§ 25021 Poultry Inspection Exemption Rules

• •This law does not apply to chicken or turkey meat that has been checked and approved by the US government (USDA) and has their official stamp on it when sold.
• •If the chicken or turkey meat is cooked, smoked, packed, or cut up in California (except in a store or restaurant), it must be done in a special place that is checked by the government.
• •The law does not apply if the meat is just being sold in a store or restaurant.

You buy a whole chicken at the grocery store with a USDA stamp on the package.

This law does not apply to that chicken because it was already checked by the US government and has their stamp. But if someone in California cuts up that chicken and repackages it to sell, they have to do it in a place that is checked by the government.