Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-4-13-.02 - Sale of Alligator Meat

(1) Alligator meat that is lawfully acquired through production on a licensed alligator farm, harvested by approved nuisance alligator agent-trappers, or otherwise obtained from a legal source may be sold or transferred provided that:

(a) Any alligator meat sold or transferred shall be packaged in approved containers and labeled as specified by the Department indicating that it contains alligator meat, the weight of meat enclosed, the name of the seller, the hide tag number for the alligator from which the meat was taken, and the date of packaging. No more than five pounds of meat shall be included per container and containers shall be used only once. Alligator meat must be packaged and marked in accordance with regulations of the State of origin.

(b) Alligator farmers and agent-trappers shall maintain written records of all alligator meat sales or transfers. Such records shall be open to inspection by Department personnel. Meat sales or transfers by agent trappers, shall be reported on a form supplied or approved by the Department and a copy must be returned to the Department within 30 days of the date of sale. Alligator farmers shall report to- tal pounds of alligator meat harvested on Department supplied annual farm reports at the end of each calendar year.

(c) Alligator meat shall be retained in the original container until prepared for consumption or processing. Alligator meat that has been processed or repackaged for sale must be replaced in a tamperproof container approved by the Director or his authorized agent. Such processed or repackaged meat must be labeled with the hide tag number of the alligator(s) from which the meat came. Purchasers of alligator meat from alligator farmers or nuisance alligator agent-trappers must retain an invoice or shipping document for a period of six months from the date of sale.

(d) All containers of alligator meat labeled in accordance with these regulations shall be shipped only with the State of Georgia or to those states or countries allowing the sale of alligator meat.

(e) Alligator meat shall only be sold and possessed for sale or transfer in compliance with all applicable sanitation and permit requirements of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Consumer Protection Division, the county health department of the county where the processing facility is located, and other federal, state, or local authorities.

(f) Any person selling alligator meat must purchase a Wholesale Fish Dealer's license from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, provided that no permit shall be required for prepared alligator meat sold for food by restaurants.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-4-13-.02

O.C.G.A. Title 27, Secs. 27-2-10, 27-3-19.

Original Rule entitled "Sale of Alligator Meat" was filed on July 15, 1988; effective August 4, 1988. Amended: F. Jul. 24, 1990; eff. Aug. 13, 1990. Amended: F. Jul. 17, 1991; eff. Aug. 6, 1991. Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Aug. 27, 1993; eff. Sept. 16, 1993. Amended: F. May 21, 1998; eff. June 10, 1998.