Virginia Code 3.2-3403: Virginia Verified Meat certification
A. For the purposes of this section:
Terms Used In Virginia Code 3.2-3403
- Commissioner: means the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. See Virginia Code 3.2-100
- Department: means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. See Virginia Code 3.2-100
- Person: includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, cooperative, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, government, political subdivision, or any other legal or commercial entity and any successor, representative, agent, agency, or instrumentality thereof. See Virginia Code 1-230
- Process: includes subpoenas, the summons and complaint in a civil action, and process in statutory actions. See Virginia Code 1-237
- State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. See Virginia Code 1-245
“Processed” means a substantial transformation at a USDA-inspected or Department-inspected facility in the Commonwealth approved by the Department whereby an animal or animal product is transformed into a new product with a new name, character, or use.
“Raised” means that an animal has spent the majority of its lifespan within the boundaries of the Commonwealth.
“Virginia Verified Meat” means any cattle, goats, sheep, or swine that meet the following conditions: (i) such animal is bred and born in the Commonwealth; (ii) such animal is raised in the Commonwealth; and (iii) such animal is processed in the Commonwealth.
B. A person shall not label any product as Virginia Verified Meat unless such product meets the definition of Virginia Verified Meat pursuant to subsection A or is granted a waiver by the Department for operating across state lines.
C. Any person not employed by the Department shall be eligible to certify Virginia Verified Meat claims consistent with the provisions of this chapter with approval by the Commissioner and shall provide documentation of his certification process to the Commissioner for the Commissioner’s approval.
2024, c. 420.