Bill Text: NH HB642 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Allowing the sale of dehydrated meat without a homestead food license.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 8-1)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-16 - Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Environment and Agriculture House Journal 3 [HB642 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2025-HB642-Introduced.html
HB 642 - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0722
08/09
HOUSE BILL 642
AN ACT allowing the sale of dehydrated meat without a homestead food license.
SPONSORS: Rep. J. Aron, Sull. 4; Rep. Bixby, Straf. 13; Rep. Comtois, Belk. 7; Rep. Creighton, Hills. 30; Rep. Osborne, Rock. 2; Rep. Aylward, Merr. 5; Rep. L. Miner, Rock. 7; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Innis, Dist 7
COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture
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ANALYSIS
This bill allows for the production and sale of dehydrated meat without a homestead food license.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0722
08/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT allowing the sale of dehydrated meat without a homestead food license.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Dehydrated Meat. Amend RSA 143-A by inserting after section 5-a the following new section:
143-A:5-b Dehydrated Meat; Exemptions.
I. A meat producer-distributor who has a license to sell USDA inspected meat, may sell USDA inspected meat that has been freeze dried without a homestead food license if:
(a) The preparer washes hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after working with the meat.
(b) The preparer uses clean equipment and utensils.
(c) The meat is refrigerated at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or slightly below.
(d) The meat is used or frozen within the following:
(1) For ground beef and poultry, within 2 days.
(2) For whole red meat, within 3 to 5 days.
(e) Frozen meat is only defrosted in the refrigerator.
(f) Meat is marinated only in the refrigerator and marinade is used only to tenderize and flavor the meat before dehydrating it. Marinade shall not be used more than once.
(g) Meat is steamed or roasted to 160 degrees Fahrenheit or 165 degrees Fahrenheit if poultry, as measured with a food thermometer before the meat is dehydrated.
(h) Meat is dried in a food dehydrator that has an adjustable temperature dial and remains at a temperature of at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the drying process. A kitchen oven shall not be used to dehydrate meat.
II. The space where the dehydrated meat is produced shall meet all sanitary requirements set in 9 C.F.R section 416.1 through 416.6.
III. The meat shall be dehydrated in a manner that effectively reduces moisture in the product to limit pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation.
IV. Dehydrated meat and meat products may be sold to the public provided such products are directly sold in New Hampshire from the producer-distributor's farm, farm stand, or at a farmers' market directly to the consumer.
V. Dehydrated meat and meat products shall be sold in vacuum sealed packaging, marked with an expiration date 30 days from the date of manufacture and shall not be sold after such date. The product shall contain a label which contains the following:
(a) The name of the meat producer-distributor's business.
(b) The email address of the meat producer-distributor's business.
(c) The phone number of the meat producer-distributor's business.
(d) The name of the product.
(e) The statement: "This product is exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection. Consuming dehydrated meat may increase your risk of foodborne illness."
VI. A meat producer-distributor shall place a sign at the point of sale which contains the following:
(a) The name of the meat producer-distributor's business.
(b) The email address of the meat producer-distributor's business.
(c) The phone number of the meat producer-distributor's business.
(d) The name of the product.
(e) The statement: "Dehydrated meat and meat products from this meat producer-distributor are made with USDA inspected meat and are exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection."
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
