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21 U.S.C. § 603 — Examination of animals prior to slaughter; use of humane methods

Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

21 U.S.C. § 603 — Examination of animals prior to slaughter; use of humane methods

**(a) Examination of animals before slaughtering; diseased animals slaughtered separately and carcasses examined** For the purpose of preventing the use in commerce of meat and meat food products which are adulterated, the Secretary shall cause to be made, by inspectors appointed for that purpose, an examination and inspection of all amenable species before they shall be allowed to enter into any slaughtering, packing, meat-canning, rendering, or similar establishment, in which they are to be slaughtered and the meat and meat food products thereof are to be used in commerce; and all amenable species found on such inspection to show symptoms of disease shall be set apart and slaughtered separately from all other cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines, and when so slaughtered the carcasses of said cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines shall be subject to a careful examination and inspection, all as provided by the rules and regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary, as provided for in this subchapter. **(b) Humane methods of slaughter** For the purpose of preventing the inhumane slaughtering of livestock, the Secretary shall cause to be made, by inspectors appointed for that purpose, an examination and inspection of the method by which amenable species are slaughtered and handled in connection with slaughter in the slaughtering establishments inspected under this chapter. The Secretary may refuse to provide inspection to a new slaughtering establishment or may cause inspection to be temporarily suspended at a slaughtering establishment if the Secretary finds that any cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines have been slaughtered or handled in connection with slaughter at such establishment by any method

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Stable record: federal_law:legal_authorities:record_usc_8235f14e6e53ca35fa214c68
Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-21/section-603-examination-of-animals-prior-to-slaughter-use-of-humane-methods--53babb53fd.md
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Source location: Title 21, Chapter 12, § 603; chapter-012-meat-inspection.md

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

21 U.S.C. § 601 — Definitions

As used in this chapter, except as otherwise specified, the following terms shall have the meanings stated below: **(a)** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States or his delegate. **(b)** The term “firm” means any partnership, association, or other unincorporated business organization. **(c)** The term “meat broker” means any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of buying or selling carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, or meat food products of cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines on commission, or otherwise negotiating purchases or sales of such articles other than for his own account or as an employee of another person, firm, or corporation. **(d)** The term “renderer” means any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of rendering carcasses or parts or products of the carcasses, of cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines, except rendering conducted under inspection or exemption under this subchapter. **(e)** The term “animal food manufacturer” means any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of manufacturing or processing animal food derived wholly or in part from carcasses, or parts or products of the carcasses, of cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines. **(f)** The term “State” means any State of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. **(g)** The term “Territory” means Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, American Samoa, and any other territory or possession of the United States, excluding the Canal Zone. **(h)** The term “commerce” means commerce between any State, any Territory, or the District of Columbia, and any place outside thereof; or within any Territory not organized with a legisl

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

21 U.S.C. § 610 — Prohibited acts

No person, firm, or corporation shall, with respect to any cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines, or any carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat or meat food products of any such animals— **(a) Slaughtering animals or preparation of articles capable of use as human food** slaughter any such animals or prepare any such articles which are capable of use as human food at any establishment preparing any such articles for commerce, except in compliance with the requirements of this chapter; **(b) Humane methods of slaughter** slaughter or handle in connection with slaughter any such animals in any manner not in accordance with the Act of August 27, 1958 (72 Stat. 862; [7 U.S.C. 1901–190](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section1901–190&num=0&edition=prelim)6); **(c) Sales, transportation, and other transactions** sell, transport, offer for sale or transportation, or receive for transportation, in commerce, (1) any such articles which (A) are capable of use as human food and (B) are adulterated or misbranded at the time of such sale, transportation, offer for sale or transportation, or receipt for transportation; or (2) any articles required to be inspected under this subchapter unless they have been so inspected and passed; **(d) Adulteration or misbranding** do, with respect to any such articles which are capable of use as human food, any act while they are being transported in commerce or held for sale after such transportation, which is intended to cause or has the effect of causing such articles to be adulterated or misbranded.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

21 U.S.C. § 620 — Imports

**(a) Adulteration or misbranding prohibition; compliance with inspection, building construction standards, and other provisions; humane methods of slaughter; treatment as domestic articles subject to this chapter and food, drug, and cosmetic provisions; marking and labeling; personal consumption exemption** No carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat or meat food products of cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines which are capable of use as human food, shall be imported into the United States if such articles are adulterated or misbranded and unless they comply with all the inspection, building, construction standards, and all other provisions of this chapter and regulations issued thereunder applicable to such articles in commerce within the United States. No such carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat or meat food products shall be imported into the United States unless the livestock from which they were produced was slaughtered and handled in connection with slaughter in accordance with the Act of August 27, 1958 (72 Stat. 862; [7 U.S.C. 1901–190](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section1901–190&num=0&edition=prelim)6). All such imported articles shall, upon entry into the United States, be deemed and treated as domestic articles subject to the other provisions of this chapter and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [[21 U.S.C. 301](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title21-section301&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.]: Provided, That they shall be marked and labeled as required by such regulations for imported articles: Provided further, That nothing in this section shall apply to any individual who purchases meat or meat products outside the United States for his own consumption except th

