Bill > HB779

This bill allows unlicensed rabbit producers in New Hampshire to sell up to 1,000 uninspected, processed whole rabbits directly to consumers at their own farms, farmstands, and farmers markets, with several important conditions. These conditions include: (1) the rabbits must be raised, slaughtered, processed, packaged, and sold entirely within New Hampshire, (2) producers must complete educational requirements established by the Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture about proper rabbit handling and processing, and (3) producers must register with the Department of Agriculture by providing their name, farm address, and contact information to enable potential disease tracing. The bill expands on existing regulations that previously only allowed uninspected rabbit sales to licensed restaurants, now permitting direct sales to consumers. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage, and while the fiscal note suggests minimal financial impact (less than $10,000 annually), it also notes potential conflicts with existing federal and state regulations regarding uninspected meat sales. The legislation aims to provide more flexibility for small rabbit producers in New Hampshire to sell their products directly to local consumers.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0813&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB779