What US Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (7 USC ch 48): Humane Slaughter Standards and Ritual Exemption requires
The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA), codified at 7 U.S.C. Chapter 48 (sections 1901-1907), establishes the federal policy and standards for the humane slaughter and handling of livestock and is enforced in federally inspected establishments by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Section 1901 declares the policy of the United States that the slaughtering of livestock and the handling of livestock in connection with slaughter shall be carried out only by humane methods. Section 1902 defines the humane methods: under subsection (a), in the case of cattle, calves, horses, mules, sheep, swine and other livestock, all animals must be rendered insensible to pain by a single blow or gunshot or an electrical, chemical or other means that is rapid and effective, before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast or cut; and under subsection (b), slaughter in accordance with the ritual requirements of a religious faith whereby the animal suffers loss of consciousness by anemia of the brain caused by the simultaneous and instantaneous severance of the carotid arteries with a sharp instrument, and the handling in connection with such slaughter, is also a humane method. Section 1904 authorizes the Secretary to conduct, assist and foster research to develop and determine humane methods of slaughter and to designate approved methods, with designations becoming effective 180 days after publication in the Federal Register. Section 1906 exempts ritual slaughter and the handling or other preparation of livestock for ritual slaughter from the terms of the chapter, and section 1907 addresses practices involving nonambulatory livestock. The HMSA does not itself impose fines or imprisonment; humane handling and slaughter are enforced through the Federal Meat Inspection Act, under which FSIS inspectors monitor humane handling and slaughter and may take regulatory action, including suspending inspection (which stops slaughter operations), where humane handling requirements are not met.
Pillar: Agriculture & Agritech · Authority: US Congress / USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) · Version: 1.0.0 · Last updated:
Primary source: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2022-title7/html/USCODE-2022-title7-chap48.htm
SHA-256 integrity: d40a4ef0e4f09ec330a997d7996d36285ee3c0d7d9726ae7477c64ee6d999b25
Primary Citations — 8 traced to source
- Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, 7 U.S.C. 1901 - findings and declaration of policy (slaughter and handling by humane methods only).
- Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, 7 U.S.C. 1902 - humane methods of slaughter.
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