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

21 U.S.C. § 71 to 92 — Transferred

### Statutory Notes #### Codification Section 71, act Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, 34 Stat. 1260, which related to inspection of meat and meat food products, examination of cattle before slaughtering, separate slaughtering of diseased animals and examination of carcasses, was transferred to [section 603 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title21-section603&num=0&edition=prelim). Section 72, act Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, 34 Stat. 1260, which related to post mortem examination of carcasses, marking and labeling, destruction of condemned carcasses, and reinspection, was transferred to [section 604 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title21-section604&num=0&edition=prelim). Section 73, act Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, 34 Stat. 1261, which related to examination of carcasses brought into slaughtering or packing establishments and of meat food products issued from and returned thereto, was transferred to [section 605 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title21-section605&num=0&edition=prelim). Section 74, act Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, 34 Stat. 1261, which related to examination and inspection of meat food products, marks of inspection, destruction of condemned products, and products for export, was transferred to [section 606 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title21-section606&num=0&edition=prelim) and was subsequently repealed by Pub. L. 110–234, title XI, § 11016(b)(1)(B), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1369, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XI, § 11016(b)(1)(B), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2131. Section 75, act Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, 34 Stat. 1262, which related to labeling of receptacles and coverings of meat and meat f

Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 21 U.S.C. § 71 to 92

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

7 U.S.C. § 1902 — Humane methods

No method of slaughtering or handling in connection with slaughtering shall be deemed to comply with the public policy of the United States unless it is humane. Either of the following two methods of slaughtering and handling are hereby found to be humane: **(a)** in the case of cattle, calves, horses, mules, sheep, swine, and other livestock, all animals are 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; or **(b)** by slaughtering in accordance with the ritual requirements of the Jewish faith or any other religious faith that prescribes a method of slaughter 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 handling in connection with such slaughtering.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

7 U.S.C. § 1903 — Repealed. Pub. L. 95–445, § 5(b), Oct. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 1069

### Statutory Notes Section, Pub. L. 85–765, § 3, Aug. 27, 1958, 72 Stat. 862, related to limitations on Government procurement and price support, modifications during national emergency, and statements of eligibility. #### Effective Date of Repeal Repeal effective one year after Oct. 10, 1978, and nonapplicability during not to exceed additional 18 months in hardship cases, see sec. 7 of Pub. L. 95–445 set out as an Effective Date of 1978 Amendment note under [section 603 of Title 21](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title21-section603&num=0&edition=prelim), Food and Drugs. #### Contracts For or Procurement of Livestock Products During the Period From June 30, 1960, to August 30, 1960 Pub. L. 86–547, June 29, 1960, 74 Stat. 255, permitted any agency or instrumentality of the United States, during the period from June 30, 1960, to August 30, 1960, to contract for or procure livestock products produced or processed by a slaughterer or processor which slaughters or handles for slaughter livestock by methods other than those designated and approved by the Secretary of Agriculture if such slaughterer or processor has contracted for the purchase of the equipment necessary to enable him to adopt such methods but such equipment has not been delivered to him.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

7 U.S.C. § 1904 — Methods research; designation of methods

In furtherance of the policy expressed herein the Secretary is authorized and directed— **(a)** to conduct, assist, and foster research, investigation, and experimentation to develop and determine methods of slaughter and the handling of livestock in connection with slaughter which are practicable with reference to the speed and scope of slaughtering operations and humane with reference to other existing methods and then current scientific knowledge; and **(b)** on or before March 1, 1959, and at such times thereafter as he deems advisable, to designate methods of slaughter and of handling in connection with slaughter which, with respect to each species of livestock, conform to the policy stated in this chapter. If he deems it more effective, the Secretary may make any such designation by designating methods which are not in conformity with such policy. Designations by the Secretary subsequent to March 1, 1959, shall become effective 180 days after their publication in the Federal Register.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

7 U.S.C. § 1905 — Repealed. Pub. L. 95–445, § 5(b), Oct. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 1069

### Statutory Notes Section, Pub. L. 85–765, § 5, Aug. 27, 1958, 72 Stat. 863, related to establishment, composition, functions, compensation, meetings, and reports of advisory committees. #### Effective Date of Repeal Repeal effective one year after Oct. 10, 1978, and nonapplicability during not to exceed additional 18 months in hardship cases, see sec. 7 of Pub. L. 95–445 set out as an Effective Date of 1978 Amendment note under [section 603 of Title 21](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title21-section603&num=0&edition=prelim), Food and Drugs.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

21 U.S.C. § 603 — Examination of animals prior to slaughter;

Page 745 TITLE 21—FOOD AND DRUGS § 603 ‘‘(ii) To maximize the effectiveness of limited per- sonnel and resources by ensuring that— ‘‘(I) inspections conducted by the Department satisfy requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.); ‘‘(II) inspections of shipments and processing fa- cilities for fish of the order Siluriformes by the De- partment and the Food and Drug Administration are not duplicative; and ‘‘(III) any information resulting from examina- tion, testing, and inspections conducted is consid- ered in making risk-based determinations, includ- ing the establishment of inspection priorities.’’ Pub. L. 110–234, title XI, § 11016(b)(2)(B), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1370, and Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XI, § 11016(b)(2)(B), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2131, re- quired the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to issue final regulations to carry out the amendments made by section 11016(b)(1) of Pub. L. 110–234 and section 11016(b)(1) of Pub. L. 110–246 (enacting sections 606 and 625 of this title, amending this section, and repealing former section 606 of this title) not later than 18 months after June 18, 2008, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 113–79, title XII, § 12106(b)(4), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 981, effective as if enacted as part of section 11016(b) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–246; 122 Stat. 2130), see Effective Date of 2014 Amendment note above. [Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical provisions. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.] SEPARABILITY Pub. L. 90–201, § 19, Dec. 15, 1967, 81 Stat. 601, provided that:

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

7 U.S.C. § 1901 — Findings and declaration of policy

The Congress finds that the use of humane methods in the slaughter of livestock prevents needless suffering; results in safer and better working conditions for persons engaged in the slaughtering industry; brings about improvement of products and economies in slaughtering operations; and produces other benefits for producers, processors, and consumers which tend to expedite an orderly flow of livestock and livestock products in interstate and foreign commerce. It is therefore declared to be 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.

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