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Snail Farming

Heliciculture is the science of snail rearing (or farming).  Edible land snails provide a high protein and low cholesterol food source.  Snails can be raised in a variety of environments, but because of their potential as an invasive species, their enclosures (indoors or outdoors) should be impenetrable.

Farming Snails

Regulations, Permits and Restrictions

  • State Regulations for Snail Farming

    Contact your State's Agriculture Department to determine which state laws may apply to raising or importing snails. Individual states may inspect and approve of snail farming facilities. Additional State government agencies may also be involved, including natural resources, fish and wildlife, or environmental resources.

  • Snails and Slugs

    USDA. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

    "A PPQ 526 plant pest permit is required for the importation or interstate transport of mollusks that feed upon or infest plants or plant products. USDA may authorize interstate movement of live snails for the purpose of establishing a snail farm only in those instances where an applicant has received approval from their State Agricultural Official and the APHIS State Plant Health Director.  The permit applicant must obtain, in writing, State Agricultural Official concurrence before a movement permit will be issued."

    The Containment Guidelines for Nonindigenous, Phytophagous Mollusks (pdf, 33 KB) are a reference to help design, build, maintain, and operate a facility. 

  • Low-acid Canned Food

    USDA. Food and Drug Administration.

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the canning of low-acid foods such as snails. Federal Regulations require commercial processors of shelf stable acidified foods and low-acid canned foods in a hermetically sealed container to be sold in the United States to register each establishment and file scheduled processes with the Food and Drug Administration for each product, product style, container size and type and processing method (21 CFR 108).   Instructions are available on the web site.

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