Montana Local Food Choice Act (SB199) Guidance DOL

Date: September 1, 2026

Purpose:

The goal of this document is to answer common questions the Department of Livestock (DOL) receives about the Montana Local Food Choice Act, (SB 199 (2021) (Chapter 320, L. 2021), M.C.A. 50-49-203).

Background:

In April 2021, the Montana Local Food Choice Act (MLFCA, the Act) was signed into law. The MLFCA exempted the direct sale of homemade food from producers to end consumers from licensing, certification, packaging, labeling and inspection requirements. These exemptions only apply to producers who sell homemade food in compliance with the requirements of the MLFCA as included in this guidance.

The MLFCA exempted poultry producers who slaughter fewer than 1,000 birds in a year from inspection, licensing, and labeling requirements as outlined in the Act.

MLFCA Poultry Exemption:

1,000 Bird Exemption: A person may slaughter and process on his or her premises, poultry that he or she raised, and distribute such poultry without mandatory inspection when the following five (5) criteria are met:

1. The poultry grower slaughterens no more than 1,000 healthy birds of his or her own raising in a calendar year for distribution as human food;
2. The poultry grower does not engage in buying or selling poultry products other than those produced from poultry raised on his or her own farm;
3. The slaughter and processing are conducted under sanitary standards, practices, and procedures that produce poultry products that are sound, clean, and fit for human food (not adulterated);
4. The producer keeps records necessary for the effective enforcement of the Act [ Title 9 C.F.R. 381.175)]; and
5. These poultry products cannot be sold outside of Montana or whole-saled to other businesses for resale.