LEFTOVERS FOR LIVESTOCK

PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania allows the feeding of animal-derived waste to domestic animals provided that it has been properly heattreated
and fed by a licensed facility. Individuals may feed household garbage to their own swine without heat-treating
it and without obtaining a permit.
3 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 2303 (West)
Animals covered
Definition of
“garbage”
Prohibitions
Licensure
All domestic animals
All waste or residuals resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking or consumption
of food derived in whole or in part from the meat of any animal, including poultry and
fish, or other animal material and other refuse of any character that has been associated
with the meat of any animal or other animal material. The term does not include waste
from ordinary household operations that is fed directly to swine on the same premises
where the household is located. § 2303 (2015).
No feeding untreated garbage to domestic animals. Exception for individuals feeding
household garbage to swine. §§ 2303, 2324 (2015).
Individuals and facilities must obtain an annual license from the department of
agriculture before feeding garbage to domestic animals. § 2371 (2015).
All state and federal agencies or commissions are exempt from the licensure rules for
garbage feeding. § 2388 (2015).
The department of agriculture may inspect a license applicant’s or licensee’s facilities for
compliance with the garbage-feeding rule. § 2378 (2015).
Enforcement
The department of agriculture may deny, suspend, or revoke the license of any individual
or facility that violates the garbage-feeding rule. § 2379 (2015).
Individuals or facilities engaged in heating garbage must maintain records of the heating
operations for at least one year and provide it to the department upon request. § 2376
(2015).
Treatment requirements
Relevant state regulatory
body
Before being fed to domestic animals, garbage must be heated to a temperature of
at least 212 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 30 minutes or else treated in some other
manner approved by the department of agriculture. § 2376 (2015).
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (§ 2378 (2015)), http://www.agriculture.pa.gov/
Pages/default.aspx#.Vo-3uJMrLVo.
47| Leftovers for Livestock: A Legal Guide for Using Excess Food as Animal Feed August 2016