# Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-7-204: Inspection and sanitary standards for official establishments for slaughtering or processing of livestock or poultry

> Tennessee · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T53_C7_S53-7-204

## Section

- **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-7-204
- **Heading:** Inspection and sanitary standards for official establishments for slaughtering or processing of livestock or poultry
- **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** TN Code / Title 53 / Chapter 7 / Section 53-7-204

## Text

(a) (1) Each official establishment at which livestock or poultry are slaughtered or livestock, deer, or poultry carcasses or parts of livestock, deer, or poultry carcasses, meat food products, or poultry products are processed for intrastate commerce shall have the premises, facilities and equipment, and be operated in accordance with sanitary practices required by rules and regulations prescribed by the commissioner for the purpose of preventing the entry into and movement in commerce of carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat food products, and poultry products that are unwholesome or adulterated. (2) Nothing in subdivision (a)(1) shall be construed as permitting the sale of deer. (b) No livestock, deer, or poultry carcasses or parts of livestock, deer, or poultry carcasses, meat food products or poultry products shall be admitted into any official establishment, unless they have been prepared only under inspection pursuant to this part or the federal Meat Inspection Act ( 21 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.), or the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act ( 21 U.S.C. § 451 et seq.), or their admission is permitted by rules and regulations prescribed by the commissioner under this part. (c) Each establishment licensed under this part that freezes meat or poultry carcasses, parts of meat or poultry carcasses or meat food products or poultry products must be equipped to quick or sharp freeze at ten degrees below zero Fahrenheit (-10°F) and otherwise be equipped to process, store and deliver frozen foods according to official regulations. (d) The commissioner shall refuse to render inspection to any establishment whose premises, facilities or equipment, or the operation of the premises, facilities or equipment, fail to meet the requirements of this section. Acts 1967, ch. 99, § 4; T.C.A., § 52-918; Acts 2007 , ch. 421, § 8.
(a) (1) Each official establishment at which livestock or poultry are slaughtered or livestock, deer, or poultry carcasses or parts of livestock, deer, or poultry carcasses, meat food products, or poultry products are processed for intrastate commerce shall have the premises, facilities and equipment, and be operated in accordance with sanitary practices required by rules and regulations prescribed by the commissioner for the purpose of preventing the entry into and movement in commerce of carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat food products, and poultry products that are unwholesome or adulterated. (2) Nothing in subdivision (a)(1) shall be construed as permitting the sale of deer.
(1) Each official establishment at which livestock or poultry are slaughtered or livestock, deer, or poultry carcasses or parts of livestock, deer, or poultry carcasses, meat food products, or poultry products are processed for intrastate commerce shall have the premises, facilities and equipment, and be operated in accordance with sanitary practices required by rules and regulations prescribed by the commissioner for the purpose of preventing the entry into and movement in commerce of carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat food products, and poultry products that are unwholesome or adulterated.
(2) Nothing in subdivision (a)(1) shall be construed as permitting the sale of deer.
(b) No livestock, deer, or poultry carcasses or parts of livestock, deer, or poultry carcasses, meat food products or poultry products shall be admitted into any official establishment, unless they have been prepared only under inspection pursuant to this part or the federal Meat Inspection Act ( 21 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.), or the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act ( 21 U.S.C. § 451 et seq.), or their admission is permitted by rules and regulations prescribed by the commissioner under this part.
od products or poultry products shall be admitted into any official establishment, unless they have been prepared only under inspection pursuant to this part or the federal Meat Inspection Act ( 21 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.), or the federal Poultry Products Inspection Act ( 21 U.S.C. § 451 et seq.), or their admission is permitted by rules and regulations prescribed by the commissioner under this part.
(c) Each establishment licensed under this part that freezes meat or poultry carcasses, parts of meat or poultry carcasses or meat food products or poultry products must be equipped to quick or sharp freeze at ten degrees below zero Fahrenheit (-10°F) and otherwise be equipped to process, store and deliver frozen foods according to official regulations.
(d) The commissioner shall refuse to render inspection to any establishment whose premises, facilities or equipment, or the operation of the premises, facilities or equipment, fail to meet the requirements of this section.
Acts 1967, ch. 99, § 4; T.C.A., § 52-918; Acts 2007 , ch. 421, § 8.

## Nearby sections

- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-7-101 Horsemeat sold or offered for sale to be denatured](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T53_C7_S53-7-101.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-7-102 Enforcement - Rules and regulations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T53_C7_S53-7-102.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-7-103 Penalty for violation of Section 53-7-101](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T53_C7_S53-7-103.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-7-201 Short title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T53_C7_S53-7-201.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-7-202 Part definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T53_C7_S53-7-202.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-7-203 Ante mortem and post mortem inspections - Quarantine, seizure, tagging, and destruction or reprocessing - Procedures](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T53_C7_S53-7-203.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-7-204 Inspection and sanitary standards for official establishments for slaughtering or processing of livestock or poultry](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T53_C7_S53-7-204.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-7-205 Official inspection marks and required labeling - Conforming products acceptable for intrastate commerce - False or misleading labels](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T53_C7_S53-7-205.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-7-206 Prohibited acts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T53_C7_S53-7-206.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-7-207 Compliance with law required for operation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T53_C7_S53-7-207.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-7-208 Records required - Inspection - Retention](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T53_C7_S53-7-208.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-7-209 Exemptions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T53_C7_S53-7-209.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-7-210 Violations - Injunctive action](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T53_C7_S53-7-210.md)
- [Tenn. Code Ann. § 53-7-211 Violators entitled to notice and hearing preceding reports of violations to district attorney general - Alternatives to criminal prosecution](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T53_C7_S53-7-211.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T53_C7_S53-7-204. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.