Retail vendors in Vermont are stores or points-of-sale that sell, display, advertise for sale, offer for sale, or have available for sale meat, meat food products and/or poultry products for purchase by household consumers. Selling or attempting to sell meat and poultry products to consumers at their homes is also considered to be retail activity.
The three general categories of retail activity in Vermont include:
- selling prepackaged meat/poultry,
- small retail processors that have less than 300 square feet of meat cutting area OR less than 20 linear feet of meat display space, and
- large retail processors that have greater than 300 square feet AND more than 20 linear feet of display space.
Retail vendors in Vermont are subject to periodic, risk-based reviews by the meat inspection program for compliance with retail regulations, including such things as proper safe handling, sanitation, transportation, deceptive practices, labeling, dating policies, and fat/lean claims.
Retail Labeling Guidance
Retail Guidance for Prepackaged Meat and Poultry
Retail Guidance for Small and Large Processers of Meat and Poultry
Retail License Application
A retail license is required if you operate stores, sell or attempt to sell to consumers at their homes, or otherwise sell, display, advertise for sale, offer for sale, or have available for sale meat, meat food products and/or poultry products for purchase by household consumers.
Retail Grinding Record Keeping Rule
Records Required by Retail Stores that Grind Raw Beef Products
Sample Ground Beef Grinding Log
Retail Specially Processed Meat/Poultry Variance
This form is to request a variance to current regulations to allow special processing at the retail level, including but not limited to, smoking, curing (and uncured products), refining of livestock fats, drying and pickling. The full policy can be accessed below.
Specially Processed Meat and Poultry Policy - 001
Specially Processed Variance Application
Variance Approval Process Flowchart