, or offers, directly or indirectly, to any inspector or any other officer or employee of this State authorized to perform any of the duties prescribed by this Act or by the rules and regulations of the Director, any money or other thing of value, with intent to influence such inspector or other officer or employee of this State in the discharge of his duty, is guilty of a Class 4 felony. B-5. Any inspector or other officer or employee of this State authorized to perform any of the duties prescribed by this Act who accepts any money, gift, or other thing of value from any person, firm, or corporation, or officers, agents, or employees thereof, given with intent to influence his official action, or who receives or accepts from any person, firm, or corporation any gift, money, or other thing of value given with any purpose of intent whatsoever, is guilty of a Class 4 felony. C. Any person violating any provision of this Act or any rule or regulation established hereunder, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. D. Any person who sells or offers for sale or transports meat or poultry products that are unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, adulterated, or otherwise unfit for human food or which have not been inspected and passed by Department, federal, or recognized municipal inspection, knowing that such meat or poultry products are intended for human consumption, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. (Source: P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/19.01
(225 ILCS 650/19.01) Sec. 19.01. Suspension and revocation of license. (a) The Director may suspend a license if the Department has reason to believe that any of the following has occurred: (1) A licensee had made a material misstatement in the application for original license or in the application for any renewal license under this Act; (2) A licensee has violated any of the provisions of this Act or of any rules adopted pursuant thereto and the violation or pattern of violations indicates an immediate danger to public health; (3) Aiding or abetting another in the violation of this Act or of any rule adopted pursuant thereto and the violation or pattern of violations indicates an immediate danger to public health; (4) Allowing one's license under this Act to be used by an unlicensed person; (5) Conviction of any crime an essential element of which is misstatement, fraud, or dishonesty or conviction of any felony relative to the provisions of this Act; (6) Pursuing a continued course of willful misrepresentation of or making false promises through advertising, salesmen, agents, or otherwise in connection with the business of a licensee under this Act; or (7) Failure to possess the necessary qualifications or to meet the requirements of this Act for the issuance or holding of a license. (b) Within 10 days after suspension of a license, an administrative hearing shall be commenced to determine whether the license shall be reinstated or revoked. Whenever an administrative hearing is scheduled, the licensee shall be served with written notice of the date, place, and time of the hearing at least 5 days before the hearing date. The notice may be served by personal service on the licensee or by mailing it by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the licensee's place of business. The Director may, after a hearing, issue an order either revoking or reinstating the license. (Source: P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/19.1 (Repealed)
(225 ILCS 650/19.1) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 319.1) Sec. 19.1. (Repealed). (Source: P.A. 81-749. Repealed by P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/19.2
(225 ILCS 650/19.2) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 319.2) Sec. 19.2. Administrative hearings and penalties. When an administrative hearing is held, the hearing officer, upon determination of a violation of this Act or rules promulgated under this Act, may assess the following administrative penalties in addition to or instead of a suspension or revocation of the license as provided in Section 19 of this Act: (a) $150 for illegal advertising. (b) $200 for operating without being licensed as a meat broker, poultry broker, or meat and poultry broker. (c) $300 for misbranding as defined in Section 2.20 of this Act. (d) no less than $500 and no greater than $5,000 for sale of uninspected meat. (e) no less than $500 and no greater than $5,000 for product adulteration. (e-5) $500 for detaching, breaking, changing, or tampering with any official seal, seizure tag, rejected tag, or retained tag in any way whatsoever. (f) $500 for selling a product in violation of the approved label specifications. (g) $500 for removal of meat or poultry products under seizure. (h) (Blank). (h-5) no less than $500, but no more than $5,000 for operating outside approved hours of operation or approved overtime. (i) No less than $500 but no more than $5,000 for operating without being licensed as a meat processor or slaughterer. In the case of a second or subsequent violation within 3 years of the first violation, the penalty shall be doubled. Penalties not paid within 60 days of notice from the Department shall be submitted to the Attorney General's office or an approved private collection agency for collection. (Source: P.A. 91-170, eff. 1-1-00.)
225 ILCS 650/20 Saving Clause
(225 ILCS 650/20) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 320) Sec. 20. Saving Clause. If any section subsection, clause, provision or portion of this Act shall be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction or the applicability thereof to any person, substance or product is held invalid, such holding shall not affect any other section, subsection, clause, provision or portion of this Act, or any other person, substance or product covered by the provisions of this Act. (Source: Laws 1959, p. 1944.)
225 ILCS 650/21
(225 ILCS 650/21) Sec. 21. Wholesale distribution standard. All siluriformes fish or siluriformes fish products entering any official establishment intended for wholesale distribution shall be inspected, handled, stored, prepared, packaged, marked, and labeled as required by 9 CFR 530 through 9 CFR 561, which is hereby incorporated by reference. (Source: P.A. 104-422, eff. 8-15-25.)
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs.aspFetched: 10/17/2026